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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do koalas spend so much time sleeping?
Koalas need to conserve as much energy as possible, as the energy value of their diet is low. Koalas generally sleep for about 16 to 18 hours a day. A common misconception is that they are “stoned” after eating the eucalypt leaf. This is not so.
Koalas need to conserve as much energy as possible, as the energy value of their diet is low. Koalas generally sleep for about 16 to 18 hours a day. A common misconception is that they are “stoned” after eating the eucalypt leaf. This is not so.
What do koalas eat?
The koala lives mostly on eucalypt leaves but sometimes some non-eucalypt species (such as Acacia and Melaleuca). The koala will demonstrate preferences for particular varieties of eucalypt and these vary from one region to another. A list of koala food trees for SEQ coastal areas is in the Resources section above.
Interestingly, there is a theory that the eucalypt diet is an evolutionary adaptation that takes advantage of an otherwise unfilled ecological niche, since eucalypt leaves are low in protein, high in indigestible substances, and contain compounds that are toxic to most species. To digest the harsh leaves, the koala has developed a special intestinal chamber called the caecum. This may be as long as 2m, and contains bacteria which ferment the leaves and help make them more digestible.
Koalas don't drink water, do they?
This is definitely a myth! Koalas drink water all the time - morning, night, summer, winter. Sometimes they will drink a lot of water, and this could be because of a particularly dry heat wave, or due to heath issues. See the Koalas Are Water Guzzlers story in the News section of this website.
What are the key threats to koalas?
We are. Habitat loss and fragmentation through urbanisation and resulting impacts - such as car strikes and dog attacks - are the most common causes of koala deaths. Disease is also a key threat and underestimated in magnitude. You can search (from the member page) on cause of death and injury, or for a listing of koala sightings in your own area, or view the map, to see what is impacting koalas where you live.
What are the diseases affecting koalas?
The two significant conditions of which we have some knowledge are the Koala Retrovirus [KoRV] infection and Chlamydiosis. But other diseases such as renal failure, mange and leukaemia have also been identified in populations of koalas.
How might a layperson identify disease in koalas?
Disease in koalas may not be apparent to the casual observer, unless the physical signs are overt. For example, a brown, dirty wet tail will point to cystitus and sore, red, weapy eyes will point to conjunctivitis (both are symptoms of Chlamydiosis in koalas). Unusual behaviour, such as sitting on the ground, and not moving when approached, would warrant the koala being reported to wildlife rescuers for an urgent health assessment. In South Australia renal failure is common; in Queensland, the biggest disease threat is chlamydia.
Don't koalas die if they are re-located?
This is a myth that we are particularly keen to de-bunk. There have been several tragic translocations, but there have also been some highly successful ones. When the South Australian koalas were hunted to extinction for their fur in the 1960s, around 38 koalas were translocated from Victoria to South Australia to successfully rebuild the population. Recent research carried out by the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in Queensland, which includes 5 separate radio-telemetry studies on translocated koalas, concluded that koalas do not die as a result of translocation and can disperse and establish home ranges that are carefully selected for little competition with existing resident koalas and lack of predators (wild dogs particularly). The important point to underline though is that the translocation needs to be conducted with research and care, and under strict management protocols. Research has yet to be conducted on the feasibility of translocation between states.
Who is behind this website?
This website and mapping project was the brainchild of Alex Harris. In 2009, Alex created the website and conceived of the mapping and analysis project. Alex bore the full expense of development and hosting of both the mapping project and a blog called Koala Diaries created for a koala carer alongside the mapping project (with the exception of 5 months of hosting at the end of 2011). To-date Alex has donated more than 5,000 hours in creation and management to ensure the smooth functioning and constant improvement of this koala mapping project.In April 2012, the Koala Diaries name and blog was removed and went in a separate direction and the mapping project continued under the new name KoalaTracker after a vote of members. Alex Harris continues to wholly fund and maintain the site without government funding or assistance.
The koala lives mostly on eucalypt leaves but sometimes some non-eucalypt species (such as Acacia and Melaleuca). The koala will demonstrate preferences for particular varieties of eucalypt and these vary from one region to another. A list of koala food trees for SEQ coastal areas is in the Resources section above.
Interestingly, there is a theory that the eucalypt diet is an evolutionary adaptation that takes advantage of an otherwise unfilled ecological niche, since eucalypt leaves are low in protein, high in indigestible substances, and contain compounds that are toxic to most species. To digest the harsh leaves, the koala has developed a special intestinal chamber called the caecum. This may be as long as 2m, and contains bacteria which ferment the leaves and help make them more digestible.
Koalas don't drink water, do they?
This is definitely a myth! Koalas drink water all the time - morning, night, summer, winter. Sometimes they will drink a lot of water, and this could be because of a particularly dry heat wave, or due to heath issues. See the Koalas Are Water Guzzlers story in the News section of this website.
What are the key threats to koalas?
We are. Habitat loss and fragmentation through urbanisation and resulting impacts - such as car strikes and dog attacks - are the most common causes of koala deaths. Disease is also a key threat and underestimated in magnitude. You can search (from the member page) on cause of death and injury, or for a listing of koala sightings in your own area, or view the map, to see what is impacting koalas where you live.
What are the diseases affecting koalas?
The two significant conditions of which we have some knowledge are the Koala Retrovirus [KoRV] infection and Chlamydiosis. But other diseases such as renal failure, mange and leukaemia have also been identified in populations of koalas.
How might a layperson identify disease in koalas?
Disease in koalas may not be apparent to the casual observer, unless the physical signs are overt. For example, a brown, dirty wet tail will point to cystitus and sore, red, weapy eyes will point to conjunctivitis (both are symptoms of Chlamydiosis in koalas). Unusual behaviour, such as sitting on the ground, and not moving when approached, would warrant the koala being reported to wildlife rescuers for an urgent health assessment. In South Australia renal failure is common; in Queensland, the biggest disease threat is chlamydia.
Don't koalas die if they are re-located?
This is a myth that we are particularly keen to de-bunk. There have been several tragic translocations, but there have also been some highly successful ones. When the South Australian koalas were hunted to extinction for their fur in the 1960s, around 38 koalas were translocated from Victoria to South Australia to successfully rebuild the population. Recent research carried out by the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in Queensland, which includes 5 separate radio-telemetry studies on translocated koalas, concluded that koalas do not die as a result of translocation and can disperse and establish home ranges that are carefully selected for little competition with existing resident koalas and lack of predators (wild dogs particularly). The important point to underline though is that the translocation needs to be conducted with research and care, and under strict management protocols. Research has yet to be conducted on the feasibility of translocation between states.
Who is behind this website?
This website and mapping project was the brainchild of Alex Harris. In 2009, Alex created the website and conceived of the mapping and analysis project. Alex bore the full expense of development and hosting of both the mapping project and a blog called Koala Diaries created for a koala carer alongside the mapping project (with the exception of 5 months of hosting at the end of 2011). To-date Alex has donated more than 5,000 hours in creation and management to ensure the smooth functioning and constant improvement of this koala mapping project.In April 2012, the Koala Diaries name and blog was removed and went in a separate direction and the mapping project continued under the new name KoalaTracker after a vote of members. Alex Harris continues to wholly fund and maintain the site without government funding or assistance.