Where do koalas live?

Answer 1

Country and Continent

The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a marsupial mammal (not a bear). It is endemic to the continent of Australia, meaning that it is not found on any other continent or island group. Koalas, while extremely vulnerable to human intervention and habitat loss, enjoy some areas of healthy population in the eastern mainland states.

Under the Federal Conservation Act, the species is listed as inhabiting four states:

• Queensland - They are considered to be common throughout this state, except throughout the southeast, where their conservation status is "vulnerable".
• New South Wales - Officially koalas are listed as vulnerable in this state, but their status varies within local regions from "secure" to "locally extinct".
• South Australia - Koalas were completely wiped out in South Australia by the 1920s, but there have been recent, successful attempts to recolonise southeastern parts of the state, and these colonies are thriving. They can be seen in areas of the Adelaide Hills and the Fleurieu Peninsula. Attempts to create a self-sustaining koala population on Kangaroo island (off the southern coast) have been highly successful, and there is almost an "overpopulation" problem there, due to their protected status and the absence of natural predators.
• Victoria - The Koala is common in this state and is considered to be a booming population. This is one of the areas where koalas seem to have a stable population, both on the mainland and on a number of offshore islands.

Koalas have also recently been introduced into selected national parks in Western Australia. These colonies are succeeding, with new joeys being observed each year.

Habitat and Ecosystem

The koala lives mostly within the temperate zones of Australia. Its habitat is eucalypt woodland and bushland, but of the several hundred species of eucalyptus ("gum trees"), koalas prefer about 60 varieties, with their specific preferences being limited to a couple of dozen.

Koalas are particular to Eastern Australia, and can be found along the eastern and south-eastern coastal regions. They live in cool temperate zones, right up to hot, sub-tropical zones. Koalas live in a range of habitats, as long as there are abundant eucalyptus trees of the sort they prefer. They are found on coastal islands, tall eucalypt forests, bushland and low woodlands inland.

Koalas spend most of their time nestled in the branches of their favoured trees. They do not shelter in tree hollows or nests, but sit comfortably wedged in between tree branches.

Koalas are not found in rainforests, nor in grasslands or deserts. These biomes do not support the eucalyptus trees which koalas favour. They are also not found in Alpine or snowy regions.

To see a map of where koalas are found in Australia, see the related link.
Trees
Koala bears live in the wild (and in zoos) in Australia and in zoos in other nations.
Koala bears are native to Australia. They are not actually bears, however. In reality, they are marsupials, like wombats and kangaroos.

Answer 2

gum trees