By: Priscilla Ayala

ADAPTATIONS OF A KOALA

THE KOALA “BEAR,” IS A CUDDLY ANIMAL AND IT’S NOT A BEAR AT ALL IT IS A MARSUPIAL OR POUCHED MAMMAL.

After the mother giving birth, the female koala carries her baby in her pouch for about 6 months. When the infant emerges, it rides on its mother’s back or clings to her belly.

When early European settlers first encountered koalas in Australia, they thought the tree-climbing animals were bears or monkeys. Even today people still incorrectly refer to koalas as “koala bears.” They also climb trees to aviod predators and to eat leaves.

Koalas have bacteria in their stomachs that break down the fiber and toxic oils and allow them to absorb 25% of the nutrients. In order to survive on such a low calorie diet, they conserve energy by moving slowly and sleeping around 20 hours a day.

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