What items do koalas like?

Answer 1

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 2

Of the several hundred varieties of eucalyptus trees in Australia, koalas will eat the leaves of only about 60 types. Within that 60, there have a couple of dozen preferredvarieties, and then ultimately one or two main types that they like the most. A koala's favourite treat is therefore gum leaves (eucalyptus leaves).

Answer 3

Koalas' survival depends on eucalyptus trees, but not on just any eucalyptus tree. While there are hundreds of different eucalyptus species in Australia, koalas feed on just 14 species as their primary food source, specifically, the subgenus Symphyomyrphus. Preferred eucalyptus species vary depending on their locality, so that the species eaten by koalas in the south will be different to those eaten by northern koalas.

Answer 4

Koalas feed almost exclusively on leaves and flowers from eucalyptus trees.

While there are hundreds of different eucalyptus species in Australia, koalas eat from only about 60 of the species, and prefer just 14 species as their primary food source, specifically, the subgenus Symphyomyrphus. Preferred eucalyptus species vary depending on their locality, so that the species eaten by Victoria koalas will be different to those eaten by north Queensland koalas. Koalas have been known to also eat the buds, flowers and bark of these particular species, while dirt also seems to supplement mineral deficiencies. Koalas have been seen feeding in eucalypt trees such as Manna Gum, Swamp Gum, Blue Gum, Forest Red Gum and Grey Gum.

Answer 5

Koalas dine exclusively on eucalyptus, in fact even within the 800 or so species of eucalyptus leaves there are the Koala will only eat about 50 different types.

Talk about a picky eater!

Answer 6

Koalas like eucalyptus leaves.

Answer 7

Eucalyptus leaves.