Koalas are marsupial mammals that live in eucalyptus forests in eastern and southeastern Australia. They have thick, soft fur and ears with long white hairs at the tips. Koalas eat eucalyptus leaves and small amounts of soil, and females typically have 5-6 babies in their lifetime. Major threats to koalas include habitat destruction, vehicles, dogs/feral animals, bushfires, drought, and disease.

1. The Koala Ines Villido 2009

2. About A marsupial mammal Size: 70 - 90cm Weight: 4 - 9kg Fur is thick soft and pleasant to touch. Ears have long white hairs on the tips. Can live up to 17 years http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala

3. History Fossil remains of koala-like animals have been found dating back to 25 - 40 million years ago. In 1798, John Price was the first European who described koalas. European settlers started to hunt koalas for their fur. Millions of koalas were shot. By 1924 koalas were extinct in South Australia, severely depleted in New South Wales and estimates for Victoria go as low as 500 animals.

4. Habitat and distribution Koalas live in tropical to temperate eucalypt forest and woodlands. They can be found in Eastern and South- Eastern Australia. http://www.ecovoice.com.au/evonline/evo-28/koala-evo28.html

5. Diet Restricted to eucalypt leaves. An adult koala eats an average 500g to 1kg of leaves a day. Only 50 of the 500 or more species of eucalypts are suitable to the koala's diet. Koalas also eat a small amount of soil to supplement their diet with mineral nutrients.

6. Breeding Koalas breed once a year from September to March. Gestation lasts 35 days, after which one koala is born. The baby koala, "joey", is blind, hairless, only a couple of cm long and weighs less than 1 gram In the average, one female may produce only 5 or 6 baby koalas over her lifetime.

7. Threats Human threats: Habitat destruction Dogs and feral animals Motor vehicles collisions Pools - drowning Fences - loss of access or impediment of movement

8. Natural threats: Bushfire Drought Disease Predators http://www.users.bigpond.com/wildlifebb/wildlife/mammals/koala/threats.html

9. Interesting facts Koala spends sleeping 75% of its time. “ Koala” means ‘no drink’ in Aboriginal language. Koala is an excellent swimmer. Southern koalas are 30% larger than the Northern koalas. The fingerprints of Koalas are astonishingly like those of human beings. The Koala can run as fast as a rabbit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala

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