KOALA BEARS

By: Alexis Roberts

Scientific name: Phascolarctos cinereus.

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Found in the eucalypt forests of eastern Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and the southern part of South Australia.

KOALA BEARS Length of life: About 20 years. Size: Males about 77cm and females

about 71cm Weight: southern males about 11.6 kg

and southern females 7.8 kgNorthern males about 6.3 kg and northern females about 5 kg

Habitat: Eucalypt forests Diet: Eucalyptus trees Gestation: about 35 days Cubs: usually 1 and rarely 2 twins cubs

DESCRIPTION Gray soft wool like fur White mainly on the underside Ears have long hairs on the tips Resembles a bear but is actually a

marsupial Carries young in pouch Young stays with mother up to a year

after its born

FACTS Live in individual trees, but they live in

groups May mark their trees with scent Sleep 19 hours a day They have finger prints that can be seen

under a microscope. Has a slow digestive system which

causes them to move slow Almost never go on the ground

WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED? Killed for their soft fur Food source for Native Americans Habitat destruction Disease Wild fires Hit by cars

AUSTRALIAN KOALA FOUNDATION No tree no me! funded approximately $7.5 million on

koala research Planted over 10,000 koala food trees Consulted with the developer of a koala-

friendly housing development and proved thatkoalas and humans can live in harmony at Koala Beach

QUIZ How long does a baby koala stay with its

mother? What is the life span of a koala bear? Where are they located? What Foundation is help to save them? Why are they endangered?