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It look likes a fuzzy teddy bear come to life. But the koala is not a bear at all. It is a mammal with a pouch, called a marsupial. This chubby, fur-covered animal with fringe fur on its ears is only about 2 1/2 feet long.

Koalas live in parts of eastern Australia in the branches of eucalyptus trees. These trees provide the koala with a home and food, so itreally doesn’t have to go anywhere else! They are good climbers and grasp hold of branches by spreading their toes. Sharp claws dig intothe bark and keep the animal steady and secure. Even when the koala is ready to move to a different branch or tree they rarely climb to theground. In thick forests, they will climb along a branch until it is close enough to a nearby tree and then it will jump to a branch on the new tree.

Koalas are relaxed animals and spend their day dozing high in the trees. Toward the evening, koalas become more active. This is when they get hungry and decide to eat. They climb along the branches of the eucalyptus tree, eating its leaves and bark. Each koala eats about 2 1/2 pounds of leaves a day. Because the leaves are moist, koalas getmost of the water they need from the leaves. Even though they eat a lot for their size, kolas are careful and particular eaters. They maygo past several leafy branches before they find the perfect one. Eucalyptus leaves can contain some deadly acids during certain times ofthe year and the koala knows when to avoid these leaves and when they are safe to eat.

Outside of Australia, the San Diego Zoo is the only place that koalas breed. This is because of the great number of trees needed to support their eating habits. A hundred tall trees are needed to provide food for each animal. Otherwise, they will strip the branch completely bare of all the leaves. There are so many eucalyptus trees at this zoo that it allows the koalas to live well. Because of the strong scent of the eucalyptus leaves, they often smell like cough drops!

Koalas usually live alone. During the mating season, however, they often join together in small groups of three or four. One male andseveral females may stay together. During this time, these usually quiet animals can get rather noisy. Males in particular make calls that sound like wood being cut by saws. A female gives birth to one offspring in the spring or summer. This newborn is hairless and is as big as a grape! It can’t see when it’s born because its eyes areshut, but somehow it is able to climb into its mother’s pouch. This protective pouch is located on the mom’s soft belly. Once it is in, the baby attaches itself to a nipple and will nurse for several months. After about six months, the youngster is able to leave the pouch. It still travels with its mother, however. The small koala rides on the mother’s back by clinging to her fur with its tiny claws and when themother is resting, the baby will cling to her belly. Even after the young one has left the pouch, it will return to the nipple for a few more months for food. After about a year, it will no longer need the mother and will eat only leaves. Then it will go off by itself and after about four years, it will start to have babies of its own.

Once these little guys were very common. But hunters started killing koalas for the fur and their tree homes were destroyed as farmers chopped them down to make fields. There are now laws to protect the koala but their future is still causing many people to worry.