Threat Level
Vulnerable

Download
Koala
Fact Sheet

(Phascolarctos cinereus)

Koalas vary in size and colour depending on where they live in Australia. Koalas found in the southern distributions (Southern NSW and Victoria) tend to be slightly larger and darker than those in the northern areas (Northern NSW and QLD). This is likely to be related to the different temperatures and is a feature exhibited by many species whose distribution encompasses large climatic variations.

The most notable physical aspect of the Koala would have to be its big fluffy ears. Koalas have a great sense of hearing and an even better sense of smell. This is how they select which leaves are the best to eat. Their eyesight is not too good, and therefore detection of predators is generally by sound. They possess very strong forearms and extremely long, sharp claws for climbing.

Habitat

Koalas are found in eucalypt forests around the Eastern and South Eastern coast of Australia. The majority of wild Koalas are found on private property thus meaning there is no formal protection of this habitat. It is not known why some areas are absent of Koalas despite the presence of a food source, but it is possible that historically hunting has driven local populations to extinction.

Diet

Koalas eat eucalypt leaves but only from certain species. There are over 700 Eucalyptus species occurring within Australia, however the Koala will eat leaves from less than 50 of these species. Out of the palatable varieties, less than one dozen are staples. They prefer the 'tip' of the leaves, which is the juiciest and softest part of the leaf and eat around 500g of tip per day. Of course wild Koalas have to depend on whatever leaf is available and during the cooler months will often be forced to eat the more mature leaves.

Breeding

When a female Koala is ready to breed she will call out to a male by letting out a loud snorting bellow. The female gives birth 35 days after mating. When born, the baby weighs only half a gram and is the size of a kidney bean at about 2cm long. It stays attached to its mothers teat for 13 weeks, its eyes are open at 22 weeks and it gains teeth at 24 weeks. At around the 7 month age bracket, the baby will start taking short spells climbing on its mother's back and is usually independent at about 12 months old.

Alexia

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Alexia

Alexia is a favourite with all the keepers. She is single minded about getting her cuddles and isn't afraid to waddle up to a complete stranger and hold her arms up to them in the hope that they will pick her up. Obviously, everyone needs to keep a close eye on our vivacious little Alexia - you never know what misadventure she is likely to get up to. One thing is for certain; she is a great little mum and showers her babies with lots of tending loving care. She even loves to care for other koalas joeys!

Alexia and Matilda both had young joeys at the same time in 2009 and it wasn't uncommon for the mums to have swapped babies sometime during the night. They were always reunited with their mums, but didn't seem to care about the separation - the comfort they felt was clear. Our cheeky little Alexia keeps her keepers on their toes all the times, but they don't mind - they're always rewarded with Alexia’s unwavering affection.

Allure

You Can Adopt Allure

Hello! I am one of Australia Zoo's newest arrivals. My mum is Chanel and my Dad is Lawson. I have just been named Allure.

Andi

Age: 7 years (DOB 29/1/2003)

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Andi

Aunty Andi, as she is known to most of her keepers, is as cute as she is inquisitive. With her huge ears, that sit straight up above her head, Andi is always on the look-out for what is going on. She doesn't hesitate to head over for a closer look and put her 'two leaves worth' in to any situation that might be occurring. When is comes to joeys, Andi is an absolute push over. Whenever one of the babies stray from their mum, or start to be pushed away because they are getting too big, they can always rely on Aunty Andi for a warm chest to cuddle into. Andi is often seen cuddling the joeys of other koalas and doesn’t seem to mind one bit - she is like a joey magnet. We hope Andi never ever changes – she is perfection.

Ash

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Ash

What a sweetheart. Ever since emerging out of the pouch, Ash has been an absolute delight. She won't let you past with out a cuddle or at least a hello.

Ash loves getting a daily cuddle from her keepers. Her hugs are big and tight and if she had her way they would go on forever. Ash loves her time at the photo studio where she gets so much love and attention from besotted guests.  Aahh…everything is about Ash- and that's just the way Ash likes it.

Bailey

Sex: Male

You Can Adopt Bailey

Such a beautiful boy is our Bailey. Big boned and a thick creamy coat, just like his mum Mash, and the most enormous, floppy ears you have ever seen – thanks in full to his playful dad, Luca. This little guy was born March 2, 2008 and has been the joy of every keeper since his arrival. Without a care in the world, Bailey spends his day sleeping, eating and looking ridiculously cute.  He enchants everyone at the photo studio whenever he visits with his trusting nature and his desire for nothing more than to be cuddled and loved. Well, they are two things we can certainly make sure Bailey gets as much as he wants!

Charli

Sex: Female

This adorable little girl is our newest addition. At just seven months of age, Charli is just starting to explore the world outside of mum's pouch. Her mum, Chloe, is still very protective, but Charli is getting quite brave and starting to climb away to tree branches of her own.

Not so long ago, Charli had her first feeding of 'pap', which came from her mums caecal (stomach) contents. This has allowed her to begin moving onto solid food, and she is now enjoying sampling all the different types of eucalypt leaf. Charli will stick pretty close to mum for the next few months, as she weans herself off milk. After that, the sky is the limit! She will start to become very independent and develop a personality all of her own.

Coco

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Coco

Coco is sweetheart through and through. She is quite a big girl - both long and solid, yet she manages to find comfort in the most odd and seemingly inappropriate places. She has a couple of favourite trees to sit in at Koala Walkthrough - one is the flimsy limb of a young silky oat tree, while another is in a small melaleuca shrub where the branches bend under her weight. But rest assured Coco doesn't seem to see any issue with her choices. She happily re-adjusts herself until the branches stop wobbling and settles in for a snooze.

Coco has effortlessly won the heart of every keeper. She loves to say hello to her keepers and will often come down from where she is sitting in a tree, offer her paw and then head back up again. Coco is a very special, sweet girl with the most endearing habits - she has even been known to try and sneak a little hand hold from the occasional guest. So Sweet!

Edna

Age: 8 years (DOB 18/12/2001)

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Edna

Edna is a true Darling - just like a favourite Aunty. Edna always keeps a close eye over the little ones, although we suspect she occasionally gives some unwanted advice to new mums if her occasional grunts and seemingly disapproving looks are anything to go by. Edna was named after the very famous 'Dame Edna Everidge' who once visited the Zoo. We think she does an amazing job at living up to the fame of her name!

It’s easy to imagine Edna with a big brimmed hat covered with flowers and tiny little spectacles that would give her disapproving looks the most impact. Edna has a sweet nature and as much as she loves a cuddle from her favorite keepers, she always maintains her distance by gently placing her front paws against their chest, just in case the cuddle gets a little too cosy.  

Our Edna is a very special girl and we especially love the little white beauty spot she has next to the left hand side of her nose.

Ellen

Age: 4 years (DOB 8/11/2005)

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Ellen

Ellen is a resourceful and secretive koala. She doesn't mind the occasional cuddle, but seems to be at her happiest when perched high in the trees at walkthrough, checking out everything below. Ellen's favourite relaxing position is to sit with her back legs crossed across her stomach and her front limbs resting on her back feet. She'll sit like this for hours gazing into space, pricking up her ears and peering to see wherever there is a noise. She has the most amazing sense of timing - you can guarantee that she knows exactly what time the fresh leaf is being delivered and will take her-self down from the tree at nearly the exact same time each day to wait patiently for the leaf to arrive. She certainly has her keepers on a tight schedule. No-one wants to be the one to keep Ellen waiting and secretly they enjoy seeing her eager little face waiting for them. The look of satisfaction on her face when she starts munching into the fresh leaf is worth a thousand thank-you’s. Thank-you Ellen for being so darn gorgeous!

Jaffa

Sex: Male

You Can Adopt Jaffa

Jaffa is the Zoo's 3 year old 'little dude'! Right from birth, Jaffa has developed a huge fan base, with his gorgeous pink smudgy nose and white cheeks. Jaffa was born into Australia Zoo's 'Sweety' family, with mum Flossy (fairy floss), brother Minti and little sister Taffy. Jaffa's name came about because when he first came out of Flossy's pouch, his coat was a very orange colour. But he has now lost all the baby fur and is developing into quite a handsome young koala. Due to his placid nature, Jaffa is also becoming quite the superstar, with appearances in many magazines, television shows and photo shoots. All in a day's work for this cuddly boy! Jaffa is also one of Bindi's tree house friends!!

Jarrah

Sex: Male

You Can Adopt Jarrah

Jarrah is the cheekiest koala we have at the Zoo. He's not a big koala by any means, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in personality and determination. 

Kramer

Sex: Male

You Can Adopt Kramer

All the Seinfeld fans will appreciate the character of Kramer. He certainly has a slightly wacky side to his personality, much like his brother Cosmo. Kramer is notorious for sitting high in the tree with his mouth partly day-dreaming and gazing towards the sky.
 
Although Kramer lives with a number of other males and holds a fairly strong position of dominance, he still gets a bit nervous around the ladies. As soon as he is around people- it's a different story. He loves meeting guests at the photo studio and becomes so relaxed that we sometimes catch him yawning in the middle of his photos - most of those lucky guests are so enthralled with their 'special' Kramer photo they don't want the second 'traditional' photo. We can always rely on Kramer to lighten our spirit and make us laugh.

Leno

Sex: Male

You Can Adopt Leno

Leno is a gorgeous boy who has the most adorable nature. He will readily accept a 'human tree' to have a cuddle of, and will sit comfortably all day long like that.  Leno is the baby boy living with a group of semi-mature males, and he can be recognised by the perfect pink diamond shape right in the centre of his nose.

Luca

Sex: Male

You Can Adopt Luca

Cheeky Luca is one of our beautiful male koalas here at the Zoo. Luca has recently reached the mature stage of his life, and has become a first time dad.
He is by far the cheekiest koala we have at the zoo. When he wants something he doesn't mind pushing the boundaries to get it. He will try to jump on people for a cuddle or climb our legs when we are cleaning his enclosure. This is all fun and games for him, but he makes it difficult for us to get any work done! That is just one of the many things that makes him one of our most playful and loveable koalas at the Zoo.

Mackellar

Age: 4 years (DOB 22/12/2005)

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Mackellar

Mackellar is the splitting image of her mum Matilda; right down to the long lean body, big fluffy ears, light coloured coat and huge eyes. In fact, it's sometimes a little difficult to tell them apart when they are high in the trees. Like her mum, Mackellar is a very independent little koala and likes a cuddle from the keepers she knows well. Her keepers can always tell what mood Mackellar is in before they ever get close to her. Some days she will happily come down and head into the pat area at Koala walkthrough with the koala keeper, where guests are able to give her pat. Other days she will climb up higher in the tree, which is her way of saying not today thanks - I think I'll chill out in the tree. You have to admire a girl who knows what she wants to do…and we sure do. Mackellar is a free little spirit who we wouldn't change for anything.

Mackenzie

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Mackenzie

Mackenzie is a cute little bundle of fluff, who has never lost any of her baby charm. She is petite, with a long slender little face and big flushes of white fur on her cheeks. When settled for a rest, she looks like she has a big fluffy hood on.  

Mackenzie's mum is our very famous Matilda. And just like her mum, Mackenzie can be a little nervous at times. But a soft gentle voice and a comforting cuddle soon has little Mackenzie snuggling close.  

Mash

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Mash

Born in December 2003, Mash is one of our gorgeous girl koalas here at Australia Zoo.  

She has a very famous mum named Matilda and has inherited Matilda's voluptuous figure and stunning cream and light grey coat. Her gentle nature however, she most definitely got from her dad, Bancroft.  Mash became a mum herself in March 2008, when Bailey was born, weighing in at around half a gram. Bailey is a very adventurous little boy, who has kept Mash very busy. He has gotten more than his fair share of motherly nips from the gentle natured and ever patient Mash. Now that Bailey has just had his first Birthday, Mash is finally getting some quiet "mummy time" to herself again. One of the highlights of Mashs' day is when the fresh eucalyptus leaf arrives & in the case our Koalas, is delivered directly in front of their cute little black noses.

Matilda

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Matilda

Matilda, born on Australia Day, is a "full time stay at home mum". She is an excellent mother, having given birth to 5 offspring who all have very gentle natures, including Mash, Lawson and Mackellar. Matilda is our largest female, weighing in at 7 kg, and is distinctive because of her huge fluffy ears, and large inquisitive eyes. Matilda is the matriarch of our Koala Walk Through exhibit, always perched up high in the tree tops, and can usually be seen with a joey or two hanging around under Matilda's watchful eye.

Milla

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Milla

Milla is the daughter of Alexia, one of our more cuddly girls, and 'Super Cooper' our famous oldest male koala. Milla is very petite, with the lightest coloured coat - almost light grey and white. She is known for her lady like sitting, where she dangles her crossed back legs below her, while she holds on with just one hand to a branch. There are always lots of oohs and aahs whenever Milla visits the photo studio. Everyone is besotted with her daintiness and never want to give her back after a cuddle -she is just too darn cute!

Mishka

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Mishka

Mishka was named by one our guest in a 'Name the Joey competition' in 2008. Her name means little mouse in Russian. Well, she would have to be the cutest little mouse you are ever likely to see. She has a big ruffle of fur around her face and neck, which looks more like a mane, and a delightful gentle, inquisitive nature. She loves to have a smell of her keepers when they come to say hello and is happy to sit for hours checking out all the smells that they have on them.

Mishka is always alert and watching when other koalas move around her enclosure. When they are back up a tree, little Mishka will go over and smell their coat before cuddling up next to them for a snooze. One of her favourite koala mates who she loves to hang out with is Mackenzie - they were both raised by their mums at the koala walk-through. She just loves to the comfort of being close to a friend.

Mist

Age: 4 years (DOB 11/11/2005)

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Mist

Mist is one little koala with some big shoes to fill! She was born on November 11, 2005 and is a fourth generation Australia Zoo koala. Mist's great grandmother was named Girra (indigenous word for rain). Girra lived to the ripe old age of 18 years here at the Zoo. During that time, she gave birth to Raindrop, who in turn gave birth to Dewdrop. Then Dewdrop successfully raised little Mist, who has taken on all of her mother's good looks and cheeky, but sweet personality. To top it off, Mist's father is the one and only 'Super Cooper'; our resident stud male!
Mist is a very trusting young koala and has adapted well to zoo life. Her favourite pastimes include hanging out with her little enclosure mates Ellen and Ash, and sitting out in the rain.
In the future, Mist will play an important role in the Zoo's koala colony. She will carry on her strong genetics and placid nature; giving us the fifth generation of the 'Drop' family!

Molly

Sex: Female

You Can Adopt Molly

Molly is a gorgeous female koala that lives in our Koala Walkthrough exhibit. Molly is a wonderful mother with many offspring, including Cosmo, Seanna and Ash. Her offspring have inherited her beautiful looks and personality traits. Because of her placid nature, Molly has earned the name "Princess Molly" and her keepers love to treat her like royalty.  She even gives us royal wave with her paw as she enjoys a scratch!  
Molly has all the keepers at her beck and call, hand feeding her whenever there is an opportunity. She is such a sweet, loving, kind koala that you can't help but fall in love with her the moment you meet her.       

Tucker

Sex: Male

You Can Adopt Tucker

Tucker has been given a very special legacy. His dad Cooper is our oldest male koala and he is a chip off the old block in every single way. Cooper has always been known as the Gary Cooper of the koala colony at Australia Zoo. He is always a gentleman with the ladies, but always the boss of wherever he lives. So is the case with Tucker. Tucker is the head or dominant koala in the enclosure he shares a number of other boys. When he is not patrolling 'his' territory, he loves to sit in his tree and bellow for all to hear.

Underneath this tough exterior lies a sweet little man who loves to have a cuddle with his keepers. He climbs down and signals for a keeper to give him some attention. As soon as he is back in his tree, he lets out a big robust bellow just to make sure that the other koalas don't think he is a softy for loving a cuddle – yeah right Tucker!