Koalas
The Koala is a small, tree dwelling marsupial. It has a very keen sense of smell. Its fur is thick and woolly and acts as a raincoat to repel moisture when it rains. They have a very large nose, large ears, and very sharp and strong claws. They are well suited to life in the trees. They have an excellent sense of balance and their strong limbs support their weight when climbing. They are mostly nocturnal animals, mostly because they are less likely to loose precious moisture and energy than in the hotter daylight. They spend an average of 18 hours resting and sleeping. The remainder of their day involves eating, changing trees, grooming and social interaction.
Lottie and Killarney are the two female Koalas on exhibit at the Riverbanks Zoo, which originally received the koalas as the result of a sister-state relationship established in 1999 between the states of South Carolina and Queensland, Australia. As part of the relationship and as a result of the gifts, Riverbanks Zoo and the government of Queensland are collaborating on projects to benefit koalas living at the zoo and in the wild in Queensland.
RANGE: The koala is found in the Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland areas of Australia.
HABITAT: Koalas prefer living in the wild eucalyptus forests and woodlands of Eastern Australia that stretch from Cooktown in northern Queensland to southwestern Victoria.
LIFE EXPECTANCY: The average life of a koala is 13 to 19 years.
BEHAVIOR: The koala is an arboreal, solitary animal that sleeps up to 18 hours a day.
DIET IN THE WILD: Koalas will eat only the leaves of certain types of eucalyptus trees.
DIET IN THE ZOO: Koalas enjoy the same diet in captivity.
LITTER SIZE: The koala is normally single birth, but on rare occasions will deliver twins.