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Stay up to date on major announcements, exciting collaborations, and more. Visit our Newsroom
We make it simple for anyone to plant trees, and together we can make an incredible impact. Learn more
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Become a business partner to improve your company’s sustainability initiatives and make an impact. Learn more
See how your support and leadership can help us fund reforestation efforts across the globe. Learn more
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Comprised of lesson plans, learning modules, resources, and activities, our T.R.E.E.S. School Program is the perfect addition to your curriculum. Learn more
Read about stories from the field, interesting facts about trees and get your healthy dose of nature. Visit our blog
Comprised of lesson plans, learning modules, resources, and activities, our T.R.E.E.S. School Program is the perfect addition to your curriculum. Learn more
Our fan-favorite Reforestation T-Shirt. Wear it with pride to show your support of reforesting our planet, one tree at a time. Shop now
Give the gift that lasts a lifetime! Choose an image, write your personalized message and select a delivery date to gift a tree. Gift a tree
Our fan-favorite Reforestation T-Shirt. Wear it with pride to show your support of reforesting our planet, one tree at a time. Shop now
Give the gift that lasts a lifetime! Choose an image, write your personalized message and select a delivery date to gift a tree. Gift a tree
Koalas are an iconic species native only to the land down under, they’re as Australian as kangaroos and Crocodile Dundee.
Unfortunately due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and climate change, koalas are increasingly under threat. In fact, they are on the top 10 list of animals most threatened by climate change. Wild koalas are an indicator species, showing the health (or lack thereof) of the ecosystems upon which they depend—and clearly, the pressure is on. One Tree Planted is actively working to restore their habitats through reforestation and conservation in Australia.
In the spirit of some serious Koala appreciation, we’ve compiled a list of 11 facts why we love this wildlife species.
Observed every year on May 3rd, Wild Koala Daywas established by concerned koala conservationists across Australia to celebrate this species and to protect their habitats. Anyone is welcome to join, and is encouraged to pin a gum leaf (or any other leaf if you don't have access to eucalyptus) to their shirt, change their profile photo to a koala, and/or share a koala photo on social media, tagged #wildkoaladay.
In fact, they’re the only animals other than primates that have them—and just like us, each one is an individual. They also have unique patterns on their noses, which helps wildlife biologists to identify and track them.
Their name is thought to mean “no drink” and was coined by Aboriginal people (who have coexisted with them for thousands of years). And in fact, Koalas don’t need to drink much water because they get a lot of water from their dietary staple, eucalyptus leaves. They can and do drink from creeks and water holes if necessary, but if you see a koala drinking, it’s probably in distress.
While mature males tend to have a stronger, muskier odor, females and juvenile males give off a slight eucalyptus smell— which doubles as a natural insect repellent!
Although there are around 700 species of eucalyptus trees, koalas tend to only eat from 50 of those. In fact, individual koalas usually have 1-3 specific eucalyptus species that they will eat regularly, reserving others for the occasional snack or resting spot. And even then, they will climb to the very top of the tallest trees to get the best leaves, which contain more liquid and nutrients.
Their main source of food, eucalyptus, is toxic, fibrous, and not very nutritious. And while they have an unusually long (200 cms) caecum to help them digest and break down fiber, they’re only able to absorb about 25% of what they consume—which is why they have to eat so much. In fact, an adult Koala eats about 1/2-1 kilogram of leaves…. every night! Think about how you feel after eating a heavy meal, and you’ll understand why they sleep 18-20 hours a day!
As you might imagine, spending all that time in trees would make for a pretty sore tush. Fortunately, they have strong cartilage at the end of their curved spine, which allows them to live comfortably in their arboreal homes.
As solitary creatures, koalas stick to their home ranges and generally respect the boundaries of others. Each koala has a different sized range, depending on sex, age, social position, and habitat quality, but mature males have scent glands in the center of their chests, which exude a dark, sticky substance that they rub on trees to mark their territory. Climate change, deforestation, and other human activities have pushed koalas closer together, causing them a great deal of stress.
As marsupials, their babies (joeys) are born very premature and continue to develop in their mother’s sack. These deaf, blind, and furless babies rely on their well-developed senses of smell, touch, and an inborn sense of direction to feel their way to the pouch, where they attach themselves to a teat. Once attached, the teat swells in their mouth, fusing them to their food source so that their mother can move freely. They spend about 6 months in the pouch, and then another 6 months or so riding on her abdomen or back—and they stay with their mothers until another joey is born, typically 1-3 years.
Each front paw has 5 digits, two of which are opposed (similar to our thumbs) and able to move separately from the others. On their hind paws, the 2nd and 3rd digits are fused together for grooming.
A common misconception is that they’re bears, but that’s actually not true: their closest relative is the wombat—many, many times removed. And as the only living members of their family, phascolarctidae, they’re unlike anything else on this planet.
After reading this list, we hope you’ll agree that there’s more to koalas than meets the eye—and that they should be protected. That's why we're working to plant 1 million trees in Australia and protect koala habitat. Want to help us to protect these amazing creatures? Plant a tree in Australia with us today!
Meaghan works to share our story far and wide, manages our blog calendar, coordinates with the team on projects + campaigns, and ensures our brand voice is reflected across channels. With a background in communications and an education in environmental conservation, she is passionate about leveraging her creativity to help the environment!
19/09/2023 by Meaghan Weeden
14/09/2023 by Gabrielle Clawson
12/09/2023 by Meaghan Weeden
31/08/2023 by Meaghan Weeden
18/07/2023 by Meaghan Weeden
11/07/2023 by Meaghan Weeden