He is willing and waiting. That s the way most people react the first time they see an Australian koala up close. Cuddly, soft, thick plush fur. Koalas are a joy to watch. Actually the koala isn t a bear at all.
Koalas are marsupials, which means they re first cousin to animals like kangaroos.
Their hands and feet are specially adapted for climbing trees. When they re on the ground, however, they shuffle along very awkwardly on their short, stocky legs. Even if you walk through many Australian forests, however, you ll never stumble on a koala. First, you won t stumble over one because they re up in the trees. Koalas live almost exclusively in the top branches of eucalyptus trees.