Koala Bears

By: Laura Dion

General Information

Common Name: Koala Bear

Scientific Name: Phascolarctus Cinereus

Family: Phascolarctidae

Order: Marsupialia

Color: Gray

Statistics

Height: About 24inches

Lives more than 10 years in the wild

Lives up to 20 years in captivity

Sexual Maturity:

Males: 3-4 years

Females: 2-3 years

Mating:

September-January in southern part of range.

November- February in Northern part

Habitat

Classification: Solitary Tree Dweller

Lives almost exclusively in the branches of Eucalyptus Trees

Range of Habitat

Coastal regions of South Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria)

Now, the koala is a protected species. Sanctuaries flourish in Victoria and Queensland. They are being reintroduced to South Australia where they had become locally extinct.

Food Source

Eucalyptus Leaves

There are more than 100 species of eucalyptus trees, but Koalas only feed on 12 of them.

How the Koala Climbs

To climb, a koala clasps a tree trunk between its forepaws and draws its hind legs up together in a series of small rapid

jumps.

Fun FactsKoalas are NocturnalA koala never has to drink anything, because it gets all its liquid from eucalyptus leaves.A newborn koala is only the size of a lima bean. Its hind legs are barely formed, but its forelimbs and claws are relatively well developed. It drags itself to the pouch by following a trail of saliva laid down by its mother.Koalas are excellent swimmers, because they need to cross rivers to survive heavy flooding.Many koalas are killed in sanctuaries because they are run over by cars.

Works Cited:Slide 1:

http://www.natyu.com/images/stories/koala1/gtotem_koala.jpg

Slide 2: King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://jazzdad.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/koala.jpg

Slide 3:King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://graeworthington.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/koala_safe.jpg

Slide 4: King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://imagecache6.allposters.com/LRG/26/2677/KGAUD00Z.jpg

Slide 5:King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2677484290_dd49586339.jpg

Slide 6:King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://www.animalfactguide.com/images/maps/worldmap_koala.png http://www.koala-bears.org/images/australia-map.jpg

Slide 7:King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I1LULKOmT_w/TA7DQrUeBvI/AAAAAAAAAEM/ig_leWiaS4w/s1600/koalas-asutralianos.jpg http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/anphys/2000/CrawfordC/claws.jpg

Slide 8: King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://www.blog-city.info/en/img8/8803_koala05.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2f85ULzcgMY/TQeRIj2xhUI/AAAAAAAAASQ/N91J2jL7suo/s1600/Koala%252BBear.jpg http://media.nowpublic.net/images//a5/b/a5b859afcc96887d86ebc50a9c07edd2.jpg http://www.blog-city.info/en/img8/8803_Koala_Baby.jpg