Observation Of Koalas

Introduction

Koalas are well known mammals. Koalas have bilateral symmetry, are multicellular, and are typically slow movers. One theory is that although koalas can swim and move on land, it is believed that they used to be able to do more. Koalas are slow movers and have adapted to mostly living in trees. So this makes this harder for predators to hunt them as prey. They consume many different types of plants, spend most of their times in trees where their main source of food is abundant, and they eat plants that other animals are unable to eat. Koalas have been able to withstand many different diseases such as chlamydia. Koalas are tree dwelling, plant eating marsupials, meaning that that females have a pouch to carry young. They have strong

cinereus typically inhabit open eucalypt woodlands. They are found in a range of habitats, from coastal islands and tall eucalypt forests to low woodlands inland. . Koala populations only occur if suitable habitat is available. The two most important factors which make habitats suitable are the presence of tree species preferred by Koalas growing in particular associations on suitable soils with adequate rainfall and the presence of other Koalas. Research shows that stable Koala populations occur only when there are primary tree species present. (Australian Koala Foundation) Habitat destruction plays a big role in the survival of P. cinereus in urban areas. Construction destroys their habitats and food supply, causing a rapid decrease in the koala population that inhibit highly populated areas. They also become prone to disease, and reproduction rates decrease in accordance to human

Females generally start breeding at about three or four years of age and usually produce only one offspring each year. However, not all females in a wild population will breed each year. Some produce offspring only every two or three years, depending on factors such as the age of the female and the quality of the habitat. (Ryan) In the average female's life span of about twelve years, this means that one female may produce only 5 or 6 offspring over her lifetime. Once a female has conceived it is a short 35 days before the birth of the new baby, called a "joey". The tiny baby which is roughly 2 centimetres long and weighs less than 1 gram is totally hairless, blind and has no ears. (Charlton 2011) The joey makes its way from the birth canal to the pouch completely unaided, relying on its already well-developed senses of smell and touch, strong forelimbs and claws and an innate sense of direction. Once inside the safety of the pouch, it attaches itself to one of the two teats, which swells to fill its mouth. (Ellis 2010) This prevents the joey from being dislodged from its source of food. The young Koala drinks only mother's milk for the first six to seven months. (Whisson 2010) Once the koala is ready it leaves the mother’s pouch and begins to ride on her back. On her back, the joey begins to feed on leaves for