KOALA

The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a marsupial mammal who lives in the

trees of Australia.
The koala is between 61 and
85 centimetres long and it
weights between 4 and 14
kilograms. Koalas have soft
fur. Its colour is between
brown and silver grey in colour
and its hands have sharp
claws. Koalas spend most of
the time on eucalyptus. These
hefty, muscular animals are
very good at climbing. They
have a small, chubby body and
long extremities. Each hand has five fingers, with two thumbs. That means
Koala can climb trees easier.
Male koalas can be distinguished from female Koalas by the testicle sac that
the male koala has and a gland which they have in their chest, which gives
off a smell. Female koalas have a pouch, but its opening is below.
Koalas eat leaves, bark and the fruit of eucalyptus. Koalas drink very few
times. Its believed that Koala means it doesnt drink in the native
language. Young koalas have to leave the place where their mother lives. It
usually happens when they are 18 months. Koalas make a wide variety of
sounds that makes them be able to communicate from very long distance.
Koalas have a very weak Immune System, which can make them have a lot
of problems and diseases.
In the old days koalas soft, hard-wearing skin was very popular. Thats why
the koala population was reduced a lot. However, almost 4,000 koalas that
live in urban places die by men. Three out of every four animals that die in
accidents are koalas. In Spain there are only three koalas. Another problem
is that almost 80% of koalas live in private lands. According to the
calculations of The Koala Australian Association, koalas could become
extinct before 2080.

Iago Fouz Fernndez No. 8 4th B