Koalas are arboreal marsupials native to Australia, belonging to the family Phascolarctidae. They are the only extant members of this family, with their closest relatives being wombats. Characterized by their stout, tailless bodies, large, round, fluffy ears, and spoon-shaped noses, koalas are well-adapted for life in the trees. Their thick, woolly fur helps insulate them against both heat and cold, while their sharp claws and strong limbs enable them to climb and grip tree branches with ease.

In terms of evolutionary history, koalas are part of the marsupial lineage that diverged from placental mammals around 160 million years ago. Within the Australian ecosystem, they play a crucial role in maintaining the health of eucalyptus forests by pruning trees and dispersing seeds. Their presence also influences the structure of the vegetation, contributing to the overall biodiversity of their habitat.

They are easily identifiable by their compact, tailless bodies, large heads with rounded, fluffy ears, and a prominent dark nose. Koalas range in length from 60 to 85 cm (24 to 33 inches) and weigh between 4 and 15 kg (9 to 33 pounds). Their fur varies in color from silver-grey to chocolate-brown, with northern populations generally being smaller and lighter than their southern counterparts.

This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males typically being 50% larger than females. Males also have more curved noses and a distinctive chest gland that appears as a bald patch. Female koalas possess a pouch with a sphincter muscle that secures their young inside.

Koalas have a broad, dark nose that is highly sensitive, allowing them to sniff out the oils in eucalyptus leaves to determine their edibility. Their relatively small eyes feature vertical slit pupils, an adaptation for life in a vertical environment, and their round ears grant them excellent hearing. They also have a well-developed middle ear. The koala’s larynx is situated low in the vocal tract, and it can be lowered even further, allowing them to produce deep sounds relative to their size. Unique velar vocal folds in their soft palate, in addition to the typical vocal folds, enhance their ability to make these sounds.

Koala Habitat and Distribution

Koala populations span approximately 1,000,000 square kilometers (390,000 square miles) across 30 different ecoregions. Their range includes the eastern and southeastern parts of mainland Australia, covering the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Additionally, koalas have been introduced to several nearby islands, with the population on Magnetic Island marking the northernmost extent of their distribution.

Koalas primarily inhabit eucalyptus forests and woodlands, where their main food source, eucalyptus leaves, is abundant. These environments provide the trees they need for both food and shelter. Koalas prefer areas with a high density of certain types of eucalyptus trees, such as Eucalyptus microcorys (Tallowwood) and Eucalyptus tereticornis (Forest Red Gum), which offer the most nutritious leaves. They are often found in regions with well-drained soils and a mix of tree species that can support their dietary needs throughout the year.

Regional Distribution Across Australia

• Queensland: Koalas in Queensland are mostly found in the southeast, particularly in areas like the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, and the Brisbane region. The subtropical climate supports diverse eucalyptus species, but rapid urbanization has led to significant habitat fragmentation, posing a threat to koala populations in this state.
• New South Wales: In New South Wales, koalas are commonly found along the coast and in the hinterland areas, particularly in regions like the North Coast, Central Coast, and the Northern Tablelands. The state has implemented various conservation efforts, especially in koala hotspots like Port Macquarie and Gunnedah, which are crucial for the species’ survival.
• Victoria: Koalas in Victoria are primarily found in the central and southwestern parts of the state, including regions like the Otway Ranges and around the Strzelecki Ranges. The cooler climate and extensive eucalyptus forests in these areas provide ideal conditions for koalas. Victoria is also home to the large and well-known koala population on Phillip Island, which is a key site for koala conservation and research.

Koalas from Victoria are notably larger than their Queensland counterparts, with Victorian koalas often weighing twice as much!

Historical fossil records indicate that koalas once inhabited regions as far west as southwestern Western Australia during the late Pleistocene era. However, environmental shifts and hunting by Indigenous Australians likely led to their extinction in these areas. In an effort to reintroduce koalas to Western Australia, a population was established in Yanchep in 1938. Unfortunately, by 2022, this population had dwindled to just four individuals.

Koalas are adaptable to a variety of environments, thriving in both tropical and temperate regions that range from dense woodlands to more open forests. In semi-arid areas, they tend to favor riparian zones, where streams and creeks offer refuge during periods of drought and extreme heat.

While koalas are widely distributed across eastern and southeastern Australia, their populations are increasingly fragmented due to habitat loss, leading to a decline in numbers, particularly in Queensland and New South Wales. Conservation efforts in these regions are critical to preserving the remaining koala habitats and ensuring the species’ long-term survival.

Koala Diet and Feeding Habits

Koalas have evolved to feed almost exclusively on eucalyptus leaves, a diet that is highly fibrous and low in nutrients. To cope with this, they have developed a slow metabolic rate and an enlarged cecum that allows them to digest the tough leaves and detoxify the plant’s natural toxins. Despite their sluggish appearance, koalas are surprisingly agile and can leap between branches when necessary.

Out of over 600 species of eucalyptus, koalas selectively eat the leaves of about 20-30 species, preferring those that are higher in protein and lower in toxins. Some of their preferred eucalyptus species include Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum), Eucalyptus viminalis (Manna Gum), and Eucalyptus tereticornis (Forest Red Gum).

Specialized Diet

Eucalyptus leaves are difficult to digest, containing high levels of fibrous material and toxic compounds like phenols and terpenes, which are harmful to most animals. Koalas have evolved a unique digestive system to handle this diet. Their large cecum, part of the digestive tract, contains a specialized mix of bacteria that helps break down the fibrous leaves and detoxify the harmful substances.

Koalas consume up to 500 grams of eucalyptus leaves daily, but the leaves provide minimal energy. As a result, koalas must conserve energy, leading to their famously sedentary lifestyle.

Behavioral Effects

Koalas sleep between 18 to 20 hours a day, conserving energy due to their low-calorie diet. They are primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, meaning they are most active at night and during the early morning and late afternoon. During their waking hours, koalas spend most of their time feeding, moving between trees, or resting.

Due to their low-energy diet, koalas are notably inactive and spend about 20 hours a day sleeping. They are mostly nocturnal and use their waking hours to forage. Often, koalas will eat and sleep in the same tree, sometimes for an entire day. On warm days, they may rest with their back against a branch or lie down with their limbs hanging. When the weather is hot, koalas move to lower positions in the canopy, closer to the trunk, where the surface is cooler than the ambient air. In cold or wet conditions, they curl up to conserve warmth. During high winds, they seek shelter on thicker, lower branches. Although they spend most of their time in trees, koalas descend to the ground to move to another tree, either by walking or leaping. Grooming is an essential activity for koalas, usually done with their hind paws, which have double claws, though they may also use their forepaws or mouth.

Koala Behavior and Social Structure

Koalas are known for their solitary and largely sedentary nature. Unlike many other social animals, koalas typically prefer to live alone, except during the breeding season or when mothers are caring for their young. Their solitary lifestyle is largely driven by their need to conserve energy, as their diet of eucalyptus leaves provides limited nutritional value.

Solitary Nature

Koalas establish and maintain their own home ranges, which are areas that contain the essential eucalyptus trees they feed on. These home ranges can overlap, but koalas generally avoid close contact with others, with interactions usually limited to brief encounters during the mating season. A koala’s home range size depends on the availability of food and the quality of the habitat, with males typically having larger territories than females.

Social Interactions

Despite their solitary nature, koalas do engage in social interactions, particularly during the breeding season, which occurs between September and February. Males often compete for access to females, with dominant males typically controlling the best territories and having the most mating opportunities. These interactions can involve vocalizations, aggressive displays, and even physical confrontations.

Koalas communicate through a range of vocalizations. The most well-known is the deep, bellowing call of the male, which is used to assert dominance and attract females. These bellows can be heard over long distances and serve to establish the male’s presence within his territory. Female koalas, while generally quieter, may produce soft grunts and murmurs, particularly when interacting with their joeys or when distressed.

Mating Behaviors

During the breeding season, male koalas seek out receptive females within their range. Courtship is brief, and after mating, the male moves on, leaving the female to raise the offspring alone. Female koalas give birth to a single joey, which remains in the pouch for about six months before gradually spending more time outside. The joey continues to stay with its mother, riding on her back or clinging to her belly, for another six months as it learns to find food and survive independently.

Koalas’ solitary and territorial behavior, combined with their specific habitat needs, make them particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction and fragmentation, which can disrupt their social structures and breeding success.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Koalas have a fascinating reproductive process and life cycle, marked by unique adaptations that are typical of marsupials. Their mating habits, gestation period, and the growth stages of their young, known as joeys, offer intriguing insights into their survival strategies in the wild.

Mating Habits and Gestation Period

Koala mating typically occurs during the breeding season, which runs from September to February in Australia. During this time, male koalas become more vocal, emitting deep bellows that serve to attract females and warn other males of their presence. Males do not form permanent bonds with females and will mate with multiple partners if the opportunity arises. Dominant males, often the largest and most vocal, have the greatest success during the breeding season.

After mating, the female undergoes a short gestation period of about 33 to 35 days. She gives birth to a single, tiny, underdeveloped joey, which is about the size of a jellybean and weighs less than a gram. The newborn joey is blind, hairless, and completely dependent on its mother.

Growth Stages from Joey to Adult Koala

The newborn joey instinctively makes its way to the mother’s pouch, where it latches onto one of the two teats inside. The pouch provides a safe environment where the joey can continue to develop, feeding on its mother’s milk. For the first six months of its life, the joey remains in the pouch, growing rapidly and beginning to develop its fur, eyes, and ears.

Around six months of age, the joey starts to explore outside the pouch, initially making short excursions while still returning to the safety of the pouch to nurse and sleep. At this stage, the joey begins to eat a special type of feces produced by the mother called “pap,” which is a nutrient-rich, partially digested form of eucalyptus leaves. This helps the joey transition from milk to solid food and introduces the necessary bacteria into its digestive system to break down the tough eucalyptus leaves that form the core of its diet.

By about eight to nine months, the joey spends most of its time outside the pouch, clinging to its mother’s back or belly as she moves through the trees. The joey continues to nurse and eat eucalyptus leaves, gradually becoming more independent.

At around 12 months, the young koala is fully weaned and ready to leave its mother to establish its own territory. Juvenile koalas may remain close to their mother’s range initially, gradually moving farther away as they mature. Koalas reach sexual maturity between two and three years of age, at which point they can begin the reproductive cycle anew.

Conservation Status and Threats

Currently, koalas are classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They face numerous threats, including habitat destruction due to agriculture, urban development, drought, bushfires, and climate change. In February 2022, koalas were officially listed as endangered in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Queensland.

Main Threats to Koalas

1. Habitat Destruction
   The most pressing threat to koalas is the loss of their natural habitat due to deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion. As eucalyptus forests are cleared for development or agriculture, koalas lose their primary food source and the trees they rely on for shelter. Fragmented habitats force koalas to travel across dangerous open ground, increasing their vulnerability to vehicle collisions and predation.
2. Disease
   Chlamydia is a significant health issue for koalas, causing blindness, infertility, and death if untreated. This bacterial infection is widespread among koala populations, particularly in Queensland and New South Wales, and poses a serious threat to their survival. In addition to Chlamydia, koalas are also susceptible to koala retrovirus (KoRV), which weakens their immune system and makes them more vulnerable to other diseases.
3. Climate Change
   Climate change exacerbates the challenges faced by koalas, affecting the availability of their primary food source, eucalyptus leaves. Increased temperatures, prolonged droughts, and more frequent bushfires reduce the quality and quantity of eucalyptus leaves, which are already low in nutrients. Koalas may struggle to find sufficient food and water during extreme weather events, leading to malnutrition and dehydration.
4. Bushfires
   The 2019-2020 Australian bushfire season, known as “Black Summer,” had a devastating impact on koala populations. Thousands of koalas perished in the fires, and vast areas of their habitat were destroyed. The fires highlighted the vulnerability of koalas to climate change and the urgent need for effective conservation measures to protect them from future disasters.
5. Urbanization and Human Interaction
   As human populations expand into traditional koala habitats, the risk of koalas being injured or killed by vehicles or domestic dogs increases. Urbanization also leads to the fragmentation of koala populations, reducing genetic diversity and making it harder for koalas to find mates.

Various conservation programs are in place to protect koalas, including habitat restoration projects, disease management initiatives, and the establishment of wildlife corridors to connect fragmented habitats. Public awareness campaigns and strict regulations on land clearing are also crucial components of koala conservation efforts. Despite these efforts, the ongoing threats to koalas underline the importance of continued and expanded conservation measures to ensure the survival of this species.

Efforts to Protect Koalas

Protecting koalas requires a multi-faceted approach that involves government action, NGO initiatives, and community involvement. Several programs and policies are in place to address the threats koalas face, aiming to conserve and restore their populations across Australia.

Government and NGO Initiatives

1. National Koala Conservation and Management Strategy:
   The Australian government has implemented the National Koala Conservation and Management Strategy, a comprehensive plan that outlines key actions to protect koalas. This strategy includes habitat protection, research funding, and the development of recovery plans for vulnerable populations. The government also enforces laws under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) to protect koala habitats from destructive developments.
2. State-Level Conservation Programs:
   States like Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria have their own koala conservation programs. These programs often focus on habitat restoration, disease management, and public education. For instance, the Queensland Government’s Koala Conservation Strategy 2020-2025 includes large-scale habitat restoration projects and funding for koala hospitals.
3. NGO and Community Efforts:
   Numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are dedicated to koala conservation. Groups like the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF), Friends of the Koala, and WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service) play vital roles in rescuing injured koalas, rehabilitating them, and advocating for stronger conservation laws. These organizations also engage in habitat restoration by planting eucalyptus trees and protecting existing forests.
4. Research and Monitoring:
   Research institutions and conservation groups conduct ongoing studies to better understand koala populations, their health, and their habitat needs. Monitoring programs track koala numbers and health, providing crucial data that informs conservation strategies. Advances in technology, such as drones and thermal imaging, are also being used to survey koala populations more effectively.

How Local Communities and Individuals Can Help

1. Plant Native Trees:
   Individuals and local communities can contribute by planting native eucalyptus trees, which are the primary food source for koalas. Creating koala-friendly gardens and participating in tree-planting initiatives helps restore and expand koala habitats, particularly in areas where urban development has caused significant habitat loss.
2. Support Wildlife Corridors:
   Supporting the creation and maintenance of wildlife corridors allows koalas to move safely between fragmented habitats. These corridors are essential for maintaining genetic diversity and enabling koalas to find food, mates, and new territories.
3. Reduce Vehicle and Pet Threats:
   Residents living near koala habitats can help reduce the risks posed by vehicles and domestic pets. Driving slowly in koala zones, especially at night, and keeping dogs under control can prevent injuries and fatalities. Installing koala crossings and wildlife signage also helps raise awareness and protect koalas from road accidents.
4. Volunteer and Donate:
   Volunteering with local conservation groups or donating to koala rescue and rehabilitation centers provides direct support to koala conservation efforts. Many organizations rely on volunteers to help with habitat restoration, koala monitoring, and public education campaigns.
5. Advocate for Stronger Protections:
   Advocacy plays a crucial role in ensuring koalas receive the protection they need. Supporting petitions, contacting local representatives, and participating in conservation campaigns can influence government policies and increase funding for koala protection initiatives.

By combining government action, NGO initiatives, and community participation, these efforts aim to secure a future where koalas continue to thrive in their natural habitats across Australia.

Fascinating Facts About Koalas

Koalas are often surrounded by a mix of intriguing truths and common myths, making them one of the most fascinating animals in Australia. Here are some unique aspects of koalas that highlight their remarkable characteristics and clarify common misconceptions:

Koalas Have Fingerprints Almost Identical to Humans

One of the most extraordinary facts about koalas is that they have fingerprints strikingly similar to those of humans. In fact, their fingerprints are so alike that they can be easily mistaken for human fingerprints, even under a microscope. This trait is quite rare in the animal kingdom and is believed to have evolved to help koalas grip and manipulate the leaves of eucalyptus trees, their primary food source.

Koalas Are Not Bears

A common misconception is that koalas are bears, leading to the widely used but incorrect term “koala bear.” In reality, koalas are marsupials, which means they carry and nurse their young in a pouch, similar to kangaroos and wombats. The myth likely originated from early European settlers who thought the koala’s face resembled that of a bear. However, koalas are more closely related to kangaroos and wombats than any bear species.

Koalas Have a Unique Diet of Eucalyptus Leaves

Koalas are herbivores with a highly specialized diet consisting almost exclusively of eucalyptus leaves. They are known to eat over 50 different types of eucalyptus, but they have strong preferences for certain species depending on their location. Eucalyptus leaves are tough, fibrous, and low in nutrients, which is why koalas have developed a slow metabolism and spend up to 20 hours a day sleeping to conserve energy. Koalas will not eat eucalyptus leaves placed on a flat surface, as this doesn’t align with their natural feeding habits!

Koalas’ Brains Are Surprisingly Small

For a mammal, koalas have an unusually small brain, weighing only about 19.2 grams (0.68 ounces), which is roughly 60% smaller than what is typical for similar marsupials. This smaller brain is thought to be an adaptation to their low-energy diet, allowing them to conserve even more energy. Despite this, koalas are well-adapted to their environment and have a strong sense of smell and hearing Their brain’s surface is relatively smooth, lacking the complex folds found in many other mammals, and it occupies only a part of the cranial cavity, with the rest filled by cerebrospinal fluid. This might serve as protection in case the koala falls from a tree!

Koalas Communicate Through Vocalizations

Though koalas are generally quiet animals, they do communicate using a range of vocalizations. Males, especially during the breeding season, produce deep bellowing calls that can be heard from over a kilometer away. These calls serve to establish dominance and attract females. Koalas also make soft grunts, snores, and high-pitched cries, particularly during interactions with other koalas.

Koalas Have a Cool Adaptation for Keeping Cool

Koalas have an interesting behavior for cooling down during hot weather. Besides licking their forearms, where their blood vessels are close to the surface, koalas will hug tree trunks to cool off. Eucalyptus trees, which they live in, often have cooler bark compared to the ambient air, allowing koalas to lower their body temperature by pressing themselves against the trunk.

The Myth of the “Drop Bear”

Australian folklore has long perpetuated the myth of the “drop bear,” a fictional, larger, and more aggressive version of the koala that supposedly drops from trees to attack unsuspecting humans. While entirely a myth, the “drop bear” tale is often told to tourists as a humorous way to exaggerate the dangers of Australian wildlife.

How to Spot Koalas in the Wild

Seeing koalas in their natural habitat is a memorable experience, and Australia offers several prime locations where you can observe these iconic marsupials in the wild. Here’s a guide to the best places for koala spotting and tips for responsible wildlife watching.

Best Places in Australia to See Koalas

Great Otway National Park, Victoria

• Located along the scenic Great Ocean Road, Great Otway National Park is one of the best spots to see koalas in the wild. The area around Kennett River is particularly famous, where koalas are often spotted in the eucalyptus trees along Grey River Road.

Raymond Island, Victoria

• This small island on the Gippsland Lakes is home to a large population of koalas. A short ferry ride from Paynesville, Raymond Island offers a well-marked Koala Trail where you can easily spot these animals lounging in the trees.

Kangaroo Island, South Australia

• Despite its name, Kangaroo Island is also a great place to see koalas. Flinders Chase National Park and Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary are excellent locations to observe koalas in their natural environment.

Noosa National Park, Queensland

• On the Sunshine Coast, Noosa National Park is a well-known spot for koala sightings. The coastal walks, particularly the one leading to Tea Tree Bay, offer opportunities to see koalas dozing in the treetops.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Australian Capital Territory

• Just outside Canberra, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve provides a sanctuary for koalas. The Koala Enclosure offers a chance to see them up close in a semi-wild environment, with some also found in the surrounding eucalyptus forests.

You Yangs Regional Park, Victoria

• Located near Geelong, You Yangs Regional Park is another excellent spot for koala spotting. The park’s rangers often lead koala walks where you can learn more about these animals while searching for them in the wild.

Tips for Responsible Koala Watching

• Stay Quiet and Keep Your Distance: Koalas are sensitive animals and can be easily stressed by human presence. Maintain a respectful distance and avoid making loud noises or sudden movements.
• Look Up and Be Patient: Koalas spend most of their time high in eucalyptus trees, often resting or sleeping. They can be hard to spot, so take your time and scan the treetops carefully.
• Use Binoculars for a Closer Look: To get a better view without disturbing the koalas, bring a pair of binoculars. This allows you to observe their behavior closely while keeping your distance.
• Avoid Flash Photography: Flash photography can startle koalas and cause them stress. If you want to take photos, ensure your camera’s flash is turned off, and try to capture images in natural light.
• Respect Their Habitat: Stick to designated walking trails to minimize your impact on the environment. Avoid trampling vegetation or disturbing the trees where koalas live.
• Visit During Early Morning or Late Afternoon: Koalas are most active during the cooler parts of the day, especially at dawn and dusk. These are the best times to spot them feeding or moving between trees.
• Be Aware of Signs and Guidelines: Many popular koala-watching spots have signs with specific guidelines for wildlife viewing. Follow these instructions to ensure your visit is both enjoyable and respectful to the animals.

As one of the most recognizable symbols of Australia, koalas, along with kangaroos and emus, are known worldwide. Indigenous Australians hunted koalas and included them in their mythology and cave art for thousands of years. The first recorded European encounter with a koala occurred in 1798, and a depiction of the animal was published in 1810 by naturalist George Perry. Botanist Robert Brown provided the first comprehensive scientific description in 1814, although his work was not published until 180 years later. The species was introduced to the British public by artist John Gould, who both illustrated and described the koala. Throughout the 19th century, English scientists continued to uncover details about the koala’s biology.

Etymology

The word “koala” is derived from the Dharug word gula, which translates to “no water.” Originally, the vowel “u” in gula was transcribed into English as “oo,” leading to early spellings like coola or koolah (with two syllables). Over time, the spelling shifted to “oa,” and the word evolved into its current three-syllable pronunciation, which may have been an error in transcription.

When adopted by European settlers, the term “koala” became one of many Aboriginal loanwords integrated into Australian English. The koala was commonly referred to as the “native bear,” and later “koala bear,” due to its superficial resemblance to a bear. This name is among several Aboriginal words that have made their way into the global English lexicon, alongside terms like “didgeridoo” and “kangaroo.”

The koala’s scientific name, Phascolarctos cinereus, reflects its unique characteristics: Phascolarctos is derived from the Greek words phaskolos (meaning “pouch”) and arktos (meaning “bear”). The species name cinereus comes from the Latin word for “ash-colored,” referring to the koala’s fur.

Early European Encounters with the Koala

The first recorded reference to the koala was made by John Price, a servant of New South Wales Governor John Hunter, who encountered the “cullawine” on January 26, 1798, during an expedition to the Blue Mountains. However, his account was not published until nearly a century later in the Historical Records of Australia. In 1802, French-born explorer Francis Louis Barrallier encountered the animal when his Aboriginal guides brought back two koala feet intended for consumption. Barrallier preserved the feet and sent them, along with his notes, to Governor Philip Gidley King, who forwarded them to Joseph Banks. Like Price’s, Barrallier’s observations were not published until 1897. Reports of the “Koolah” appeared in the Sydney Gazette in late 1803, prompting King to commission artist John Lewin to create watercolours of the animal. Lewin painted three pictures, one of which was later included in Georges Cuvier’s Le Règne Animal (The Animal Kingdom) in 1827.

Botanist Robert Brown was the first to write a formal scientific description of the koala in 1803, based on a female specimen captured near what is now Mount Kembla in New South Wales. Austrian botanical illustrator Ferdinand Bauer sketched the animal’s skull, throat, feet, and paws. However, Brown’s work remained unpublished and largely unnoticed; his field books and notes were not identified until 1994, while Bauer’s koala illustrations were not published until 1989. William Paterson, a friend of Brown and Bauer during their stay in New South Wales, provided an eyewitness account of his encounters with koalas, which formed the basis of British surgeon Everard Home’s anatomical writings. Home published his report in 1808, coining the scientific name Didelphis coola.

The first published image of the koala appeared in George Perry’s 1810 natural history work Arcana, where Perry, disapproving of the animal, called it the “New Holland Sloth.” His unflattering description reflected contemporary British attitudes toward Australian animals, which were often seen as strange and primitive.

Naturalist and artist John Gould played a significant role in popularizing the koala through his three-volume work The Mammals of Australia (1845–1863), introducing the species to a broader audience. Comparative anatomist Richard Owen also contributed to the scientific understanding of the koala by presenting a paper on its anatomy to the Zoological Society of London, noting its similarities to the wombat. English naturalist George Robert Waterhouse, curator of the Zoological Society of London, was the first to correctly classify the koala as a marsupial in the 1840s. Gerard Krefft, curator of the Australian Museum in Sydney, further advanced the understanding of the koala’s evolution by comparing it to fossil marsupials in his 1871 work The Mammals of Australia.

The first live koala arrived in Britain in 1881, acquired by the Zoological Society of London. Unfortunately, it met an untimely end when a heavy washstand lid fell on it. William Alexander Forbes, a prosecutor for the society, dissected the specimen and provided new insights into the koala’s female reproductive system, brain, and liver—areas not previously described by Owen. In 1884, Scottish embryologist William Caldwell, who was renowned for determining the reproductive mechanism of the platypus, described the uterine development of the koala, using this information to outline the evolutionary timeline of the koala and monotremes.

Koalas in Culture and Popularity

Koalas are globally recognized and serve as a significant attraction at Australian zoos and wildlife parks. Their iconic status has been cemented in popular culture and through merchandise such as plush toys, which are particularly popular with tourists. The koala’s impact on the Australian tourism industry was already valued at over $1 billion in 1998, and it has only grown since then. Following World War II, the international appeal of the koala surged as tourism to Australia increased and the animals were sent to zoos around the world. In a 1997 survey, about 75% of European and Japanese tourists placed the koala at the top of their must-see animal list. As biologist Stephen Jackson noted, the koala often edges out even the kangaroo as the animal most closely associated with Australia. Its enduring charm is attributed to its teddy bear-like appearance and childlike proportions, which resonate with people of all ages.

The koala holds a significant place in Indigenous Australian Dreamtime stories and mythology. The Tharawal people believed that koalas helped them reach Australia by rowing their boats. Another tale speaks of a tribe that killed a koala and used its long intestines to create a bridge, allowing people from other parts of the world to cross. Many stories explain how the koala lost its tail, often involving a kangaroo cutting it off as punishment for the koala’s behavior. In Queensland and Victoria, the koala was revered as a wise creature that provided valuable guidance, with the Bidjara people crediting it for making trees grow in arid lands. Although koalas appear in Indigenous rock carvings, they are depicted less frequently than some other animals.

Early European settlers in Australia had a different view of the koala, often describing it as a sloth-like creature with a “fierce and menacing look.” However, by the early 20th century, the koala’s reputation had improved. It was featured as the “funny native bear” in Ethel Pedley’s 1899 book Dot and the Kangaroo. Artist Norman Lindsay further popularized the koala in The Bulletin cartoons, beginning in 1904, and his creation, Bunyip Bluegum, appeared in Lindsay’s 1918 book The Magic Pudding. Perhaps the most famous fictional koala is Blinky Bill, created by Dorothy Wall in 1933. Blinky Bill became a beloved character, appearing in books, films, TV series, merchandise, and even a 1986 environmental song by John Williamson. The koala made its first appearance on an Australian postage stamp in 1930.

Koalas have also made appearances in global pop culture. The song “Ode to a Koala Bear” was featured on the B-side of the 1983 Paul McCartney/Michael Jackson duet single “Say Say Say.” In the early 1980s, the koala was the main character in animated shows like Hanna-Barbera’s The Kwicky Koala Show and Nippon Animation’s Noozles. Koala-shaped food items, such as the Caramello Koala chocolate bar and Koala’s March cookie snacks, are popular in Australia and beyond. The giant koala tourist complex in Dadswells Bridge, Victoria, is another testament to the animal’s cultural significance, as is the Queensland Reds rugby team, which has adopted the koala as its mascot.