Koala Facts, Health and Veterinary Care in South Australia
At Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre, our veterinary team sees hundreds of koalas each year. This page explains common koala facts through a clinical lens, including what koalas eat, how they behave, what can affect their health, and when a koala may need veterinary care.
This page answers some of the most commonly searched questions about koalas, covering their diet, behaviour, lifespan and unique adaptations.
Whether you’re curious about where koalas live, how long they sleep or the challenges they face, these facts provide a clear and accurate overview based on real knowledge and experience by our vet clinic in Adelaide, South Australia, a leading provider of koala vet care.
Every year, Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre provides free veterinary care for hundreds of koalas. Your donation helps fund examinations, diagnostic testing, medication, food and ongoing clinical treatment for koalas and native animals across South Australia.
Are koalas endangered?
Koalas are now considered endangered in some parts of Australia.
Their status varies depending on where they are living.
In the year 2022 the government of Australia decided to upgrade the status of koalas to endangered in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Reasons for the classification to endangered was based on the reduction in numbers due to land clearing, loss of habitat, climate change and disease, Here in South Australia, koalas aren’t classified as endangered and populations in places like Kangaroo Island and the Mount Lofty Ranges have historically been quite strong, largely due to past conservation efforts. That said, they’re still facing real pressures, including habitat fragmentation, bushfires and disease, so continued care and management remains incredibly important.
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Where do koalas live?
Koalas are primarily located along the eastern coast of Australia. Their habitat extends from the northeastern state of Queensland, through New South Wales, down to the southeastern state of Victoria, and into parts of South Australia.
As arboreal animals, koalas spend a large part of their lives in trees. They thrive in eucalyptus forests or woodlands, as their diet is almost exclusively made up of eucalyptus leaves. They can be difficult to spot, up high in the trees, but many national parks and surrounding bushland suburbs will have them in trees.
Unfortunately, over the past century, the range of koalas has dramatically decreased due to habitat destruction caused by urban development, agriculture, and logging. Deforestation and fragmentation have confined koalas to smaller, isolated patches of suitable habitat. Furthermore, climate change presents another major threat by altering the distribution and health of eucalyptus forests, which further affects koala populations.
Protecting their natural habitat is essential for the survival and well-being of our koalas.
Koalas are primarily located along the eastern coast of Australia. Their habitat extends from the northeastern state of Queensland, through New South Wales, down to the southeastern state of Victoria, and into parts of South Australia.
As arboreal animals, koalas spend a large part of their lives in trees. They thrive in eucalyptus forests or woodlands, as their diet is almost exclusively made up of eucalyptus leaves. They can be difficult to spot, up high in the trees, but many national parks and surrounding bushland suburbs will have them in trees.
Unfortunately, over the past century, the range of koalas has dramatically decreased due to habitat destruction caused by urban development, agriculture, and logging. Deforestation and fragmentation have confined koalas to smaller, isolated patches of suitable habitat. Furthermore, climate change presents another major threat by altering the distribution and health of eucalyptus forests, which further affects koala populations.
Protecting their natural habitat is essential for the survival and well-being of our koalas.
How to tell male or female koala
Male koalas generally are bigger than their female counterparts in both size and weight, with males typically being around 50% heavier.
An important characteristic of male koalas is their prominent chest gland, which becomes increasingly visible as they mature. This gland is used to mark trees, establishing their territory and communicating their presence to other koalas. It looks like a brown dirty streak on their chest.
Females do not have a scent gland.
Although both male and female koalas vocalize especially during mating seasons, males produce a deeper, more resonant bellow.
Females are smaller (and some would say, prettier!) and have a pouch.
From a distance its hard to tell the difference between male and female, but the scent gland remains one of the easiest ways to tell who is a male!
What do koalas eat?
Eucalyptus leaves form the staple of the koala diet, with koalas selectively feeding on around 30 out of over 600 eucalypt species. These leaves are not only a source of sustenance but also provide the majority of their water intake. Despite their abundance, eucalyptus leaves are not an easy food source. They are tough, fibrous, and contain chemical compounds that are toxic to most animals. Koalas, however, have evolved a suite of specialized adaptations to process these leaves.
But this diet has its challenges. Eucalyptus leaves are low in protein and high in indigestible substances. This means koalas have to eat large quantities to meet their nutritional needs.
Need to know more? Then check out the page What do Koalas Eat? for loads more detailed information and facts
How long are koalas pregnant?
Reproductively, koalas are seasonal breeders, with most mating occurring during the southern hemisphere's spring and summer. Females reach sexual maturity around 2 to 3 years, while males mature a bit later.
The gestation period is relatively short, around 34-36 days.
However, this is followed by a prolonged period of pouch life for the underdeveloped joey, which lasts about six months.
Post-pouch life, the joey remains dependent on its mother, feeding on specialized fecal matter called "pap" that aids in the transition from milk to a eucalyptus diet.
Reproductively, koalas are seasonal breeders, with most mating occurring during the southern hemisphere's spring and summer. Females reach sexual maturity around 2 to 3 years, while males mature a bit later.
The gestation period is relatively short, around 34-36 days.
However, this is followed by a prolonged period of pouch life for the underdeveloped joey, which lasts about six months.
Post-pouch life, the joey remains dependent on its mother, feeding on specialized fecal matter called "pap" that aids in the transition from milk to a eucalyptus diet.
Do all koalas have chlamydia?
Koalas, the iconic marsupials of Australia, face several health threats from various diseases that have grave implications for their survival and chlamydia gets a lot of attention from the public.
So do all koalas have this disease?
No, not all koalas have chlamydia.
While the disease is common and a major threat to koala populations, its prevalence varies significantly between regions and populations. Peer reviewed research shows infection rates can range anywhere from 0% to nearly 90% in different wild populations. Even when a koala is in an area of high chlamydia population, it does not mean that a koala is infected. And an important fact - not all koalas who have chlamydia will show symptoms.
Overall, chlamydia is a significant and widespread issue, but it is not present in every koala. Ongoing veterinary care, monitoring and research are critical to protecting both affected and disease free populations.
Want to know how we treat chlamydia at our clinic? Then read more information and facts on this disease at our chlamydia information page.
So do all koalas have this disease?
No, not all koalas have chlamydia.
While the disease is common and a major threat to koala populations, its prevalence varies significantly between regions and populations. Peer reviewed research shows infection rates can range anywhere from 0% to nearly 90% in different wild populations. Even when a koala is in an area of high chlamydia population, it does not mean that a koala is infected. And an important fact - not all koalas who have chlamydia will show symptoms.
Overall, chlamydia is a significant and widespread issue, but it is not present in every koala. Ongoing veterinary care, monitoring and research are critical to protecting both affected and disease free populations.
Want to know how we treat chlamydia at our clinic? Then read more information and facts on this disease at our chlamydia information page.
We Treat Koalas with Chlamydia Every Week
At our Adelaide clinic we diagnose and treat koala chlamydia five days a week. Your donation funds the medications and diagnostics that give these koalas a second chance.
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Do koalas get high from eucalyptus leaves?
Ever watched a koala and thought it seemed a bit… drowsy?
You’re not alone.
Koalas sleep for up to 18 to 20 hours a day, which has led to the common myth that they are “high” or affected by the eucalyptus leaves they eat.
In reality, koalas are not intoxicated.
Eucalyptus leaves do contain compounds that are toxic to many animals, but koalas have specialised digestive systems that allow them to break these down safely. The reason koalas sleep so much is because their diet is very low in energy and difficult to digest. To conserve energy, they spend much of the day resting while their bodies process their food.
So while koalas may look sleepy or slow-moving, it’s not because they are “drugged” by eucalyptus leaves, it’s simply a natural adaptation to their unique diet.
Do koalas have fingerprints?
Yes, koalas do have fingerprints, and they are surprisingly similar to human fingerprints.
Scientific studies have revealed that the koala has dermal ridges on its fingers and toes that are microscopically and macroscopically very similar to human fingerprints . These ridges form loops and whorls, just like human fingerprints, and are unique to each individual koala.
While fingerprints are most commonly associated with primates, koalas are one of the only other mammals known to have them.
Are koalas bears?
Koalas might look a bit like teddy bears, but they aren't bears at all! They're actually marsupials, like kangaroos and wallabies.
The big giveaway? Koalas have a pouch where they carry and care for their babies, while real bears don't.
So, while it might be tempting to call them "koala bears" because of their cute, cuddly appearance, it's not accurate. They're simply koalas, and they're unique in their own way!
Koalas might look a bit like teddy bears, but they aren't bears at all! They're actually marsupials, like kangaroos and wallabies.
The big giveaway? Koalas have a pouch where they carry and care for their babies, while real bears don't.
So, while it might be tempting to call them "koala bears" because of their cute, cuddly appearance, it's not accurate. They're simply koalas, and they're unique in their own way!
How Long do Koalas Live For?
In the wild, koalas typically live between 10 and 15 years, though this varies significantly between males and females. Female koalas generally live longer, with some reaching 15 years or more. Males tend to have shorter lifespans, partly due to the physical demands of competition during breeding season and the injuries that can result.
Threats such as dog attacks, vehicle strikes, disease and habitat loss mean many koalas never reach their natural lifespan. At Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Centre we treat koalas at every stage of life; from orphaned joeys to older animals facing the end of their wild years - doing everything we can to give each one the best possible outcome.
What Sounds Does A Koala Make?
Both male and female koalas make sounds.
The sound produced by a male koala is one of the most unexpected - a deep, resonant, rumbling roar that sounds far too large to come from an animal of their size.
Male koalas produce this bellow primarily during breeding season to advertise their presence to females and warn competing males. The sound travels remarkable distances through bushland, allowing koalas to communicate across large areas of fragmented habitat without ever leaving their tree. Many people who live near koalas complain (good naturedly) about the noise they make at night!
The secret behind the bellow is an unusual anatomical feature. Koalas possess a second set of lip folds that function as an extra pair of vocal folds - a trait found in very few other mammals. This allows them to produce sounds at a much lower frequency than their body size would normally allow. Research has shown that the koala's bellow is more comparable in pitch to an animal twenty times its size.
Female koalas also vocalise, producing softer calls and screams, particularly when stressed or handled. At our clinic in Adelaide we hear these vocalisations regularly - a distressed koala can be remarkably loud. Below is the video of a patient - Norman - who made us all aware of his dislike for a new patient, another male koala.
How long do koalas sleep for?
Koalas typically sleep or rest between 18 and 22 hours each day, and this long sleep time is completely normal for healthy koalas and helps them conserve energy.
Koalas eat low‑energy eucalyptus leaves that are hard to digest and mildly toxic, so sleeping and resting for most of the day reduces their energy needs and supports slow, efficient digestion. They do not sleep up to 22 hours a day because they are lazy; their long sleep is an important adaptation to their diet and lifestyle and allows them to stay healthy on a food source that does not provide much energy.
Long sleep alone is not a sign of illness, but if you find a koala on the ground and unsure what to do, find out more here.
Koalas eat low‑energy eucalyptus leaves that are hard to digest and mildly toxic, so sleeping and resting for most of the day reduces their energy needs and supports slow, efficient digestion. They do not sleep up to 22 hours a day because they are lazy; their long sleep is an important adaptation to their diet and lifestyle and allows them to stay healthy on a food source that does not provide much energy.
Long sleep alone is not a sign of illness, but if you find a koala on the ground and unsure what to do, find out more here.
So now that you know these amazing facts, you have an opportunity to help their care by supporting our Centre and helping our mission to care for these unique creatures. There are so many ways you can help right now!
Donate directly - every dollar goes towards keeping this Centre operational and treating wildlife. It costs around $6000-7000 to do a full vet assessment and full diagnostic range of tests for every koala.
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