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Description

Species Name: Koala

Species Latin Name: Phascolarctos cinereus

Native To: Australia

Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Photo Taken At: Ballarat Wildlife Park

Size (Length): 60-90cm (23 – 36 inches)

Size (Height): 60-91cm (23 – 35 inches)

Weight: 4-15kg (8.8 – 33.1 pounds)

Top Speed: 10kmh (6.2mph)

Lifespan: 15 years

Population Size: 43,000 – 300,000

Baby Name: Joey

Description:

Koala's have thick bodies, small eyes, and large ears. The thick wool-like fur that makes up their fur is thick but also soft. The fur will generally be an ash grey colour with white on their ears, chest, stomach, and along the back of their legs. The males will typically be 50% larger than the females when they are fully grown and mature, the males will also have a brown stain/patch on their chest which is where their scent gland is located for the purposes of marking territory. They have sharp claws on their long limbs which helps them to climb and stay in trees. They have a large dark brown nose covered in a leathery skin which is rather sensitive to smells.They have dark brown eyes with their pupil appearing as a vertical slit.

Diet:

These animals are herbivorous and will generally feed eucalyptus leaves though they can be found on other trees of other species such as Acacia, Allocasuarina, Callitris, leptospermum, and Melaleuca. There are over 600 species of Eucalyptus the Koalas can choose from. These animals will generally prefer leaves that are high in protein but low in fiber and lignin as such they show a very heavy preference to about 30 species of Eucalyptus. The most favoured species listed below:

Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys)

Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornicus), also known as Blue Gum and Red Irongum

Red River Gum (Eucalyptus Camaldulensis)

Behaviour:

Koalas are asocial which means that they will typically not associate with other koalas with exception to mating season. There have been other exceptions where koalas may loosely congregate in areas where there is an abundance of trees with one koala per tree. These animals spend most of their lives in trees and are exceptionally good climbers thanks to their sharp claws. When a koala gets on the ground they will tend be be rather slow walkers.

These animals are typically non vocal during their everyday lives. If a koala feels threatened they may let out a snarls, wails, and screams, these calls will usually be accompanied by shaking. Males will also let out a deep bellowing call during mating season in order to attract a mate. These bellows are low and deep which cause them to travel quite a distance, these males may also bellow to advertise their presence when they move to a new tree. Male koala's will generally rub their chest against a new tree they just climbed using scent glands, at times they also dribble urine on the tree as another form of scent marking. This is believed to be a method of communication as Koala's tend to sniff a new tree before considering climbing up.

Resident males will tend to dominate the area of other males to ensure that they remain closer to breeding females. The younger smaller males will be more submissive and stay within their home ranges until they reach maturity and grow larger in size. Mature adult males will occasionally leave their home tree to try to compete for breeding females, the more dominant male will secure their position whilst the less dominant male will be driven away.

Koala's are seasonal breeders where the dominant male will tend to mate with most of the females in their area. Mating season will be between the months of December to March. Once the female gets pregnant the baby joey will be born after 35 days. The joey will remain in the mothers poach for the first 5-6 months of their lives where it will exclusively live off the mothers milk. Between this time until the joey reaches maturity at 12 months of age they will eat what is referred to as pap, this substance is partially digested plant matter that is excreted from the mothers excrement. Female koala's will maturity after 2-3 years of age where as males will reach maturity after 3-4 years of age.

Threats:

The main threats these animals face is the loss of habitat due to urbanization in urban areas and the development of agricultural lands in rural areas. Furthermore habitat has been lost due to forests being card down to be turned into hardwood, furniture and other products.

Their numbers have recently been devastated further with bush fires that have spread through the states of Queensland and New South Whales through the hot summers. Koala's are especially vulnerable to these fires due their slow movement speed on the ground. Bush fires as well as habitat destruction through other means contribute to fragmentation of these animals causing them to become more isolated and unable to locate breeding partners to mate with.

Collisions with vehicles account for a large amount of koala fatalities accounting for the most cause of admission of these animals to koala rehabilitation centers. Dog attacks from domesticated and feral dogs also account for a large amount of koala injuries and fatalities every year. These animals are also vulnerable to the disease Chlamydia with symptoms of this disease being the second most common reason koalas are taken to rehab centers for koala's.

Conservation:

Although the koala's numbers seem to be abundant and stable in the states of Australia such as Victoria and South Australia this animal has been in decline at a worrying rate especially in the states of New South Whales and Queensland.

Conservation efforts will vary, various zoo's and animal sanctuaries will hold a number of these animals to assist with breeding as well as to spread advocacy for these animals. Furthermore other organizations will do their best to monitor and track these animals whilst trying to advocate the conservation of this animal to local as well as federal jurisdictions.

The Australian government has announced in January 2022 an additional $50 million will be spent on top of existing efforts over 4 years to assist with the support and recovery of this animals numbers. This will include assistance with the protection of habitats, improvements to health and care in response to natural disasters such as bush fires as well as treatment to diseases such as Chlamydia. This $50 million is added on top of an $18 million package Koala conservation package announced in 2020.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala

Kidadl: kidadl.com/animal-facts/koala-…

Animalia: animalia.bio/koala

Australian Museum: australian.museum/learn/animal…

Further Reading (Conservation Efforts):

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: www.awe.gov.au/environment/bio…

Save The Koala: www.savethekoala.com/our-work/…

Description

Species Name: Koala

Species Latin Name: Phascolarctos cinereus

Native To: Australia

Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Photo Taken At: Ballarat Wildlife Park

Size (Length): 60-90cm (23 – 36 inches)

Size (Height): 60-91cm (23 – 35 inches)

Weight: 4-15kg (8.8 – 33.1 pounds)

Top Speed: 10kmh (6.2mph)

Lifespan: 15 years

Population Size: 43,000 – 300,000

Baby Name: Joey

Description:

Koala's have thick bodies, small eyes, and large ears. The thick wool-like fur that makes up their fur is thick but also soft. The fur will generally be an ash grey colour with white on their ears, chest, stomach, and along the back of their legs. The males will typically be 50% larger than the females when they are fully grown and mature, the males will also have a brown stain/patch on their chest which is where their scent gland is located for the purposes of marking territory. They have sharp claws on their long limbs which helps them to climb and stay in trees. They have a large dark brown nose covered in a leathery skin which is rather sensitive to smells.They have dark brown eyes with their pupil appearing as a vertical slit.

Diet:

These animals are herbivorous and will generally feed eucalyptus leaves though they can be found on other trees of other species such as Acacia, Allocasuarina, Callitris, leptospermum, and Melaleuca. There are over 600 species of Eucalyptus the Koalas can choose from. These animals will generally prefer leaves that are high in protein but low in fiber and lignin as such they show a very heavy preference to about 30 species of Eucalyptus. The most favoured species listed below:

Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys)

Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornicus), also known as Blue Gum and Red Irongum

Red River Gum (Eucalyptus Camaldulensis)

Behaviour:

Koalas are asocial which means that they will typically not associate with other koalas with exception to mating season. There have been other exceptions where koalas may loosely congregate in areas where there is an abundance of trees with one koala per tree. These animals spend most of their lives in trees and are exceptionally good climbers thanks to their sharp claws. When a koala gets on the ground they will tend be be rather slow walkers.

These animals are typically non vocal during their everyday lives. If a koala feels threatened they may let out a snarls, wails, and screams, these calls will usually be accompanied by shaking. Males will also let out a deep bellowing call during mating season in order to attract a mate. These bellows are low and deep which cause them to travel quite a distance, these males may also bellow to advertise their presence when they move to a new tree. Male koala's will generally rub their chest against a new tree they just climbed using scent glands, at times they also dribble urine on the tree as another form of scent marking. This is believed to be a method of communication as Koala's tend to sniff a new tree before considering climbing up.

Resident males will tend to dominate the area of other males to ensure that they remain closer to breeding females. The younger smaller males will be more submissive and stay within their home ranges until they reach maturity and grow larger in size. Mature adult males will occasionally leave their home tree to try to compete for breeding females, the more dominant male will secure their position whilst the less dominant male will be driven away.

Koala's are seasonal breeders where the dominant male will tend to mate with most of the females in their area. Mating season will be between the months of December to March. Once the female gets pregnant the baby joey will be born after 35 days. The joey will remain in the mothers poach for the first 5-6 months of their lives where it will exclusively live off the mothers milk. Between this time until the joey reaches maturity at 12 months of age they will eat what is referred to as pap, this substance is partially digested plant matter that is excreted from the mothers excrement. Female koala's will maturity after 2-3 years of age where as males will reach maturity after 3-4 years of age.

Threats:

The main threats these animals face is the loss of habitat due to urbanization in urban areas and the development of agricultural lands in rural areas. Furthermore habitat has been lost due to forests being card down to be turned into hardwood, furniture and other products.

Their numbers have recently been devastated further with bush fires that have spread through the states of Queensland and New South Whales through the hot summers. Koala's are especially vulnerable to these fires due their slow movement speed on the ground. Bush fires as well as habitat destruction through other means contribute to fragmentation of these animals causing them to become more isolated and unable to locate breeding partners to mate with.

Collisions with vehicles account for a large amount of koala fatalities accounting for the most cause of admission of these animals to koala rehabilitation centers. Dog attacks from domesticated and feral dogs also account for a large amount of koala injuries and fatalities every year. These animals are also vulnerable to the disease Chlamydia with symptoms of this disease being the second most common reason koalas are taken to rehab centers for koala's.

Conservation:

Although the koala's numbers seem to be abundant and stable in the states of Australia such as Victoria and South Australia this animal has been in decline at a worrying rate especially in the states of New South Whales and Queensland.

Conservation efforts will vary, various zoo's and animal sanctuaries will hold a number of these animals to assist with breeding as well as to spread advocacy for these animals. Furthermore other organizations will do their best to monitor and track these animals whilst trying to advocate the conservation of this animal to local as well as federal jurisdictions.

The Australian government has announced in January 2022 an additional $50 million will be spent on top of existing efforts over 4 years to assist with the support and recovery of this animals numbers. This will include assistance with the protection of habitats, improvements to health and care in response to natural disasters such as bush fires as well as treatment to diseases such as Chlamydia. This $50 million is added on top of an $18 million package Koala conservation package announced in 2020.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala

Kidadl: kidadl.com/animal-facts/koala-…

Animalia: animalia.bio/koala

Australian Museum: australian.museum/learn/animal…

Further Reading (Conservation Efforts):

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: www.awe.gov.au/environment/bio…

Save The Koala: www.savethekoala.com/our-work/…