Australia
Koala
G'day! The koala is a cuddly-looking marsupial that spends almost its whole life up in eucalyptus trees, munching leaves and napping the day away.
Why is it special?
It's not actually a bear — it's a marsupial, just like a kangaroo, and carries its baby in a pouch.
Its fluffy grey fur and big round nose make it one of the most recognized animals in the world.
How does it live?
Koalas spend most of the day sleeping in the fork of a tree to save energy, since eucalyptus leaves don't give them much.
They eat almost nothing but eucalyptus leaves, which are tough and slightly poisonous to most other animals.
Amazing facts
A koala can sleep up to 20 hours a day — even more than a sloth!
Koalas have fingerprints so similar to human fingerprints that even experts can mix them up.
Quick facts
- A koala can sleep up to 20 hours a day — even more than a sloth!
- Koalas have fingerprints so similar to human fingerprints that even experts can mix them up.
- A baby koala, called a joey, is about the size of a jellybean when it's born.
- Koalas rarely need to drink water — they get most of their moisture from eucalyptus leaves.