This weeks Camera Critter pics are Koalas taken at Australia Zoo, the home of the late Steve Irwin.The koala is Australia's favourite marsupial. It gets it name from an Aboriginal word meaning 'no drink'. 90% of its hydration comes from it's diet of Eucalyptus leave (or gum leaves). It only drinks when ill or when leaves are too dry eg. drought. There are hundreds of varieties of Eucalypt trees but the koala preferrs to only eat from about 10 varieties. Due to their poor low-energy diet koalas have a low-energy lifestyle and sleep for up to 20 hours a day, much like a cat.
A baby koala (joey) will remain in their mothers pouch until they are about 22 weeks old when they will take their first look at the outside world. Between 22-36 weeks they spend more and more time out of the pouch until they can no longer fit back in. They are weaned at about 12 months old and become totally independant at about 18 months.
Wow great shots. They are beautiful creatures. Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for visiting me.
ReplyDeleteI love to see koalas. These are wonderful shots. A
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! Koalas are so cute!
ReplyDeleteLovely shots of our beautiful Australian icons!
ReplyDeletekoalas are such beautiful creatures. You have taken magnificent pictures of them. Thanks for posting the zoo link. We miss Steve very much and would love to visit his zoo someday.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. I'll have to try again to view the photos though. That's happened a couple times over the last two days. Usually, if I wait and check back later, the photos are visible.
ReplyDeleteKoalas are such cute animals. Interesting post too.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely awesome photos! That last shot is spectacular and priceless!
ReplyDeleteAhhhhh, the baby koala is so sweet!!
ReplyDeleteit's so great that you got pics of them awake. i almost never see them awake, lol.
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