Koalas can snooze between 18 and 22 hours a day, making them one of the sleepiest animals on Earth.
Like kangaroos, koalas are marsupials, meaning the mothers carry their babies (called joeys) in a pouch until they're old enough to cling to her back.
Their diet is almost exclusively eucalyptus leaves, which are fibrous and can be toxic to other creatures. Koalas have specialised digestive systems to handle these leaves.
The word 'koala' is often said to come from an Aboriginal language meaning 'no drink.' Koalas get most of their water from eucalyptus leaves, although they will drink when the leaves are too dry or in times of drought.
Koala fingerprints are so similar to human fingerprints that even forensic experts can occasionally mistake one for the other.
Koalas have a very slow metabolic rate to help conserve energy, allowing them to survive on the limited nutritional value of eucalyptus.
Before a joey transitions to leaves, it consumes something called 'pap,' a special substance produced by the mother that contains the necessary bacteria to digest eucalyptus.
Koalas have strong arms, sharp claws, and opposable digits, helping them grip tree bark and climb efficiently.
They rely heavily on their sense of smell to choose which eucalyptus leaves are the freshest and most suitable for eating.
Male koalas have scent glands on their chests, which they use to mark their territory by rubbing against tree trunks.
In a sun-drenched corner of the Australian bush, there stood a mighty gumtree with thick branches stretching into the endless blue sky. High among the leaves lived a young koala named Kora, who was often found dozing in the warm glow of daylight...
Cute baby koala joey peeking
Koala sleeping peacefully on branch
Koala climbing a tree