The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), sometimes inaccurately called the koala bear, is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae. Its closest living relatives are the wombats.

Koalas are not bears—they’re marsupials. Learn about koalas’ unique traits, including six opposable “thumbs,” downward-facing pouches, and an ability to slee...

5 days ago · Koala, tree-dwelling marsupial of coastal eastern and southern Australia. It is about 60 to 85 cm (24 to 33 inches) long and weighs up to 14 kg (31 pounds) in the southern part of its range but only about half that in the northern part.

Koalas are not bears—they’re marsupials. Learn about koalas’ unique traits, including six opposable "thumbs,"downward-facing pouches, and a tendency to sleep nearly all day in tree branches.

Jan 29, 2025 · If you want to see wild koalas, you are sure to get your money’s worth here – in a one to two kilometre wide patch of forest on the Grey River Road, which branches off the Great Ocean Road, they sit in the eucalyptus trees and smile or sleep.

From sweeping bushland to tranquil nature reserves and tree-covered islands, there are plenty of places in Australia to spot adorable koalas in the wild.

There is only one species of Koala in the world. It is the only extant member of the family Phascolarctidae, whose closest living relatives are the common wombats. Their wild numbers are estimated to be around 300,000 mature individuals, but showing a declining population trend. Koalas are currently listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.

Koalas are thick-set animals with thick, soft, wool-like ash-grey colored coats with white underparts. Their fur protects them from both high and low temperatures and acts like a raincoat to repel moisture when it rains. The fur on a koalas bottom is densely packed to provide a ‘cushion’ for the hard branches it sits upon.

Dec 18, 2024 · Koalas are solitary animals that keep to themselves, eating and sleeping most of the day. © Jordan Whittl | Unsplash. In fact, it is illegal to hold and cuddle koalas in all Australian states that host wild koala populations, except for Queensland and South Australia.

The Koala is one of Australia's best-known animals. The Koala's thick ash-grey fur, white chest and round head with fluffy ears make this species unmistakable. The Koala lives in eucalypt forests. The Koala has a patchy distribution from northern Queensland to southern Victoria and south-eastern South Australia.