Animal Diaries Archive

Do Koalas Ever Fall Out Of Trees?

3 December 2004

'Lots of people around the Zoo always ask us about how koalas manage to balance in the trees, sleeping in little balls and seemingly not holding on. Koalas have lots of adaptations for living a tree dwelling lifestyle. Not only do they have large, hook shaped claws to help them grip the branches, but also black, textured pads covering the entire surface of their hands and feet. They are also quite agile up in the trees, being able to jump one and a half metres across to the next branch. If you watch a koala closely as they begin to settle, they seem to rock back and forth briefly on the small depression in the middle of their bottoms to find their centre of balance, curl up and tuck their arms and legs in, and fall asleep. One hand is always within reach of a branch, in case a big gust of wind comes along and the branch begins to move. Very occasionally we do see our koalas fall from the trees. This usually follows an over ambitious jump, a slippery landing on a branch covered by leaves, or a branch breaking underneath them. The answer to the question about whether or not some of our koalas fall out of the trees while sleeping in their budda like poses though? Well, I have yet to see a koala fall while sleeping as I guess this would be like us falling out of our beds when we're asleep.