Koala is a marsupial bear. Koala animal (lat. Phascolarctos cinereus) What koalas love

Systematics of the Koala family, or Marsupial bears

Genus: Phascolarctos De Blainville, 1816 = Koalas, or marsupial bears

Species: Phascolarctos cinereus Goldfuss, 1817 = Koala, or marsupial bear

All koalas are relatively small. In length, they reach 82 centimeters (average length - 71 cm), weight adult is from 5 to 16 kilograms. Previously, the Koala family included several species, whose representatives are now extinct. Interestingly, the weight of koalas of a number of extinct species reached half a ton or more. There are currently eight genera in the family with one extant species.

The koala was first seen by humans at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. The average life span of koalas is 13 years. The oldest koalas die at the age of 19-20 years.

Koalas have a large head with large rounded ears, which are densely covered with fur. The muzzle of these animals has a somewhat flattened shape, small eyes and a black nose stand out on it. Most of the body of koalas is covered with ash-gray fur of different shades. It may also be reddish. On the belly and neck, the fur is light, the reverse side of the paws is black. The coat of representatives of the Koala family is thick and soft.

The grasping limbs of the koala with sharp claws allow it to climb trees. Only the thumbs of the hind paws of the animal are deprived of claws. The longest finger on the forelimb is the fourth. The first and second fingers of the front paws are opposed to the rest. I wonder what koalas fingers cover papillary pattern almost identical to that observed in humans. Teeth 30. The number of chromosomes in the diploid set is 16.

Inside the well-developed "bag" of koalas, which opens back (the only case in the family of climbing marsupials), there are 2 nipples. Cheek pouches are present.

Males of the Koala family have a bifurcated penis, which is typical for marsupials in general. Accordingly, female koalas have two wombs and two vaginas.

Koalas have a slow metabolism, similar to wombats and sloths. In addition, eating habits have led to the development of an elongated caecum, as well as to the fact that the microflora of the alimentary tract of koalas decomposes plant foods more efficiently.

Koalas often get sick. The most common diseases in the populations of these animals are conjunctivitis, cystitis, sinusitis, turning into pneumonia. Many koalas die from them.

Representatives of the Koala family usually move slowly, moving to a gallop only in case of danger. They climb trees, occasionally make jumps, move along the ground.

Koalas feed on the leaves of 120 eucalyptus species, which contain the smallest percentage of poisonous terpene and phenolic compounds. Representatives of the family try to choose for food those leaves in which there is no hydrocyanic acid or its part is negligible. Feeding on eucalyptus, koalas have virtually no competitors on the "food front".

Moisture these animals receive from eaten leaves, and only occasionally - absorbing water.

Koalas are common in mainland Australia, as well as on the Cape York Peninsula.

Koalas are quite numerous and are beyond the threat of destruction. They have no natural enemies. The cause of death of koalas is rare attacks by wild dogs and dingoes, human hunting, droughts and fires, as well as severe long-term illnesses.

Koalas mate from the beginning of October to the end of winter, while the male gathers in a group with 2-5 females, fertilizing them in turn. This order is due to the fact that there are many times more females among koalas. Koalas mate in trees. Their pregnancy lasts about a month. There is one cub in the litter, which weighs about 5.5 g at birth. The cub lives in the mother's "bag" for up to six months, and lives on her back for another 6 months. By the end of the lactation period, young koalas were noted to eat the excrement of their mothers. Perhaps, in this way, microorganisms necessary for the digestive process enter the digestive tract of young animals from adults.

Female koalas are ready for mating from 2-3 years old, males - from 3-4 years old. One female has offspring every 1-2 years. Life expectancy is about 20 years.

These animals live on or near eucalyptus trees. From tree to tree, koalas jump or move along the ground. About 6 hours a day they move, the rest of the time they sleep or sit without moving. The koala is able to swim, although it rarely uses this skill. Both female and male koalas live alone most of the year.

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04/26/2016 at 13:13 Moscow time 6 626

The koala is an animal or, as they used to call it, the marsupial bear, the only representative of its kind. He received a comparison with due to the similarity with a plush creature.

The striking appearance brings him closer and straight to soft toy. The body of the animal is not large, it reaches 12-13 kg in weight, with a height of 71 cm.

The muzzle of the koala is flattened, the ears are impressive, covered with thick fur. The black smooth elongated nose can boast of the absence of vegetation.

Bamboo eyes are small in diameter, round shape. The color is dark brown. The color of the fur coat can be ashen and even reddish, but it is short. On the abdomen, the fur is lighter.

Another one distinguishing feature animal koala is a tail, barely noticeable on the body. The claws are sharp on the front paws - curved, large and index claws are spread out, which makes it easier to climb trees well, and they are absent on the toes of the hind legs. They swim great. They can even run at a gallop to the desired object, if they are unable to jump.

Koalas are constantly on the trunk of a tree. Most of the time they sleep or just chew the leaves. Bamboo bear can be found directly in tropical forests. They inhabit the continent of Australia, mainly its southern and eastern regions. They are endemic. That is, you won't see them anywhere else.

The Australian koala bear appeared more than 15 million years ago, but extermination at the beginning of the last century reduced the population, now you will not meet them in the West of the country

Many islands are inhabited artificially, transported from Victoria. The koala is an animal that lives near the coast, which dispels the popular myth that they do not drink water.

Nutrition

As mentioned above, the koala lives on eucalyptus plantations; bark and greens containing toxic substances (fenoterols, hydrocyanic acid) are eaten.

Endowed with a special sense of smell, mammals find young shoots where the level of toxicity is reduced. The microflora in the stomach of a koala animal even copes with cellulose, the liver absorbs and processes toxic waste.

This of course does not exclude the possibility of poisoning, but still the risks are minimal. Getting up to 90% moisture from the leaves, the animals still come down to drink. Sometimes a koala can feast on the earth to make up for the lack of important components.

The animal leads a solitary lifestyle and fewer males are born. During the mating season from October to February, they huddle in groups. 3-4 females per male. Choose the strongest by and smell. Fertilization occurs every few years.

It bears offspring for a month and there is one in the litter, less often a couple of cubs. Up to six months, a newborn koala eats breast milk and travels in a bag with her mother, which opens in the opposite direction. After 7 months, eucalyptus gruel is added to the diet, which enters the baby's body through the mother's excrement. By the age of one, the baby becomes independent.

Enemies

Peaceful animals do not have them. The meat of the koala animal is saturated with poisons, so predators are in no hurry to taste it. Except dingo dogs.

People used to hunt, many skins were transported to the east. Because of their gullibility, they were a good target. A settled way, only 6 hours of wakefulness makes them terribly phlegmatic. Natural disasters - droughts, fires, contribute to extinction.

Koala is a marsupial animal living on average 13 years old, there are also old-timers - 20 years old. They are prone to eye diseases, respiratory system, genitourinary, which reduces their period.

Koala animal is listed in the Red Book. In order for growth to occur in natural conditions, reserves have been created even in California (San Diego).

1. Fingerprints are similar to human ones and cannot be distinguished even under a microscope.
2. When they are depressed, they make sounds similar to the crying of a baby.
3. The marsupial bear dies in fires without running away, they only hold on tighter to the tree trunk.
4. The brain of the beast is only 0.2% from the mass.
5. But they can be tamed and attached to a person.
6. They have an unusual structure of the genital organs, two paired in a female and a male.

An amazing herbivorous marsupial animal, the koala, lives in the east and south of Australia.

The bear cub settles in places where there is enough moisture and eucalyptus trees grow, whose leaves the koala bear feeds on. Although the bears marsupial of australia not applicable.

Description of the animal

Few people will remain indifferent when watching a charming animal that sits on a tree.

• The marsupial bear was first described in 1798, when it was discovered in the Blue Mountains of Australia. Since that time, the beast with a wide muzzle, small eyes, a hooked nose, silvery soft fur and shaggy ears has fallen in love with many.
• Koala bears are descended from their closest relatives - wombats. Marsupials differ from them in thicker and softer fur, slightly larger ears and longer limbs.
• Sharp claws help the koala bear to climb trees with ease, the size and shape of the limbs also contribute to this. On the hands of the front paws there are two thumbs set aside, next to them there are three more fingers. This structure of the palms allows the animal to easily grasp the branches and trunks of trees and tenaciously hold on to them, and the cubs to hold on to their mother's fur. Grabbing a branch. The koala sleeps on a tree, and at the same time it can hold on with one paw.
• The papillary pattern on a bear's fingertips strongly resembles human fingerprints, the differences being difficult to detect even under an electron microscope.
• As for the size of koala bears, the range here is very wide - the weight of a female living in the north can reach up to 5 kg, and a male living in the south can reach 14 kg.
• Koalas are rather slow, which is associated with the feeding habits of bears: there is little protein in eucalyptus leaves. Marsupials also have a low metabolism - twice as slow as that of other mammals.
• Sometimes, to make up for the lack of trace elements, koalas eat the earth.
• Most of the day - 18-20 hours - the marsupial bear spends in an almost motionless state. Grasping the branches of a tree with its paws, it sleeps or moves along the trunk in search of food or chews on the leaves stored under its cheeks. From tree to tree, the koala jumps mainly to find food or escape from danger. This unique inhabitant of Australia can swim.

Gallery: marsupial koala bear (25 photos)

koala food

The diet of the marsupial bear is exclusively eucalyptus leaves and bark.

The world has over 800 species of these trees, but koala bears eat the bark and leaves of only 120 of them. Note that for most animals, these trees are poisonous. But unique digestive system koala allows you to consume them without dire consequences.

Marsupials prefer eucalyptus trees, which grow on fertile soil, on the banks of rivers.

The branches and leaves of such trees contain less poison. In eucalyptus trees growing on dry, poor soils, there are more toxic substances.

Every day the bear eats 0.5-1.1 kg feed. They choose young leaves - softer and juicier. Since eucalyptus leaves contain more than 90% moisture, the furry inhabitants of Australia almost drink water. Bears drink water only when they lack the moisture contained in the leaves or when they are sick.

Eucalyptus leaves contain hydrocyanic acid, which is poisonous to most animals. By the way, koalas are also sensitive to its action, although they are more resistant to it, which allows them to stick to their diet. There are cases when bears were poisoned due to the fact that they did not have the opportunity to change the source of food.

reproduction

Koalas live for 11-12 years, although there have been cases when these bears lived up to 20 years.

Enemies

In nature, koalas have no enemies, apparently due to the fact that their meat is soaked in eucalyptus. Bears are indulgent towards a person, and do not particularly resist when he takes them in his arms. Nevertheless, the beast has sharp claws and this should not be forgotten.

Koala may look like a child - being alone, he may cry from longing.

Destroy touching animals can:

• droughts;
• fires;
• dogs;
• poachers.

Cutting down eucalyptus trees also contributes to the reduction of the population.

On the trees, koalas have no enemies and food competitors, but on the ground they can attack wild dogs dingoes or their domesticated counterparts.

Koalas are sickly animals: both in the natural environment and in captivity, they can have conjunctivitis and colds, they often die from complications. It is also difficult to treat bears because they do not tolerate anesthesia well. In captivity, bears show a touching affection for the caregiver, although they are not distinguished by great intelligence.

Really a bear?

In fact, koalas belonging to the order of marsupials are not even distantly related to bears. The marsupial bear is endemic to Australia, that is, it lives only on this continent.

These bears descend to the ground only to move to new eucalyptus thickets.

In today's Australia, freeways cut through eucalyptus forests, and koalas are often hit by cars when they want to cross the highway.

In zoos, koalas are difficult to provide natural food, so they are kept mainly in zoos located in regions with a mild climate, where open ground eucalyptus trees can grow. Greatest Success koala breeding has been achieved in the zoos of Australia and San Diego (California).

Due to the densely populated areas, koalas have less and less natural habitats. Often fires occur in eucalyptus forests through the fault of a person, and slow koalas simply do not have time to flee. One can only hope for the work of special rescue teams here. During massive fires, these services patrol the forests and help animals. Australia has several large rehabilitation centers where comprehensive veterinary supervision is carried out.

Let us hope that human efforts will provide desired result, and the furry inhabitants of the trees will not disappear from the face of the Earth.

Koala or marsupial bear (Phascolarctos cinereus) - the only species of the koala family, the koala lives in eastern Australia.
The koala is a small animal of dense build, body length 60–82 cm, weight from 5 to 16 kg. The tail of the koala is very short, invisible from the outside, the head is large and wide, the ears are large, the eyes are small. hairline koalas are thick and soft, on the back the color changes from light gray to dark gray, sometimes reddish or reddish, the abdomen is lighter.

The size and color of the koala depends on the habitat, as koalas are larger, they have thicker dark gray fur, often with a brownish tint on the back. In tropical and subtropical koalas are much smaller and lighter, their fur is rarer and shorter.

The limbs of the koala are adapted to climbing - large and index fingers front and hind limbs are opposed to the rest, which allows the koala to grab the branches of trees, on thumb hind limbs the claw is absent. The claws are strong and sharp, able to support the weight of the animal. Koalas are one of the few non-primates to have a papillary pattern on their fingertips, koala fingerprints are indistinguishable from human fingerprints even under an electron microscope.

The koala is called a marsupial bear because the koala's face is a bit like a bear, and the location of the brood bag and the dental formula bring it closer to, with which it apparently had a common ancestor.

Koalas inhabit eucalyptus forests and spend almost their entire lives in the crowns of these trees. During the day, the koala sleeps for 18–22 hours a day, and at night it climbs trees, looking for food. Even if the koala does not sleep, it usually sits completely still for hours, clasping a branch or tree trunk with its front paws. A koala descends to the ground only to move to a new tree, which it cannot jump to, and koalas jump from tree to tree with surprising deftness and confidence.

The slowness of the koala is associated with the peculiarities of its nutrition. It has adapted to feed almost exclusively on eucalyptus shoots and leaves, which are fibrous and low in protein, but contain many phenolic and terpene compounds that are poisonous to most animals. In addition, young shoots, especially closer to autumn, contain hydrocyanic acid. Thanks to them poisonous properties food competition from other animals in the koala is extremely small - besides it, only ring-tailed opossum and marsupial flying squirrel feed on eucalyptus leaves.

In order not to get poisoned, koalas choose to eat only those types of eucalyptus that contain less phenolic compounds, and prefer trees growing on fertile soils(especially along the banks of rivers), in whose leaves the concentration of poison is lower than that of eucalyptus trees growing on poor, infertile lands. As a result, out of 800 species of eucalyptus, koalas feed on only 120 species. Apparently, a developed sense of smell helps koalas choose suitable food. In captivity, where the choice of the animal is usually less, it is even capable of food poisoning as a result of a cumulative effect.
The metabolic rate in the body of the koala is almost half that of most mammals (with the exception of wombats and sloths), which helps it compensate for the low nutritional value of the diet. On the day, the koala needs from 0.5 to 1.1 kg of leaves, which he carefully crushes and chews, accumulating the resulting mass in the cheek pouches. Like all mammals that feed on fibrous plant foods, koalas have a rich microflora in their digestive tract, including bacteria that convert indigestible cellulose into digestible compounds. The caecum, where the process of digestion takes place, is extremely developed, reaching a length of 2.4 m. Poisonous substances, entering the bloodstream, are neutralized in the liver.

“Koala” in the language of the tribes means “do not drink”, - the koala receives all the necessary moisture from the leaves of eucalyptus trees, as well as from the dew on the leaves. They drink water only during periods of prolonged drought and during illness. To make up for the deficiency of minerals in the body, koalas eat the earth from time to time.

There is no natural regulator of the number of these animals in nature - aboriginal predators do not hunt them; Koalas are attacked only by dingoes and feral dogs. But koalas often get sick. Cystitis, periostitis of the skull, conjunctivitis, sinusitis are their common diseases; sinusitis often leads to inflammation of the lungs, especially in cold winters.

Female koalas lead a solitary life and stick to their territories, which they rarely leave. In fertile areas, the areas of individual individuals often overlap each other. Males are not territorial, but even less sociable - when they meet, especially during the breeding season, they often attack each other, causing injury.

Only during the breeding season, which lasts from October to February, koalas gather in groups consisting of an adult male and several females. At this time, males often rub their chest against the trees, leaving odorous marks, and emit loud calling cries, sometimes heard from a kilometer away. Since fewer males are born than females, harems of 2-5 females gather around male koalas during the mating season. Mating takes place on a tree (optionally a eucalyptus).

Pregnancy lasts 30-35 days. There is only one cub in the litter, which at birth has a length of only 15–18 mm and a weight of about 5.5 g; occasionally twins. The cub stays in the bag for 6 months, feeding on milk, and then for another six months it "travels" on the mother's back or stomach, clinging to her fur. At the age of 30 weeks, he begins to eat semi-liquid mother's excrement, consisting of a kind of gruel from semi-digested eucalyptus leaves - in this way, microorganisms necessary for the digestive process enter the digestive tract of young koalas. The mother excretes this slurry for about a month. At the age of one year, the cubs become independent - young females aged 12-18 months go in search of sites, but males often stay with their mothers until 2-3 years old.
Koalas breed once every 1-2 years. Sexual maturity in females occurs at 2-3 years, in males - at 3-4 years. On average, a koala lives 12-13 years, although there are cases when they lived to the age of 20.

Classification

Family: Koalas(Phascolarctos)

Squad: Two-crested marsupials

Suborder: Vombatiformes

Class: Mammal

Type: chordates

Dimensions: length - 71–82 cm; weight - 5–14 kg

Lifespan: 13-18 years old

Koala, whose photo makes everyone smile, looks like a small bear. Almost everyone knows what this funny and cute animal looks like.

For the first time, a lop-eared, furry animal with a bizarre appearance was discovered at the beginning of the 19th century in Australia.

In August 1803, the first article about koalas was published in an Australian newspaper, which began their worldwide popularity.

Etymology

The genus name Phascolarctos is derived from the Greek phaskolos meaning "bag", and arktos meaning "bear".

Literally translated, Phascolarctos sounds like "marsupial bear." The species, due to its fur color, was named cinereus, which translates as "ashy".

Koala has nothing to do with the bear family, as it is the only representative of Phascolarctos.

But because of their external similarity with the first, they were called the koala bear. Outside of Australia, this species name is very common, although it is incorrect.

The marsupial bear looks very similar to the wombat, which also lives in Australia.

The animal differs from its closest relatives in thicker hair, long limbs and large ears.

Species history

The closest relatives of the animal are considered to be, which also belongs to the group of two-bladed marsupials (what a wombat looks like, you can see in the photo above).

The marsupial bear looks very similar to the wombat, also living on the Australian mainland. The animal differs from its closest relatives in thicker hair, long limbs and large ears.

Naturalists claim that approximately 34-24 million years ago there were about 18 species of marsupial bears. Modern look the koala is much younger and appeared about 15 million years ago.

Habitat

The koala is distributed almost throughout Australia and nearby islands. The animal is not found only in Tasmania.

The marsupial bear also does not live in the Western part of the country, although its remains are found here. He prefers to settle in tropical forests in the south and east of the mainland.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the species was completely exterminated in South Australia, but then artificially restored.

The animal chooses exclusively eucalyptus forests with a sufficient amount of moisture as a habitat.

Koalas are individualists: they prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle and are active at night. Males mark their territory by rubbing their fluid into the bark of trees.

Koala at the meal

Characteristic

The koala bear has the following parameters:

• The body weight of the animal varies between 5-14 kg and depends on the sex and habitat. Males are larger than females. Among them, the largest representatives live in the southern part of the country. Females living in the north, as a rule, do not gain more than 5 kilograms.

Interesting!The extinct species of Koalemus could reach a weight of about 400 kg, which is 28 times more mass modern Phascolarctos.

• An inhabitant of eucalyptus forests does not grow more than 82 cm in length. On average, the length of the body is 71 cm. The number of teeth in the species is 30.
• Females have only 2 nipples, which are located inside the bag.
• In the course of evolution, degeneration occurred marsupial: the weight of the brain is no more than 0.2% of the total body weight, while the cranial cavity is approximately half filled with cerebrospinal fluid. Biologists attribute this fact to the nutrient-poor plant foods consumed.

The animal has sharp claws that allow you to easily move through the trees.

Appearance

Sharp claws on the paws allow the animal to easily move through the trees. The cubs use prehensile claws to cling tightly to their mother's fur.

The front paws have five toes, two of which are large. They are slightly set aside from the other three.

Such anatomical structure allows you to firmly grasp the trunk, branches of a tree. The animal is able to hang on a tree for a long time, holding on with only one paw.

The paw of the koala has two thumbs.

Interesting!The pattern on the pads of the fingers of the marsupial bear is identical to the human. It is sometimes impossible to detect the difference even with a special microscope.

The large head of the animal has large, round ears covered with thick fur. The muzzle is slightly flattened, a large black nose and small eyes stand out on it.

Thick fur has a shade between ashy and in gray. The belly and neck are characterized by a lighter shade, and the reverse side of the paws are black.

Males are endowed with a forked phallus, and females with two vaginas and uteruses. Such anatomical feature inherent only marsupials.

The koala's tail is similar to a bear's: just as small and short.

Koala prefers to sleep on a tree, clasping the trunk with tenacious paws. The photo shows what a sleeping marsupial bear looks like.

Key Features

• Koala prefers to sleep on a tree, clasping the trunk with tenacious paws.
• The animal moves very slowly and switches to a fast run only in case of danger.
• The metabolism of koalas is twice as slow as that of other mammals. The exceptions are sloths and wombats.
• Despite the fact that the animal prefers to be on a tree most of the time, it swims well. Their fur repels water and is able to protect against temperature extremes.
• The caecum in an individual of this species is very developed and can reach a length of more than 2 meters. This is where the process of digestion takes place.
• Koala meat is inedible for predators, as it has a pronounced smell of eucalyptus.
• The koala bear is prone to many diseases.
• The source of moisture for the animal is juicy eucalyptus leaves and dew. Representatives of marsupials use water only during droughts.
• The mating process of individuals occurs right on the tree.
• A frightened or injured koala is able to make sounds similar to the cry of a child.

Health

Cola is vulnerable to diseases: diseases such as conjunctivitis, sinusitis, cystitis and periostitis of the skull often overtake it.

Sinusitis often leads to the development of pneumonia, as a result of which the animal may die. Average age(15 years) determined only for animals living in zoos.

Koala poses for a photo at the zoo

Nutrition

The koala bear feeds exclusively on eucalyptus leaves and shoots.

Interesting!Eucalyptus contains poisonous substances that are toxic to the animal. But thanks to the work they are neutralized by the liver and do not harm health.

Of the 800 species of eucalyptus trees, the marsupial bear chooses only 120 for its food, which are less toxic. A well-developed sense of smell helps him identify less poisonous trees.

In order to avoid the cumulative effect of toxic substances in the body, the animal changes its appearance eucalyptus tree used for food.

The animal needs 500-1000 grams of plant food per day. He prefers to eat more juicy leaves, which are able to provide the body with the necessary fluid by 90%.

The koala bear needs additional sources of moisture only during a period of drought or during an illness.

The marsupial bear is engaged in the extraction of food exclusively at night.

Lifestyle

The koala is engaged in the extraction of food after dark. During the day, the animal sits on a tree and chews the leaves, which during the prey it managed to put aside by the cheeks, or sleeps, clinging to a branch with one paw.

This species of the marsupial family, however, prefers a passive lifestyle. Koalas stay almost immobile up to 18-20 hours a day, sitting on a tree.

They only come down to earth rare cases when they cannot jump to the next tree.

The phlegm of the animal is explained by its diet, which includes plant food, poor in protein content.

Marsupials are silent, except during mating periods, when males attract females with a cry. Koalas also give a “voice” at the moment of danger.

IN wild nature the species has no enemies, with the exception of the dingo dog, which can prey on a herbivore if it is very hungry. Other predators do not eat koalas due to high toxicity.

The koala bear prefers a solitary lifestyle, excluding the mating period. At this time, males often attack each other when they meet.

During mating, individuals gather in groups of several females and one male.

reproduction

During mating (October-February), adults gather in groups with several females and only one male (see photo above).

This is due to the fact that the population of males is much smaller.

Interesting!Females choose to mate with more major representatives, while focusing on the smell and the emitted call of the male, which is heard almost a kilometer away.

Females carry the fetus for 30-35 days. Most often, there is only one cub in the litter and occasionally twins.

At birth, the baby weighs just over 5 grams, and the body length barely reaches 15-18 millimeters. He is born completely blind and bald. What a baby koala looks like can be seen in the photo below.

marsupial bear cub

For 6 months, the female is in close contact with the cub, carrying him in a bag, where he develops and feeds on milk. Six months later, the baby crawls out of the bag, moving onto the back of the mother.

His food is the excrement of the parent, which contains semi-digested eucalyptus leaves and the necessary microorganisms for digestion.

Thus, in the intestines of a small koala, beneficial bacteria helping to cope with the digestion of rough food.

Up to a year, the cubs are on the female, wandering from back to stomach. hold on little bear sharp, tenacious claws help.

Photo of a female koala with a cub

The female is with a cub from 1 year to 3 years. Young females become independent by the age of 1, while males can stay with their mother for up to 2-3 years.

Females become sexually mature individuals by the age of 2-3, in males puberty occurs at 3-4 years of age.

The female brings offspring every 1-2 years.

Relationships with humans and population status

Trusting and good-natured bears at the beginning of the 20th century became the object of hunting for hunters who killed the animal because of its thick fur, comparable in value to a fur coat or. As a result, in South Australia, the species was almost exterminated.

The government banned the hunting of koalas, and by the middle of the 20th century, the population was restored.

Despite the fact that the species is not threatened with extinction from poachers, the number of koalas in some habitats is declining. This is due to mass felling forests, fires, and diseases to which they are subject.

Marsupials are not afraid of humans, and are very friendly towards them. They are very easy to tame, they love affection.

In captivity, eucalyptus bears become very attached to the people who care for them, and even become sad when they are left alone.

Koalas bond with humans

Breeding in captivity

In captivity, the koala breeds in specialized parks, whose activities are aimed at preserving the population. There are several koala parks in Australia.

Marsupial bears in Koala Park

Breeding and keeping this species in captivity is associated with some difficulties.

First of all, this is due to the specifics of their lifestyle and food, which is very difficult to diversify in artificial conditions.

Only zoos in Australia and San Diego in California have managed to achieve suitable conditions for koalas. In any case, animals are better off natural environment a habitat.

Koala: A marsupial bear from Australia

Koala: photo, species description, main characteristics. Characteristics marsupial bears and lifestyle, as well as the relationship of koalas with people.