Koala on Eucalyptus tree, Koala Park, West Pennant Hills, NSW. Australia. 18.Nov.2014. Olympus FE280. f/5.9, 1/100sec, ISO-400, 19mm, 3.26. Though often called the koala bear, this cuddly animal is not a bear at all; it is a marsupial, or pouched mammal. After giving birth, a female koala carries her baby in her pouch for about six months. When the infant emerges, it rides on its mothers back or clings to her belly, accompanying her everywhere until it is about a year old. Koalas live in eastern Australia, where the eucalyptus trees they love are most plentiful. In fact, they rarely leave these trees, and their sharp claws and opposable digits easily keep them aloft. During the day they doze, tucked into forks or nooks in the trees, sleeping for up to 18 hours. They are active only about 4 hours a day and they do not consume much energy. When not asleep a koala feeds on eucalyptus leaves, especially at night. Koalas do not drink much water and they get most of their moisture from these leaves. Koala in Native Australian language mean No need of water. Each animal eats a tremendous amount for its size—about two and a half pounds (one kilogram) of leaves a day. Koalas even store snacks of leaves in pouches in their cheeks.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 05:26:33 +0000
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