You just want to take these lovely little animals in your arms or at least just touch them: they are cute, funny and look very much like a soft toy. Their appearance causes tenderness in absolutely everyone and wins hearts at first sight. Of course, these are koalas, the description of the appearance and habits of which truly deserve attention! Let's get to know these wonderful animals better!
Bear or no bear?
Many mistakenly believe that the koala is a bear, and a marsupial! In fact, this is not entirely true. Koala is a marsupial animal that has nothing to do with bears, except that its appearance is painfully similar to a teddy bear. Scientists have not come to a consensus, but it is assumed that the koala is a wombat that evolved many years ago, which moved from the ground to a tree. But since it is still generally accepted that the koala is a bear, we will not dispute this fact.
Description
This animal looks very funny: it reaches 82 centimeters in length and weighs about 16 kilograms. The koala has a large head with large round fluffy ears and dense cheeks. The eyes are small, round, brown or amber in color. A funny black nose stands out noticeably -this is the only part of the koala's body that is not covered with hair. The marsupial has 4 fingers on each limb. The coat is dense, dense and unusually soft, gray on the back and light on the belly. The bag in which the little koalas are hatched opens back. These animals do not like haste, they are sort of phlegmatic people who live for their own pleasure. They like to sleep during the day and eat at night.
Fatal vulnerability
The only natural habitat for these unique animals is Australia, whose population dearly loves these touching little animals. Another fact that makes it doubtful that the koala is a bear is its peaceful and completely non-aggressive disposition. This defenseless animal cannot stand up for itself. There was a time when koalas were mercilessly killed for their fluffy skins, which were in great demand and exported to other continents. In addition, these animals have weak immunity and poor adaptability to climate and environmental change.
In addition, koalas are often killed during fires that engulf eucalyptus forests from time to time. Frightened by the fire, instead of fleeing to a safer place, the animals only cling closer to the trunk of their native tree house, leaving themselves no chance to survive.
As a result, the number of koalas is rapidly declining, and today there are very few of them left - only about 80,000 individuals.
Menu for marsupials
It is also interesting what the koala eats. These animals are verythey are picky in food and do not eat anything except eucalyptus leaves, which are very low in nutrition - they have practically no protein. In addition, eucalyptus leaves are poisonous - their fibers contain phenols and terpenes, as well as hydrocyanic acid, which can cause almost instant death.
Why is this animal not poisoned by what it eats? After all, the koala chews poisonous eucalyptus all day long and feels great at the same time! The fact is that the animals eat only young leaves from those trees that grow along the rivers - in them the concentration of toxic substances is much lower. In addition, marsupials have a unique liver, which has a function that neutralizes poison. An interesting fact is that koalas practically do not drink water - the moisture contained in the leaves is quite enough for them.
Almost human
Koalas live separately or in small families, which consist of one male and several females. In a word, harem. Koalas breed in the first half of autumn. The female's pregnancy lasts about 30 days and ends with the birth of one cub, the weight of which is extremely small - only 6 grams! Only the mother brings up the baby - the father does not take any part in this laborious process.
The little koala lives in the mother's brood pouch for about 7 months and eats milk and gruel from half-digested eucalyptus leaves there. At the age of 7-8 months, the cub leaves its cozy little world and moves to her back. Koalas are verygood mothers, one might say, an example to follow. They patiently carry their grown baby on their back for the next 5 months. In addition, the mother koala protects the cub from all sorts of misfortunes, and during sleep or dank weather, she presses her child to herself, warming him with her warmth. Baby koalas love to sleep in their mother's arms, and only after they are one year old do they begin an independent life.
Amazing animal - koala. Whether it’s a bear or not, it’s not exactly clear, but one thing is known: this marsupial does not rush into anything, including its own growing up: during puberty, the koala enters 3-4 years, and its total life expectancy reaches 20 years.
Home, home home
Despite the fact that koalas are easily tamed and very attached to those who care for them, keeping them in captivity is almost impossible - after all, they require 1 kilogram of fresh eucalyptus leaves per day! Moreover, koalas should not eat the leaves of those eucalyptus trees that grow, for example, in Sochi or in the Crimea. They feel good only at home - in Australia.
Due to the threat of the complete disappearance of cute fluffies, the government of the country took them under protection and assigned the status of vulnerable animals to koalas, the existence of which is under threat of extinction. Especially for these charming animals, eucalyptus groves are planted in parks. In addition, koalas are listed in the Red Book of Australia, and there is hope that the efforts of caring people will come true,and defenseless marsupials will delight the planet with their existence for many, many millennia.
