Ash-coloured Pouch Bears...

Australia is not only home to the marvellous Socceroos,
but something even cuddlier...
Phascolarctos Cinereus or the Koala!

In the wild, koalas will live in loose-knit groups if enough suitable Eucalyptus trees are present - but only one koala per tree.
Similar to humans, female koalas mature earlier than the males...
2 years as opposed to 3-4 years!



The koala's pear-shaped body allows them to balance more readily in trees. Their opposable digits enable them to grip tree trunks more readily. Additionally they have rough pads for grip on the underside of their paws to increase their traction while climbing.



An adult koala will eat between 1-2 kilograms of gum leaves per night and their large noses are sensitive enough to allow them to select the choicest eucalyptus leaves. The connoisseurs of the Aussie bush!



The nutrition they receive from gum leaves is quite poor, consequently they have little energy and hence spend most of their time sleeping.
The original couch potatoes?!



Koalas don't have sweat glands. They cool themselves by licking their arms and spreading them as they rest in the trees.
Not a bad life!

Photos taken by me at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane in December 2004.