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.
Overview
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.
Biology
Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is classified as Mammal with conservation status Vulnerable. Typical weight 4–14 kg (9–31 lb); lifespan around 13–18 years in the wild.
Ecology
Diet: Herbivore (eucalyptus specialist). Habitat: Eucalyptus forest and woodland. Movement and social systems reflect those pressures.
People and this species
Learn before you travel or keep related pets. Wild individuals are not toys; captive care needs species-specific husbandry.
Further reading
See the full Koala profile for FAQs, taxonomy, and related 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.
Raising a joey
Like other marsupials, koalas give birth to a tiny, undeveloped joey that crawls into the mother's pouch to keep growing. After about six months it begins riding on her back. Young koalas eat a special form of their mother's droppings to gain the gut microbes needed to digest eucalyptus.
Conservation
Koalas are listed as Vulnerable, and populations in parts of eastern Australia are declining sharply. Habitat loss, bushfires, disease, vehicle strikes, and dog attacks are the main threats, and protecting and replanting eucalyptus forest is central to their recovery.
Research notes
Figures for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) come from field studies, museum records, and conservation assessments that do not always agree on exact averages. Prefer ranges over single-point claims, and check whether a source describes wild, captive, or mixed populations.
Practical takeaways
If you encounter koalas in the wild, prioritise distance and local guidance. If you care for related domestic or captive animals, match diet and housing to species needs rather than generic pet advice. Share accurate status information (Vulnerable) when discussing conservation.
Sources
FAQs
Koala: Key Facts & Natural History?
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
What do koalas eat?
Herbivore (eucalyptus specialist)
Where do koalas live?
Eucalyptus forest and woodland
Are koalas endangered?
Listed here as Vulnerable. Check IUCN and national lists for the latest assessment.