Why do koalas live in trees?

Answer 1

Koalas live in trees because all their needs are met in trees. They rely on certain species of eucalyptus trees for their food, and under normal conditions, they require no further water other than the moisture they obtain from the leaves.

Koalas shelter in trees as well, as their bodies have certain adaptations that enable them to to sit comfortably in trees for most of the day.

Koalas are not as slow as many believe them to be when on the ground, but when they move between their home trees, they are more vulnerable to ground-dwelling, introduced predators such as domestic dogs.

Answer 2

Eucalypt trees are where their food grows. The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a marsupial mammal and is indigenous to Australia. Their closest relative is the wombat. They live in eucalyptus trees and eat only a few types of gum leaves from which they get all nutrients and water requirements. Eucalyptus leaves are tough, toxic and low in nutrition, but the koala has developed a stomach which is capable of removing the toxins from where they are filtered out by the liver. The caecum completes the process by changing the eucalyptus leaves into digestible nutrients. The caecum is similar to the human appendix. The koala must eat over a kilogram of leaves per day to meet its energy requirements. Eucalyptus leaves contain approximately 50% water, 18% fibre, 13% tannins, 8% fat, 5% carbohydrates, 4% protein and 2% minerals. Koalas have been seen feeding in 120 kinds of eucalypt tree including Manna Gum, Swamp Gum, Blue Gum, Forest Red Gum and Grey Gum.

Answer 3

Koalas are not bears; nor do they eat trees.

They are marsupials which primarily eat the leaves and blossoms of certain types of gum trees (eucaluptus). Their digestive system is especially designed to enable them to gain nutrition from what is, to other animals, essentially inedible.

Answer 4

Koalas are specially adapted to eat gum leaves, or eucalyptus. Other animals do not compete for the koala's food. Koalas occupy a unique niche in the Australian bush ecosystem. Apart from the greater glider, the koala is the only other marsupial which lives almost exclusively on eucalyptus leaves.

Koalas get all their nutrients and water requirements from gum leaves. Koalas consume about 200-500 grams of eucalyptus leaves every day, from about a dozen of their "preferred" varieties, in order to meet their energy requirements. Eucalyptus leaves contain approximately 50% water, 18% fibre, 13% tannins, 8% fat, 5% carbohydrates, 4% protein and 2% minerals. Koalas have been known to also eat the buds, flowers and bark of their particular preferred species, while dirt also seems to supplement mineral deficiencies.

Eucalyptus leaves are tough, toxic and low in nutrition, but the koala has a uniquely adapted digestive system which is capable of removing the toxins, filtering them out by the liver. The caecum completes the process by changing the eucalyptus leaves into digestible nutrients. The caecum is similar to the human appendix.

Baby koalas, called joeys, drink mother's milk during their first 6-7 months of life. After 30 weeks, the mother produces a substance called pap. This substance is actually a specialised form of the mother's droppings which, having passed through her digestive system, give the joey the enzymes it needs to be able to start digesting the tough gum leaves, making an easier transition for the baby koala to start eating eucalyptus leaves.