Koalas are among the most loved animals on the planet — an iconic Australian resident that dozes all day and munches gum leaves all night. This guide rounds up 10 fascinating koala facts, from why they snooze so much to the surprising truth about their family tree. To meet more of the country’s wildlife, see our native animals guide.
Fast Facts
- Scientific name: Phascolarctos cinereus
- Lifespan: up to 15 years in the wild
- Size: male koalas are noticeably larger than females — big southern males can weigh around 14 kilograms
- Diet: almost nothing but eucalyptus leaves
- Sleep: champion dozers — up to 20 hours a day
- Conservation status: endangered in QLD, NSW and the ACT
Why Do Koalas Sleep 18 Hours a Day?
Healthy koalas can sleep up to 18 hours every day, and some manage more. The reason is fuel: eucalyptus is low in nutrients and tough to digest, so a koala’s body runs in slow motion to conserve energy.
On hot afternoons a koala may hug the coolest side of a tree trunk — researchers have found trunks can be several degrees chillier than the surrounding air, making the trunk a natural air conditioner.
What Do Koalas Eat?
Koalas survive on a diet of eucalyptus leaves and almost nothing else. Australia grows more than 600 eucalypt species, yet koalas browse only a few dozen of them, and each animal sticks to firm favourites. An adult can eat up to a kilogram of eucalyptus leaves in a single night, though the usual feast is closer to half that.
Such a narrow menu makes this animal a famously fussy eater. Even the name fits the lifestyle: it is said to come from a Dharug word meaning ‘no drink’, because koalas rarely drink water — their leaves supply most of the moisture they need.
Marsupials, Not Bears
Koalas are marsupials, closely related to kangaroos and wombats — never bears. Early European settlers saw a round, shaggy face, and the nickname ‘koala bears’ stuck, but the family tree tells a different story. A koala’s fingerprints, for instance, are so human-like that forensic researchers have studied them, and each front paw carries two thumbs for extra grip.
The Baby Koala: A Joey’s First Year
Koala babies are called joeys, and each one begins life the size of a jellybean. It climbs into its mother’s pouch with no help at all and stays in the pouch for about six months, feeding on milk. Koala joeys then ride on their mother’s back, but even after leaving the mother’s pouch, each one returns to the pouch to feed on a special substance called pap — a soft paste produced by the mother koala that carries the gut bacteria needed to digest leaves. During the breeding season, which peaks in spring and summer, males bellow across the treetops, and a mother usually raises just one joey a year.
Koala Habitat: Where Do Koalas Live?
Koalas live in eucalyptus forests and woodlands along the east coast — from North Queensland down through New South Wales and Victoria, with scattered populations in South Australia. Eucalyptus trees are everything to a koala: adult koalas patrol a home range of feed trees, and koalas need large, connected forests to stay well fed. Beyond the koala’s patch, koalas and other wildlife depend on the same woodlands, which is why replanting helps whole ecosystems. Two thumbs and sharp claws make them superb climbers.
Koala Populations: Are Koalas Endangered?
Yes. Koala numbers have fallen sharply over the past two decades, and in 2022 the species was listed as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT under national environment law. Estimates of koalas left in the wild range from under 100,000 to several hundred thousand, and scientists hotly debate the true figure — but every survey agrees the trend is downward.
The threats koalas face stack up. Land clearing and habitat destruction carve the forest into fragments, and when habitat is destroyed, koalas are forced onto the ground, across roads and into backyards. Populations have crashed due to habitat loss, bushfires — including the devastating Black Summer of 2019–20 — and disease. Chlamydia, the best known of these, can cause blindness and infertility, and it hits stressed populations hardest. The single biggest threat to koalas is habitat loss.
How to Help Koalas
National and state laws now protect koalas and their habitats, and everyday actions count too. Plant local koala food trees if you live near koala country, drive slowly at night in wildlife zones, keep dogs inside after dark, and report every sighting to your local wildlife group — rescue teams depend on community reports.
Wildlife charities run rescue hospitals and tree-planting programs funded partly by symbolic adoptions — see the FAQ below. Hungry for more interesting facts about this remarkable country? Explore our fun facts about Australia round-up.
Are Koalas Bears?
No — they are marsupials, not bears. European settlers saw a round face and a shaggy grey coat and the nickname stuck, but bear cubs are raised in dens while a joey rides its mother’s fur for most of its first year.
Are Koalas Mammals?
Yes. Koalas are warm-blooded mammals that feed their young on milk. They belong to the marsupial branch of the mammal family tree, alongside wombats and kangaroos.
Are Koalas Nocturnal?
Mostly. Koalas doze through the day and wake at dusk to feed, with their busiest window in the first few hours after dark. On cool, overcast days they sometimes stir early.
Are Koalas Friendly?
Not in the petting-zoo sense. Wild koalas are solitary, easy-going neighbours that mostly ignore people — a calm one will keep dozing while you watch quietly from below. They are not aggressive, but they do not seek out company either.
Are Koalas Dangerous?
Almost never. A koala that is cornered or handled roughly can bite or rake with its sharp claws, which is why wildlife rescuers approach them with thick gloves. Left alone, they are harmless.
Can You Keep a Koala as a Pet?
No — keeping one is illegal everywhere in Australia. Koalas are wild animals with a strict dependence on a daily supply of fresh eucalyptus leaves, and only licensed zoos and wildlife parks are permitted to care for them.
Can You Adopt or Pat a Koala?
Symbolically, yes — charities such as Friends of the Koala use adoption fees to fund rescue, care and tree planting, and adopters receive updates about their animal. Handling rules are strict: some northern parks permit a brief supervised hold, while New South Wales generally allows only gentle pats. Every visit and adoption helps protect koalas in the wild.
Where Can You See a Koala?
Reliably: at wildlife parks and sanctuaries along the east coast, from Brisbane to Sydney and Melbourne. In the wild, tried-and-true spots include Raymond Island in Victoria, Port Stephens north of Newcastle and Magnetic Island near Townsville — go at dawn or dusk and scan the forks of gum trees rather than the canopy.
What Is a Gross Fact About Koalas?
Joeys eat their mother’s pap — a soft green paste of half-digested droppings loaded with the gut microbes needed to switch to a leaf diet. Without this unappetising first meal, a young koala could never digest its adult menu.
What Are Five Fun Things About Koalas?
Their fingerprints are nearly identical to human prints; they hug tree trunks to keep cool; a big male’s bellow carries like a chainsaw through the night; each front paw has two thumbs; and a newborn makes a hairless, jellybean-sized climb to safety within minutes of being born.
References and Sources
- National Geographic Kids koala fact file: natgeokids.com
- Australian Koala Foundation: savethekoala.com
- Official state koala conservation information: qld.gov.au