Koala |
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 Phascolarctos
cinereus
A hundred years ago, millions of these marsupials (animals that carry their young in a pouch) existed in Australia, and it was a popular sport to shoot them out of the trees. They were easy targets, as the presence of people doesn’t seem to disturb them and they are placid and friendly by nature. In the early part of this century, millions of these animals were slaughtered for their soft, durable, silver-grey fur, and were approaching the point of extinction when the Australian government passed protective legislation which may enable the koala to make a comeback. Koalas feed exclusively on the leaves of eucalyptus trees and become so saturated with the essential oils of this plant that they smell just like cough drops. Female koalas give birth to a single offspring every two years. A mature male koala usually has a small harem of females which he guards jealously. |
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