Animal Diaries Archive

Home Among the Gum Trees

26 January 2007

It is common knowledge that koalas not only feed on eucalyptus (gum) leaves, but also spend most of their lives high up in the branches of these beautiful trees. Koalas are unique in the fact that they don’t make a nest to sleep in and their only protection from the elements is the leaves surrounding them. A lot of animals share koala habitat, such as possums, who make nests in the tree hollows, and wombats who burrow into the ground or under logs, all to avoid rain and cold weather. Koalas are fortunate enough to have a very dense, layered fur which repels rain and keeps them dry. All of the koala enclosures around the Zoo have protected areas where they can avoid the rain if they choose to. Even so, they often sleep out in the rain, unconcerned by the chilly deluge.