Though sometimes called a koala bear, the koala is not a bear. The koala is actually a type of tree-dwelling marsupial, with a backwards-facing pouch, like wombats.
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.
Discover 10 adorable koala facts with Nat Geo Kids! Learn about where koalas live, how they develop, what they eat and see some fab photos, too!
Koalas are marsupials, related to kangaroos. Most marsupials have pouches where the tiny newborns develop. A koala mother usually gives birth to one joey at a time. A newborn koala is only...
Most of the Koala's time is spent in eucalypt trees sleeping and feeding, although occasionally it travels along the ground like its closest relatives, the wombats. The Koala is solitary and the larger males have scent glands on their chest. Breeding occurs during summer and usually one baby, or joey, is produced each year.
The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an Australian arboreal marsupial which is native to parts of Australia particularly Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.
Learn about koalas’ unique traits, including six opposable “thumbs,” downward-facing pouches, and an ability to slee...
Koalas may look sleepy and cuddly, but these iconic Australian animals survive on toxic leaves, can bolt at 30km/h and have a surprising knack for predicting the weather. In the Australian bush, koalas rarely drink water as they get most of the H20 they need from eating fresh eucalyptus leaves.
Discover more about the Koala, the issues and threats they are facing, and what you can do to help.