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Koalas
Native to Australia and exclusive to the eucalypt forests of Eastern and South-Eastern Australia, there are only three subspecies of Koala. Solitary animals, Koalas sleep as long as long as 18 hours a day and have a low-energy diet of eucalyptus leaves.
1,608 Questions
How often do koalas give birth?
Female koalas are ready to breed from age 2. After this, they give birth just once a year at most, and sometimes once every two years. They are quite slow breeders, which does not help their population figures.
Are sloths in the koala family?
No. Koalas are marsupials, and the only member of the family Phascolarctidae.
Sloths are placental mammals, and are divided into several families, none of which is Phascolarctidae.
In which two Australian states or territories is the Koala not naturally a resident?
Koalas are not native to either Tasmania or Western Australia. They are also not native to the Northern Territory, which is not a state.
They have been introduced to Western Australia, where they live in small colonies.
How can you prevent koalas from becoming extinct?
Koalas are not close to becoming extinct, nor are they even endangered, but their conservation status varies from region to region in Australia. The koala has been a protected species since earlier in the twentieth century, and this action has brought it back from the brink of extinction. Koalas are a protected native species and many things are being done or trialled to prevent their becoming vulnerable in other areas.
One of the best ways for the average person to help save koalas is to donate to the various organisations that protect animals, and this could help minimise the chance of the koala moving closer to extinction.
Although not endangered, the koala is certainly vulnerable in some parts of Australia. In southeast Queensland, for example, where the population growth has resulted in too many housing developments, the koala's population is expected to be extinct by 2020. Here, various local organisations are working to preserve koala habitats and protect them from being destroyed by urbanisation. Habitat loss is the major threat to koalas.
It is up to the individual state governments in Australia to determine how koalas are best helped. Trials have been done to build special passages (as mentioned above) for koalas to travel under roadways to reach feeding grounds. For many years, the Redland Shire (now city) of southeast Queensland maintained speed limits on roads for certain seasons of the year and times of the day, to minimise the risk of koalas been hit by cars. The trials were unsuccessful, and subsequently scrapped. Other trials have seen the management of housing estates, where the keeping of domestic pets such as dogs is tightly controlled, to minimise danger to koalas. In some areas, eco-passages have been built for koalas and other native wildlife to safely cross over or under busy roadways.
An increasing problem is also the disease Chlamydia, which renders female koalas infertile and causes premature death. Scientists are working to find a cure but, as yet, the disease cannot be stopped.
Some housing developers try to "buy" government approval for large housing estates by including plans for koala hospitals to be built within their areas of planned development. Sometimes local governments will not compromise the safety of koalas with such a ridiculous scheme, and refuse approval for such housing applications. Research on koala needs is constantly being carried out, and other areas have koala and native wildlife hospitals anyway, seeing a need for such a facility with the increasing numbers of koalas being injured by cars, people or dogs.
Initially there were no koalas in Western Australia, and South Australia's population had been wiped out by the 1920s. This has now been reversed. Kangaroo Island off the coast of SA and isolated islands off Victoria's coast have actually seen an overpopulation problem due to these protected colonies. New colonies have been established in Western Australia, and the koalas are breeding quite successfully.
Individuals can help the koalas from being endangered by practising responsible pet ownership and keeping our dogs locked up at night. Do not let pet dogs wander without supervision, as they are one of the biggest threats to koalas. In known koala areas, drive carefully, as koalas will wander across a street in their home range of eucalyptus trees without regard for oncoming traffic.
The related link below will take you to the Australian Koala Foundation, where you can learn more about protecting the species.
In summary:
There are two major threats to the koala.
- Habitat loss. Urban development has greatly encroached on the koala's habitat, bringing with it dangers such as dogs and cars.
- The disease chlamydia, which renders koalas infertile
Therefore, the main way to prevent the extinction of this iconic creature is through managed fauna sanctuaries, run by qualified staff, where the koalas are free to roam among a variety of eucalypt trees, and where those animals suffering injury or disease are able to get the best treatment.
Is it illegal to hunt koalas in all countries?
Koalas are found only in Australia. The koala is protected by law in Australia, and yes, it is illegal to hunt it.
How many hours a night does the average 63 year old need?
The amount of sleep ones body need gets less as you get older.
It is normal for infants to sleep up to 14 hours a day, even a bit more.
As you age, the need for sleep is less.
most 60+ sleep for approx 7 hours a night, with a short nap of half an hour during the day.
when older, often the need for sleep is increasing again.
In elderly homes in Denmark, most (but NOT all) goes to bed at 22 and gets up at around 7, breakfast served at 8. another sleep period from 15-16 and dinner served at 17.
This makes an effective sleep of up to 9-10 hours every 24 hours.
It is all individual though.
Some need only 7 hours and a few only 5 hours.
The brain is in need of some sleeptime, and without sleep we simply die after a while.
I would say that an average 63 years old should try for at least 7 hours a night, although don't force yourself if you simply can't sleep and feel ok with less. It is all individual needs and one should not follow statistics. Statistics can mainly only be used as a guideline.
If feeling tired through the day and have problems falling asleep, then some light drugs for helping you to sleep might be adviceable. Consult your doctor if this might be the case.
Is it possible to stay awake for 48 hours with out sleep?
Yes it is possible. I did it before! Actually it was more about 60 hours. But very tiring though.
Are koalas tame wild or domesticated?
Koalas are entirely wild. Some, which are kept in protected sanctuaries, are tame enough to handle, but this is limited to just a few.
Koalas are not bears, so there is no such animal as a "koala bear".
And no, there are no dwarf koalas. There is just one species of koala, and it is Phascolarctus cinereus.
What do scientists know about Koalas?
they know every thing about a koalas where they sleep eat live and they know how they eat and what they eat.
How does a koala survive in the wild?
Koalas survive with the help of some quite unique adaptations.
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.
Koalas must eat over a kilogram of leaves per day 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 seen in 120 kinds of eucalypt tree including Manna Gum, Swamp Gum, Blue Gum, Forest Red Gum and Grey Gum. However, they are only able to eat from some 60 species of gum trees, and within these sixty, there are just a dozen that they actually prefer above others.
Koalas have very strong claws suitable for gripping trees and climbing. Between their first and second "fingers" is a large gap, which enables them to also grip tree branches comfortably, whilst their hind legs have one toe set at a wide angle. They also have toes with thick pads which enable them to sit comfortably in a tree all day.
In order to attract a mate, the male has a scent gland which emits a very strong scent. He also makes unusually loud grunting noises.
As with all marsupials, the koala has a pouch, where the joey stays after birth for up to ten months. When the joey leaves the pouch, it stays for several more months on the back of their mother. The pouch opens backwards. After about 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.
Koalas in southern regions have thick, wool-like waterproof fur to keep them warm in cold weather and dry in rain. Koalas in northern regions are smaller, with less dense fur.
Koalas are not solitary animals, but actually live in communities where the social structure is quite complex. Koalas are territorial, but each koala within the social group has its own specific range for feeding, which may or may not overlap the range of its neighbour. There is always one dominant male in each social group, but he is by no means the only male. Koalas feed alone and travel alone, but they understand their own social structure. When one of their community dies, another does not immediately move in and take its place. It takes about a year for the scent of the previous occupant to fade, and only then will another koala move in to its range.
What region of Australia do koalas live in?
Koalas are particular to Eastern Australia, and can be found along the eastern and south-eastern coastal regions, but not in Tasmania. They live in cool temperate zones, right up to hot, sub-tropical zones. Koalas live in a range of habitats, as long as there are abundant eucalyptus trees of the sort they prefer. They are found on coastal islands, tall eucalypt forests, bushland and low woodlands inland.
Is it dangerous to pick up a koala?
Yes. A wild koala has very substantial claws which can cause a lot of damage. Some zoos and parks have tame koalas, but the keeper must be on hand and the time limited for holding the koalas.
The chief threat to the koala is habitat loss. Koalas inhabit prime land which man has decided is better used for housing developments. Not only do the koalas lose their sources of shelter and food, they are subject to dog attacks and being hit by cars as suburbia extends further outwards. A prime example of this is southeast Queensland, where koala numbers have dropped to 60% less than what they were a decade ago, entirely due to increased development - and where they now face extinction by 2020.
Koalas are territorial, and they live in complex social communities where each member has a certain number of trees within its territory. When access to these trees is cut off by new roads, the koalas will still try to cross the road, and risk being hit. Relocation of koalas is rarely successful because their territorial and social habits are largely misunderstood.
Another significant thrreat is predation by introduced species such as dogs and foxes.
Koalas are also subject to the disease chlamydia, which affects the koalas' fertility, and eventually leads to their death. Currently, there is no cure for this disease. At the best of times, the koala is a slow breeder, usually producing just one joey a year.
Are koalas born the size of jelly beans?
Yes. Being marsupials, koala joeys are tiny and undeveloped at birth, and about the size of a jellybean.
Can koalas be found in Canada?
No, koalas cannot be found in Canada. Koalas are endemic to Australia, meaning they are not found anywhere else.
Why do some creatures'sleep and do not toil?
Koalas and Sloths are such types of animals. They do not toil for different reasons. Koala do not toil as the food they do not get much energy from the type of food they eat - leaves, shoots, soft stems, flowers ... Sloth do not toil because they burn the energy that the food gives them very slowly.
Koalas are well known for several things. They are known to be excellent climbers, able to scale tall, straight, smooth-barked trees easily. Koalas are probably best known for the fact that they happily survive on just eucalyptus leaves and flowers. Under normal weather conditions, they do not need to drink any water. All their basic needs - food, water and shelter - are provided by eucalyptus trees of particular preferred species.
How can Koalas be both endangered and overpopulated?
Firstly, as of 2010, koalas are not endangered.
During the late 1800s, koalas became an export commodity for their fur, mostly for export to the USA. Due to koala numbers dwindling and public outrage, laws were enacted protecting the koala and imports were banned by the USA in the late 1920s. The koala is not endangered these days and its official conservation status, federally, remains "Secure".
The conservation status of koalas varies from region to region in Australia. For example, due to farming, land clearing and habitat loss, native koalas were eradicated from Western Australia and South Australia in the last century, but moves have been made to reestablish new colonies in both states. Currently, koalas are thriving on Kangaroo Island in SA, and in other isolated colonies. Kangaroo Island is one of the places where there is a koala overpopulation problem.
Koalas are still listed as "common" in most parts of Queensland, but in the southeast region of Queensland, there are calls to change their status to "vulnerable", where the numbers reduced by over 60% in the last decade. The NSW Government listed the koala as "rare and vulnerable" in 1992, and following protective measures, this has been changed to "vulnerable". Admittedly, the koala has all but disappeared on the NSW central coast. In Victoria, the koala is not on the threatened species list at all, and in some protected and remote regions, there is actually an overpopulation problem.
Despite urging by conservation groups since around 1992, Australia's federal government has refused to list the koala as vulnerable. Even international conservation groups cannot agree. Meanwhile, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the koala as "potentially vulnerable", while the US Endangered Species Act lists the koala as "threatened".
What is the conservation status of the koala?
The koala is not endangered. They are considered to be "Secure".
