Is it true that Koalas do not need to drink?

Answer 1

Koalas need moisture, but they get it out of the eucalyptus leaves. The word Koala is believed to come from an aboriginal word meaning 'no drink.'

Koalas do drink water, but very rarely, and usually only in extreme stress, such as during heatwaves. The story of the koala that drank from the fire-fighter's water bottle during the February 2009 bushfires was most unusual, and showed the desperation of the native creatures caught in the fires.

This phenomenon of koalas asking for water from humans is becoming more common during southern Australia's hot summers, when temperatures can be extreme. Cyclists in the mountains of Victoria during summer, for example, have been known to stop and offer thirsty koalas a drink at the side of the road, and the koalas have apparently accepted the drink.