Animals / koala-dietary-requirements
Facts about Koala Dietary Requirements
- 05
Out of hundreds of eucalyptus species, koalas typically feed on only a small number of preferred species within their local habitat range.
- 04
Water intake for koalas comes primarily from the moisture content of eucalyptus leaves rather than from drinking standing water.
- 03
Eucalyptus leaves are so low in nutrition and high in fiber that koalas must sleep up to 22 hours per day to conserve energy.
- 02
A koala's digestive system is specially adapted with an exceptionally long cecum, which helps neutralize the toxic compounds found in eucalyptus leaves.
- 01
Koalas are highly selective feeders that rely almost entirely on eucalyptus leaves, which contain toxins most other animals cannot detoxify.