While you may have heard and seen a koala before, you might not know they possess interesting facts about them that don’t compare to other animals. For starters, their diet and eating habits are unlike any other animal, and they have physical traits that you wouldn’t be able to see without taking a closer look at them.
Read on to find out 10 surprising facts about koalas you might’ve never known before today.
1. Koalas Can Sleep Up to 18 Hours Per Day
Sometimes, they can even sleep up to 22 hours per day. Koalas only eat eucalyptus leaves, which can take a lot of their body’s energy to digest. When they are found awake though, most of their time is spent fueling up with food. They’re also mostly nocturnal, so if they’re awake in the middle of the day, it may be to move out of necessity.
2. Koala Translates to ‘No Drink’
Despite living in a hot climate, koalas are rarely found ever drinking water. They mainly rely on the water from the moisture in the leaves they consume. They may also get their hydration from rainwater atop the leaves or bark from a tree.
3. They’re Known to Eat A Lot
Koalas can eat up to one pound of food per day. While that may not seem like a lot, they only weigh about 25 pounds as an adult. Their teeth are also equipped to handle an all-leaf diet because they’re shaped for grinding them up for digestion.
4. Koalas Eat Toxic Foods
Eucalyptus leaves, their primary diet, are known to be poisonous when consumed. Koalas bodies, however, have a caecum in their intestine that helps break down the toxins in the leaves. This takes a toll on koalas’ energy– which contributes to the needed extra hours of sleep.
5. They Aren’t Bears
In the 18th century, koalas were often mistaken for small gray bears climbing in the trees. Although, they have more similarities to kangaroos and wombats because they also have a pouch to carry their young. They have no commonalities with bears other than being classified as mammals.
6. Koalas Have Two Thumbs on Each Paw
Along with their sharp claws, the additional thumbs help give them a strong hold on the tree branches. Gum trees can be especially slippery, so this prevents them from sliding down the trunks. Not only do they find strength in their paws, but they also have fantastic upper body strength to help lift them during their ascent.
7. They Don’t Like Being Held
They may look cute and cuddly, but koalas are still wild animals that can become aggressive when provoked. Plus, a bite from their sharp teeth or a scratch from their long claws can pack a substantial injury. If you are harmed by a koala, it may be best to seek treatment for any risk of infection.
8. They Don’t Sound Pleasant
Koalas aren’t known for sounding magical or sweet. Instead, they can be heard making deep grunts or loud, screechy yelling sounds. What’s interesting is the level of sound that radiates from a koala could appear surprising as it’s more likely to suspect this range of sound to come from a much larger animal. Oftentimes, these noises can be heard from males for mating purposes.
9. Koalas Have Fingerprints
Similar to chimps and gorillas, koalas have fingerprints. Not only are fingerprints major identity trackers for humans, but they increase the sensitivity in a koala’s paws. This feature works closely with their powerful grips when climbing and resting in trees.
10. Their Population is Declining
The koala was moved to the “Endangered” list in 2022. This is due to their rapidly declining habitat, wildfires, and road accidents. It’s estimated that there are only a little over 60,000 koalas left in the wild.
