The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), sometimes inaccurately called the koala bear, is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae. Its closest living relatives are the wombats.

Apr 29, 2025 · Though sometimes called a koala bear, the koala is not a bear. The koala is actually a type of tree-dwelling marsupial, with a backwards-facing pouch, like wombats.

Discover 10 adorable koala facts with Nat Geo Kids! Learn about where koalas live, how they develop, what they eat and see some fab photos, too!

What is the koala? The koala is an iconic Australian animal. Often called the koala “bear,” this tree-climbing animal is a marsupial—a mammal with a pouch for the development of offspring.

The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an Australian arboreal marsupial which is native to parts of Australia particularly Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales. The word koala comes from the Dharuk word ‘gula’.

The koala or, inaccurately, koala bear (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats.

Dec 19, 2024 · Koalas may look sleepy and cuddly, but these iconic Australian animals survive on toxic leaves, can bolt at 30km/h and have a surprising knack for predicting the weather. In the Australian bush, koalas rarely drink water as they get most of the H20 they need from eating fresh eucalyptus leaves.

May 3, 2025 · Koala Joeys Are Born Blind and Furless. Photo credit: Canva Pro. When a koala joey is born, it’s incredibly tiny—roughly the size of a jellybean! But that’s not all; these little ones are also born completely blind, hairless, and without any ears. They are so underdeveloped at birth that they can’t even crawl properly.

Apr 25, 2025 · Koala, tree-dwelling marsupial of coastal eastern and southern Australia. It is about 60 to 85 cm (24 to 33 inches) long and weighs up to 14 kg (31 pounds) in the southern part of its range but only about half that in the northern part.

The Koala has a patchy distribution from northern Queensland to southern Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. The Koala is no longer common in the Sydney region, although a significant population remains on the southern outskirts.