Sometimes it will ride on its mother's belly. After it grows too large for the pouch, a young koala climbs onto its mother's back and holds on with strong hands and feet. After about a year, it can live alone in the trees. A koala also has two thumbs on its hands, and the ridged skin on the bottom of its feet gives it traction for climbing. Strong arm and shoulder muscles help a koala climb 150 feet to the top of a tree, or leap from treetop to treetop.
Koalas only eat eucalyptus leaves.
Koalas prefer the leaves of about 36 varieties. At the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park koalas are offered fresh branches from several kinds of eucalyptus trees each day. These picky eaters can then select their favorite varieties. Eucalyptus leaves are poisonous to most animals, but koalas have special bacteria in their stomachs that break down the toxic oils. Special cheek teeth grind the tough eucalyptus leaves.