International Wild Koala Day – 03rd May
International Wild Koala Day – 03rd May
May 3! A day to celebrate wild koalas and protect their habitats.
The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), is an arboreal, herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats. It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, spoon-shaped nose. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm and weighs 4–15 kg. Fur colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown. Koalas from Victoria are twice as heavy as those from Queensland.
Koalas typically inhabit open Eucalyptus woodland, as the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet. This eucalypt diet has low nutritional and caloric content and contains toxins that deter most other mammals from feeding on it. The Koala has several adaptations for its eucalyptic diet. Since the Koala gains a low amount of energy from it`s diet, it`s metabolic rate is half that of a typical meal. They sleep or rest 20 hours a day and active at night.Their curved, sharp claws are well adapted for climbing trees.
They are asocial animals, and bonding exists only between mothers and dependent offspring. Koalas are sexually dimorphism with males 50% larger than females. Males mark their presence with secretions from scent glands located on their chests. Being marsupials, koalas give birth to underdeveloped young that crawl into their mothers’ pouches, where they stay for the first six to seven months of their lives. These young koalas, known as joeys, are fully weaned around a year old. Koalas have few natural predators and parasites, but are threatened by various pathogens, such as Chlamydiaceae bacteria and koala retrovirus.
A koala can live to about 15 years of age in the wild, somewhat longer in captivity.
Koalas can be seen in habitats ranging from relatively open forests to woodlands and climates from tropical to cool temperature.
Koalas are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. A major threat to it`s existence is habitat destruction.
– Source: Internet –