KoalaPhascolarctos cinereus

Shannon Tharpe

Population

• Used to be millions• 100,000 left

Life History

• Around 100,000 left• Small round animals• 30 pounds• 2 feet tall• 20 hours of sleep

More Life History

• Live as long as 17 years– Males 2-10 years

• High mortality rate– Due to cars and dogs

• Soft, wool like fur• Gray above • White below

Life History

• Resembles a bear• Actually a marsupial• Carries young in a pouch• Eat eucalyptus• No groups• Predators– Owls, cars, dogs, tasmanian wolves

• Disease Chamydia– killing

Offspring • 2 years old• Once a year• 35 days gestation• One born

– Small– Mother’s pouch

• 5-7 months

• Lifecycle– 6 cubs

• Become independent• Survive on own

Housing and Climate requirements

• Trees• Seek shade• Semi arid

Habitat

• Eucalyptus forests• Coastal islands • Low woodlands

Where the animal can be found

• Queensland• New South Wales• Victoria • South Australia

Endangered• Collector items• Over hunting• May 15, 2000• Habitat destruction• Road

Conservation Efforts

• Australian Koala Foundation– Students involved– Write letters

• Koala Conservation• World Animal Foundation• Outlawed hunting• Most live in reserves• Road signs• Efforts– working

Facts

• Baby koalas– joeys

• Vulnerable• 5 fingers• Sleep a lot– Drunk on gum leaves

• Don’t need to drink– Moisture from leaves

• Up all night, sleep all day

• Great climbers, leapers, excelent swimmers– Would rather be in trees

Quiz!

1. How many cubs does a koala have at once?2. How long do koalas live?3. Is a koala really a bear?4. Why did koalas become endangered?5. Why do koalas sleep so much?

• www.kidsplanet.org• www.koala.net• www.koala-bears.org• www.aquaticcommunity.com• www.nationalgeograhic.com• www.wildlifewatchers.org• www.windows2universe.org• www.libraryontheweb.org• www.msu.edu• www.bearlife.org

Bibliography