Koalas

Koalas are cute, fuzzy animals that live in Australia. They are marsupials, which means mothers carry their babies in a pouch. Koalas are not actually bears, even though people sometimes call them koala bears. They spend most of their time in eucalyptus trees.

Eucalyptus Eaters

Koalas eat eucalyptus leaves, which are poisonous to most other animals. Koalas have a special digestive system that breaks down the toxins. They are picky eaters and only eat leaves from certain eucalyptus trees. Koalas rarely drink water because they get moisture from the leaves.

Sleepy Animals

Koalas sleep up to 22 hours a day. Eucalyptus leaves do not give them much energy, so they need lots of rest. Baby koalas are called joeys and live in their mother's pouch for about six months. Koalas have two thumbs on each hand to help them grip branches.

Fun Facts

• Koalas have fingerprints that look almost identical to human fingerprints.
• They sleep up to 22 hours a day.
• Each koala has a unique nose pattern, like a human fingerprint.

Did You Know?

Koala joeys are only the size of a jellybean when they are born! They crawl into their mother's pouch and stay there for about six months while they grow.