Koala for Kids Ages 6-8

Koala

A friendly koala explains that he is a marsupial, not a bear, and lives in the eucalyptus trees of Australia. He describes his diet of eucalyptus leaves, which gives him little energy and causes him to sleep up to 20 hours a day. He also talks about his strong claws and thick fur. The koala mentions that while his forest home faces dangers, many people are working to protect him, and in 2022, his species was given special protection.

First European Sighting c. 1798

Scientific Name Given 1817

Population Decline from Fur Trade c. 1880

A Koala's Treetop Tale

Hello! My name is Koko, and I’m a koala. I live way up high in the tops of the eucalyptus trees here in Australia. It’s the best home! Some people see my fluffy ears and round nose and call me a 'koala bear,' but that’s a silly mistake. I’m not a bear at all! I am a special kind of animal called a marsupial. Do you know what that means? It means female koalas have a pouch that opens towards the rear. It’s the perfect little pocket for carrying my baby, who is called a joey. My joey can snuggle safely inside my pouch while I climb through the branches, looking for yummy leaves to eat. It is the best job in the world being a marsupial mom.

My whole day is about one thing: food! My favorite food in the entire world is eucalyptus leaves. I can eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You might think that's strange, but these leaves are poisonous to most other animals. My body is super special because it knows how to eat them safely. The only problem is that eucalyptus leaves don’t give me very much energy. They make me feel very, very sleepy. That’s why I love to nap! I can sleep for up to 20 hours every single day, cuddled up in the fork of a tree. When I am awake, I use my strong claws to help me climb from branch to branch. My claws are sharp and curved, perfect for holding on tight. I also have thick, woolly fur that works like a raincoat and a warm sweater all in one. It keeps me warm and dry. A very long time ago, in the year 1798, the first visitors from Europe saw my ancestors climbing in these same trees and were so amazed.

My forest home is beautiful, but sometimes it faces dangers. Big fires can sweep through the trees, and sometimes too many of my eucalyptus trees are cut down. But I want to tell you about something wonderful. Many kind people are working very hard to protect me and my forest home. They plant new trees and make sure we have safe places to live. In the year 2022, leaders in Australia made a big decision. They said that my koala family needed extra special protection, which made us all feel so safe and hopeful for the future. I am so important to the forest, and I am so happy to be a unique and special part of the amazing world of Australia.