Quick answer
The koala is a tree-dwelling marsupial native to eastern Australia, famous for its diet of eucalyptus leaves and for sleeping up to 20 hours a day. Despite often being called a bear, it is a marsupial that carries its young in a pouch. Wild koalas typically live around 13 to 18 years.
Key takeaway
The koala is a tree-dwelling marsupial native to eastern Australia, famous for its diet of eucalyptus leaves and for sleeping up to 20 hours a day. Despite often being called a bear, it is a marsupial that carries its young in a pouch. Wild koalas typically live around 13 to 18 years.
Koala overview
Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a mammal listed here as Vulnerable. Typical weight 4–14 kg (9–31 lb); lifespan around 13–18 years in the wild.
Koala ecology
Diet: Herbivore (eucalyptus specialist). Habitat: Eucalyptus forest and woodland. Movement and social systems reflect those pressures across the native range.
Koalas and people
Learn before you travel or keep related pets. Wild koalas are not toys; captive care needs species-specific husbandry.
Status and further reading
Conservation label in our guides: Vulnerable. See the full Koala profile for taxonomy, FAQs, and related topic guides on this site.
A specialized leaf diet
Koalas eat almost nothing but eucalyptus leaves, which are tough, low in nutrients, and toxic to most animals. A special digestive system lets koalas break down these leaves and neutralize the toxins. Because the diet provides so little energy, koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day to conserve it.
Life in the trees
Koalas are superbly adapted to life in the canopy, with strong limbs, rough paw pads, and two opposable thumbs on each front paw for gripping branches. They rarely come down to the ground, where they are slow and vulnerable, and they get most of their water from the moisture in leaves.
Sources
Koala FAQs
What are key facts about koalas?
The koala is a tree-dwelling marsupial native to eastern Australia, famous for its diet of eucalyptus leaves and for sleeping up to 20 hours a day. Despite often being called a bear, it is a marsupial that carries its young in a pouch. Wild koalas typically live around 13 to 18 years.
What is the scientific name of the koala?
Phascolarctos cinereus — used in research and conservation listings for koalas.
What do koalas eat?
Koalas eat eucalyptus specialist, with seasonal and regional variation in Eucalyptus forest and woodland.
Where do koalas live?
They are associated with Eucalyptus forest and woodland. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of koalas?
Listed in our guides as Vulnerable. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.