What does a koala bear eat? | Reference.com What does a koala bear eat? A: Quick Answer Koalas eat leaves, with eucalyptus being the most prominent staple in their diet. Koalas have very strong jaws, allowing them to chew tough, fibrous leaves. Eucalyptus leaves are very low in nutrition, and they contain a toxin that is filtered out through the digestive system. Koalas use their keen sense of smell to differentiate between leave types, and determine how much of the toxin they contain. Full Answer A baby koala, or a joey as it is called, nurses on milk while it lives in its mother's pouch for around six months. After emerging from the pouch, the joey lives on its mother's back for roughly six more months, subsisting on both milk and eucalyptus leaves. After approximately one year, the joey is weaned off of milk. Koalas only eat 50 species of eucalyptus, out of the 700 in Australia. Their sharp claws and strong limbs allow them to climb tree trunks.

Koalas have tails with thick padding, which helps them to sit in trees for hours at a time. They have four fingers and an opposable thumb on each hand for gripping the branches. They tend to be solitary creatures, and males mark their territory by rubbing a scent gland against trees. Koala Bears Diet | what do koala bears eat Koala Bears Diet and what they eat Koalas are herbivorous and feed exclusively on certain eucalyptus leaves. An adult can eat up to 500 g of leaves daily. Since the leaf of eucalyptus has large quantities of water, koalas almost do not drink water, the reason for which they were named “Koala”; in the language of the Aborigines, koala means “who do not drink.” Koalas are very picky about their food. Koalas love leaves. An adult koala is a leaf - eater. It eats eucalyptus leaves. When koalas are not sleeping, they are usually eating or looking for food. They do not have to look far, since their diet is made up almost entirely of eucalyptus leaves.

Over 600 types of eucalyptus trees grow in Australia, but a koala will eat the leaves of only two or three kinds. It occasionally eats leaves from other trees as well, such as tea and cherry trees. Not all koalas like the same kinds of leaves. A koala’s taste depends partly on where it lives. Each koala has its own favorite local trees from which it eats. Having a restricted diet like this causes big problems for koalas when their favorite food source is under threat or in short supply. A single koala may eat just two types of eucalyptus all of its life. This is partly because it does not like to change. Once a young koala starts to eat the leaves of the trees in its home range, it tries to feed on the same kind, year after year. Each region of Australia has its own types of eucalyptus, and most woodlands contains only a few of these. So koalas in the northeast eat different eucalyptus leaves than those in the southeast. Daily Diet A 1- year – old koala eats about 11 oz. (300g.) of food each day.

A full – grown koala, about 3 years old, can eat up to 1.1 lb. (500g.) daily The koalas are one of nature’s most fussy eaters. It will only eat the leaves and young shoots of the eucalyptus tree. It also eats the tree’s stems, flowers, and bark, but it likes the leaves best. And not just the leaves of any eucalyptus tree. Of the more than seven hundred varieties of eucalyptus, the koala will only eat from about three dozen of them. If you are thinking that eucalyptus is highly nutritious because they are almost the only food that koalas eat, you are wrong. The leaves of eucalyptus have little protein, lots of material that is hard to digest, and are actually poisonous to most animals. Bacteria in koala’s stomach break down the poisonous oils in the leaves so they do not harm the koala. The koala must eat between 1 and 1.5 pound (454 and 680 grams) of eucalyptus leaves a day to provide it with enough nutrition to survive.

That is a lot to eat for a small animal. The koalas spend s about two to four hours a night chewing the tough leaves into a thin paste that it can swallow. When its stomach is full, it will store more leaves in its fat cheeks. Much of the other eighteen or more hours of a koalas’ day are spent sleeping. All that eating is hard work, and the koala’s poor diet provides it with a limited amount of energy. A change of Diet As soon they are born they are fed on its mother’s milk. Shortly after its eyes open, it starts to eat “pap”. These are special droppings produced by the mother, made from eucalyptus leaves she has partly digested. The baby’s stomach cannot digest fresh leaves, which are very tough. But pap contains leaves that the mother’s stomach has begun to break down. They are in a form that the Joey can digest. Pap is the first step toward a life of eating leaves. But the young koala still takes milk from its mother’s teat every day. On milk alone, the Joey grows slowly. Once it begins to eat pap, growth is much faster.

Young koalas learn to identify food by copying their mother as she eats. Did You Know... Some of the koala’s favorite kinds of eucalyptus tree are blue gum, swamp gum, and gray gum. Eucalyptus leaves provide the koalas with just about all the water its body needs. In the wild, koalas rarely, if ever, take a drink of water. The word koala in the language of the Australian Aborigines, the country’s native people, means “no drink.” A koala’s complex digestive system allows it to break down the poisons and tough fibers found in the leaves it eats. Poisonous food All eucalyptus leaves contain poison, but some have more than others. Koalas sniff each leaf and inspect it carefully before eating it. They can tell which leaves are the most poisonous and avoid them. Koalas are tough eaters; eating eucalyptus leaves would kill most animals, but a koala can eat them without getting sick. It uses its strong jaws and ridged teeth to chew the leaves slowly and break them down as much as possible.

The leaves then pass though a koala’s special digestive system, which takes out the poisons. Eucalyptus leaves contain few nutrients, so a koala must eat about a pound (500 g) of leaves per day in order to stay health. Eating soil Koalas sometimes climb down to the ground to eat soil and gravel. These provide natural minerals and help to break up the tough leaves inside the koala’s stomach. Drinking All plants contain water, but it can be difficult to reach. The koalas’ slow and efficient digestive system absorbs all moisture from its food. Eucalyptus leaves are spear – shaped and contain mostly water. In the morning these leaves are also covered with dew. Koalas get so much water by just eating that they rarely take a drink. Every once in a while, a koala might climb down to the ground for a drink. But it doesn’t stay on the ground for long. As soon as it can, it climbs back up into the safety of the trees. These are some of the koala’s favorite kind of eucalyptus trees: River red gun Information on Koalas. This Koala information is regularly updated. What is a koala?

The koala is a small bear-like, tree-dwelling, herbivorous marsupial which averages about 9kg (20lb) in weight. Its fur is thick and usually ash grey with a tinge of brown in places. The koala gets its name from an ancient Aboriginal word meaning "no drink" because it receives over 90% of its hydration from the Eucalyptus leaves (also known as gum leaves) it eats, and only drinks when ill or times when there is not enough moisture in the leaves. ie during droughts etc. The koala is the only mammal, other than the Greater Glider and Ringtail Possum, which can survive on a diet of eucalyptus leaves. Habitat & Diet 'Habitat' refers to the types of bushland that koalas like to live in. They are found in a range of habitats, from coastal islands and tall eucalypt forests to low woodlands inland. Koalas today are found in Queensland , New South Wales , Victoria and South Australia .

Their range extends from the Atherton Tableland west of Cairns in Qld to islands off the coast of Victoria and South Australia in the south, and west to central and western Qld, NSW and Victoria. Koalas live in societies, just like humans, so they need to be able to come into contact with other koalas. It is because of this they need to have areas of suitable eucalypt forest which are large enough to support a healthy koala population and to allow for expansion by maturing young koalas. Koalas are highly territorial and in stable breeding groups, individual members of koala society maintain their own "home range" areas. A �home range� consists of a number of �home range trees� and �food trees� which comprise the long-term territory of the individual koala. These trees provide the koala with food, shelter and places for social contact which will support it for the term of its natural life (assuming there is no habitat clearing). A home range varies in size depending on the habitat quality of bushland. Habitat quality can be measured in terms of the density of key food trees.

"Home range trees" define the boundaries of the individual koala�s home range and can be likened to surveyors pegs marking the extent of a property. They are not always apparent to the human eye, but koalas can tell whether a tree �belongs� to another koala or not. Within a socially stable group, the home ranges of individual koalas overlap with those of their neighbours. It is in the shared, overlapping trees that the majority of social interaction takes place. These are very important trees. Koala populations only occur if suitable habitat is available and because Koala's are very fussy eaters and have strong preferences for different types of gumleaves, then the most important factor which make habitats suitable are the presence of tree species preferred by koalas (usually eucalypts, but also some non-eucalypts) growing in particular associations on suitable soils with adequate rainfall. Research has shown that socially stable koala populations occur only when there are favourite tree species present. Even if a selection of tree species known to be used by koalas occurs within an area, the koala population will not use it unless one or two favourite species are available.

In Australia there are over 600 types of eucalypts, but koalas will only eat 40-50 varieties with only about 10 being preferred. Within a particular area, as few as one, and generally no more than two or three species of eucalypt will be regularly browsed while a variety of other species, including some non-eucalypts, appear to be browsed occasionally or used for just sitting or sleeping in. Different species of eucalypts grow in different parts of Australia, so a koala in Victoria would have a very different diet from one in Queensland. Koalas like a change, too, and sometimes they will eat from other trees such as wattle or tea tree. Eucalyptus leaves are very fibrous and low in nutrition, and to most animals are extremely poisonous. To cope with such a diet, nature has equipped koalas with specialised adaptations. A very slow metabolic rate allows koalas to retain food within their digestive system for a relatively long period of time, maximising the amount of energy able to be extracted.

At the same time, this slow metabolic rate minimises energy requirements and they will sleep for up to 18 hours per day in order to conserve energy. Each koala eats approximately 200 to 500 grams of leaves per day. The teeth are adapted to deal with for this. The sharp front incisors nip the leaves from the branches and the molars(back teeth) are shaped to allow the koala to cut and shear the leaves rather than just crush them. A gap between the incisors and the molars, called a 'diastema', allows the tongue to move the mass of leaves around the mouth efficiently. Physiology The Koala is well suited to life in the trees. The koala has an excellent sense of balance and its body is lean and muscular and its quite long, strong limbs support its weight when climbing. The arms and legs are nearly equal in length and the koala's climbing strength comes from the thigh muscle joining the shin much lower than in other animals. Its paws are especially adapted for gripping and climbing with rough pads on the palms and soles helping it to grip tree trunks and branches. Both front and hind paws have long sharp claws and each paw has five digits.

On the front paw, two fingers are opposed to the other three, rather like a human's thumb, so they are able to be moved in opposition to the fingers. This allows the koala to grip more securely. On the hind paw, there is no claw on the big toe, and the second and third toes are fused together to form a 'grooming claw'. Koalas have a thick woolly fur which protects them from both high and low temperatures.It also acts like a 'raincoat' to repel moisture when it rains. The fur varies in colour from light grey to brown, with patches of white on the chest and neck, inside arms and legs and inside the ears. Mature males are recognisable by the brown 'scent gland' in the centre of their white chest. The fur on the koala's bottom is densely packed to provide a 'cushion' for the hard branches it sits on, and has a 'speckled' appearance which makes koalas hard to spot from the ground.

An adult male koala can weigh between 8 and 14 kilograms and a female between 6 and 11 kilograms, with the heavier animals coming from the southern areas where they have adapted to the colder climate by an increase in body weight and thicker fur. If you see Koalas in Queensland, they look noticably smaller than Koalas from Victoria. Koalas are mostly nocturnal animals and they are most active during the night and at dawn and dusk. This is because in the cooler hours they are less likely to lose precious moisture and energy than they would during the hotter daylight hours. An average of eighteen to twenty hours each day are spent resting and sleeping, and the remainder for feeding, moving around, grooming and social interaction. The Koala's nose is one of its most important features, and it has a very highly developed sense of smell. This is necessary to differentiate between types of gum leaves and to detect whether the leaves are poisonous or not. The Koala's digestive system is especially adapted to detoxify the poisonous chemicals in the leaves. The toxins are thought to be produced by the gum trees as a protection against leaf-eating animals like insects.

Trees which grow on less fertile soils seem to have more toxins than those growing on good soils. This could be one reason why koalas will eat only certain types of eucalypts, and why they will sometimes even avoid them when they are growing on certain soils. Climbing trees When approaching a tree to climb, koalas spring from the ground and catch their front claws in the bark, then bound upwards. Claw marks are usually visible on the trunks of trees regularly used as home trees by koalas. In the safety of their home trees, koalas assume a wide variety of sitting and sleeping postures, and they will move around the tree during the day and night to catch the sun or the breezes. On hot days it is common to see them with limbs dangling in an effort to keep cool, and during colder times, curled up in a ball to conserve body heat. When descending a tree, koalas come down bottom first. They regularly descend to the ground to change trees, and it is there that they are most vulnerable to predators such as dogs, foxes and dingoes, and also to the risk of injury or death from cars. They walk with an awkward-looking gait and can also run.

Koalas have sometimes been observed swimming, but this is not a regular occurrence. Communication Koalas use a range of sounds to communicate with one another over relatively large distances. There is a deep grunting bellow which the male uses to signify its social and physical position. Males save fighting energy by bellowing their dominance and they also bellow to allow other animals to accurately locate the position of the caller. Females do not bellow as often as males, but their calls too are used to express aggression as well as being part of sexual behaviour, often giving the impression of fighting. Mothers and babies make soft clicking, squeaking sounds and gentle humming or murmuring sounds to one another, as well as gentle grunts to signal displeasure or annoyance. All koalas share one common call which is elicited by fear. It is a sickening cry like a baby screaming and is made by animals under stress. It is often accompanied by shaking. Koalas also communicate by marking their trees with their scent. Breeding The main characteristics of marsupials which differentiate them from other mammals is that they give birth to immature young which then develop further in a pouch.

The word 'marsupial' comes from the Latin word marsupium, meaning 'pouch.' Most, but not all marsupials have a pouch in which to raise their young. The breeding season for koalas runs roughly from September to March. This is a time of increased activity, and sound levels increase as males bellow more frequently. This is also when the young from the previous year are weaning from their mothers. Females generally start breeding at about three or four years of age and usually produce only one offspring each year. However, not all females in a wild population will breed each year. Some produce offspring only every two or three years, depending on factors such as the age of the female and the quality of its habitat. In the average female's life span of about twelve years, this means that one female may produce only 5 or 6 offspring over her lifetime. Once a female has conceived, it is only 34-36 days before the birth of the new baby, called a "joey". The tiny baby which is roughly 2 centimetres long and weighs less than 1 gram, looks rather like a pink jellybean as it is totally hairless, blind and has no ears.

The joey makes its way from the birth canal to the pouch completely unaided, relying on its already well-developed senses of smell and touch, strong forelimbs and claws and an amazing sense of direction. Once inside the safety of the pouch, it attaches itself to one of the two teats, which swells to fill its mouth. This prevents the joey from being dislodged from its source of food. The mother contracts her strong sphincter muscle at the pouch opening to prevent the baby from falling out. The young koala drinks only mother's milk for the first six to seven months and remains in the pouch for that time, slowly growing and developing eyes, ears, fur etc. At about 22 weeks, its eyes open and it begins to peep out of the pouch. From about 22 to 30 weeks, it begins to feed upon a substance called "pap" which the mother produces in addition to milk.

Pap is a specialised form of faeces, or droppings, which forms an important part of the young koala's diet, allowing it to make the transition from milk to eucalyptus leaves, rather like a human baby is fed "mushy" food when it starts to eat solids. Pap is soft and runny and thought to come from the caecum(a blind ended pouch at the junction of the small and large intestines). It allows the mother to pass on micro-organisms present in her own digestive system which are essential to the digestion of eucalyptus leaves.It is also a rich source of protein. The joey leans out of the pouch opening on the centre of the mother's abdomen to feed on the pap, stretching it open towards the source of the pap. The baby feeds regularly on the pap and as it grows it emerges totally from the pouch and lies on its mother's belly to feed. Eventually it begins to feed upon fresh leaves as it rides on her back. The young koala continues to take milk from its mother until it is about a year old, but as it can no longer fit in the pouch, the mother's teat elongates to protrude from the pouch opening.

Young koalas remain with their mothers until the appearance outside the pouch of the next season's joey. It is then time for the previous year's joey to wean and find its own home range. If a female does not reproduce each year, the joey stays with her longer and has a greater chance of survival when it does leave its mother. Females generally live longer than males as the males are more often injured during fights, they tend to travel longer distances with the resulting increase in risks such as cars and dogs, and they more often occupy poorer habitat. Putting a life span on the average koala can be misleading because some survive only for a period of weeks or months, while others survive to old age. Koalas living in an undisturbed habitat would have a greater life expectancy than those living in suburbia. Some estimates for the average life-span of an adult wild male koala are ten years, but the average survival rate for a dispersing sub-adult male living near a highway or a housing estate is closer to two or three years. There are always some transient animals who hang around the edges of stable groups. They are usually young males and will often drift between breeding aggregations waiting for an opportunity to become a permanent resident.

Threats Since European settlement, approximately 80% of Australia's eucalypt forests have been decimated. Of the remaining 20% almost none is protected and most occurs on privately-owned land. Settlers favoured the rich fertile lands along the eastern seaboard to have their farms and urban developments. Unfortunately, this is where the majority of koalas are already living because they also like to live in trees which are growing in fertile soils. The main causes of loss of habitat include: LAND CLEARING � injury or death from traffic � injury or death from dogs and cats � effects of garden pesticides getting into waterways � increased competition for food and territory because of overcrowding � increased stress on animals, making them more susceptible to disease. It has also been documented that over 4000 koalas are killed each year by dogs and cars. It easy to see that the biggest threat to the Koala population is the human. BUSHFIRES Koala populations in fragmented areas of bushland are at great risk of localised extinction from a single fire which may wipe out an entire habitat. Bushfires are extremely common in the Summer months. DIEBACK Changes in the balance of the ecosystem can lead to dieback of trees.

The cutting back of the original vast forests has created patches of forest separated from each other by treeless land. Small, isolated patches of forest are prone to dieback. Dieback is a general term for the gradual dying of trees due to factors such as land degradation, leaching of soil nutrients, changes in the composition of vegetation communities, rising water levels underground, salination of the soil, erosion caused by wind and water, exposure to weather and excessive defoliation (or loss of leaves). The underlying cause of all these factors appears to be the clearing and disturbance of forests. Seventy five percent of the main koala food tree species are declining in numbers as a result of this. OTHER THREATS Today the natural predators of the koala do not make a significant impact on wild populations.They include goannas dingoes, powerful owls, wedge-tailed eagles, and pythons, all of which are most likely to prey upon juvenile koalas. Feral animals are another threat koalas have had to face since European settlement. Foxes have been blamed for preying upon young koalas when their mother descends to the ground to change trees, and large feral cats may also be a problem for young koalas.

Long droughts also have an effect on the Koala population DISEASE Disease is part of the natural history of the koala. There are 4 common koala diseases caused by the chlamydia organism: conjunctivitis which can cause blindness, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and reproductive tract infections, which can cause female infertility. The symptoms of chlamydia manifest as sore eyes, chest infections, and "wet bottom" or "dirty tail". Different strains of chlamydia bacteria are thought to cause these diseases. In 1995, scientists isolated two strains called chlamydia pecorum and chlamydia pneumoniae. Scientists now believe that the chlamydia organism has been occuring amongst koala populations for many years, and has acted as a natural population control in times of stress. The organism is harmless in populations with unlimited resources, but manifests in times of stress, such as happens when habitat is reduced. The weaker animals succumb to the disease, become sick, infertile or die, leaving the genetically stronger animals to continue breeding.

In disease-free populations which have been moved to areas where they were not native or where there is not enough habitat to support them (such as on some islands off Victoria and Kangaroo Island in South Australia), problems with overpopulation have arisen because of this unnatural situation. However, this is not the case in most mainland populations, and indeed many of the mainland colonies are in decline. Koalas also suffer from a range of cancers like leukemia and skin cancers. Great Koala/ Australian Wildlife Links Koala Location, Habitat and Diet Koalas are found in Australia, in the areas of Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. Koalas spend most of their time in trees. They live in eucalyptus forests which provide the vegetation they need to survive. Stable populations of koalas are typically only found in areas where their favorite types of trees are located. Koalas are herbivores with a unique diet that consists almost entirely of eucalyptus leaves. Koalas are very picky eaters and will only dine on the leaves of certain tree species. They do occasionally eat leaves other than eucalyptus, such as tea tree leaves.

Koalas rarely drink water, as they get most of the moisture they need from their diet. They usually only drink when they are sick or if drought conditions require them to take in more water than usual. Size and Description Koalas weigh between about 5 and 25 pounds. Males are up to twice as large as females, and koalas found in the colder southern climates are typically larger than in the north. Their fur is typically a silver-gray color, but it can also contain brown or tan areas. In the colder climates, cinnamon-colored fur is more common than in the north. The chest and belly areas are usually white. Koalas have large, rounded, furry ears and a large black nose. Reproduction Like kangaroos, koalas are marsupials which carry their young in a pouch until they are mature. Koalas give birth to one joey at a time, which is usually about the size of a jellybean or smaller at birth. The joey then makes its way into its mother's pouch, where it nurses until it is about six months old.

At around seven months of age the joey will no longer fit into its mother's pouch and begins to ride around on her back and eat leaves. A joey will often stay with its mother for another six to twelve months, or until the next joey is ready to leave the pouch and take its place on the mother's back. Females reach reproductive age at about 5 to 6 years. They have a gestation or pregnancy period of around 230 days or 8 months. They give birth to one young at a time; in the rare case that twins are born, the mother will only care for one of them and the other is abandoned. Females will leave the bloat for a short time to go and give birth in seclusion. Adaptations Koalas have a very slow metabolism that allows them to survive on their nutrient-poor diet. Their food travels very slowly through their digestive system so that they are able to get as much nutrition from it as possible. They spend approximately 18-20 hours of each day sleeping or resting. They are most active at night, when the lower temperatures make it possible for them to conserve more water and energy during their daily activities.

Their excellent sense of smell helps them differentiate between different types of leaves to help them decide which ones are edible. Koalas are well suited for their life in the trees. They have two opposable "fingers" on their front paws, which allow them to easily grasp tree branches. This, in addition to their excellent sense of balance and long, strong arms, makes them expert climbers. Their heavy coat helps protect them from both hot and cold weather as well as helping to keep them dry in the rain. Koalas in the southern areas of Australia have adapted to the colder temperatures with thicker, heavier fur and they are larger than koalas from warmer regions. Special Facts There is much debate over the endangered status of the koala. Their primary threat is habitat loss, and although some areas of koala habitat are actually overpopulated, the areas that they are able to live in are shrinking. There are steps being taken to conserve the remaining eucalyptus forest land to protect the koalas from further population loss. Koala habitat and feed trees | NSW Environment & Heritage Koala habitat Koala habitat and feed trees Koalas are ecological specialists which feed primarily on the leaves of eucalyptus trees.

One of the most important factors influencing the distribution and numbers of koalas in any area is the presence and density of their food tree species. Koalas feed almost exclusively on a few preferred tree species which are of primary and secondary importance. If primary tree food species are not present or occur in low density, koalas must rely on secondary food tree species, but the number of animals per hectare is lower. The occurrence of both primary and secondary tree species varies widely on a regional, local and even a seasonal basis, meaning that koalas are unevenly distributed across their range. Although primary and secondary food trees provide most of a koala's diet, other tree species, including non-eucalypts, also provide seasonal or supplementary food. Koalas also require a range of other trees across their habitat for resting and shelter, particularly in extreme weather conditions. Examples of shelter trees include turpentine, cypress pine and brush box. More information on koalas Koala management areas The NSW recovery plan (2008) for the koala identifies seven koala management areas (KMAs). These areas enable the status and recovery of koalas to be monitored regionally.

The KMAs are based on: landscape characteristics, particularly the geographic distribution of primary or secondary food tree species administrative boundaries for ease of natural resource management. The recovery plan provides a list of koala food trees categorised as primary, secondary and supplementary for each KMA. Within each KMA: habitat characteristics and threats are relatively consistent, although there are a number of local variations koala populations can be monitored to assess and manage short-term management issues critical for conserving koalas throughout NSW. The main koala food trees in the seven management areas are listed below: Koala feedstuff - The, New York Zoological Society Koala feedstuff United States Patent 5032409 Abstract: Koalas are natives of Australia and are one of the few mammals whose diet consists almost exclusively of the leaves of native eucalypt trees. The present invention provides a method of maintaining koalas in captivity by feeding koalas a substitute feedstuff. Inventors: Hume, Ian D. (Gordon, AU) Pahl, Lester I.

(Brisbane, AU) Application Number: The, New York Zoological Society (AU) The University of Sydney (AU) Primary Class: A23K1/14; A23K1/16; A23K1/18; (IPC1-7): A23K1/00 Field of Search: 426/2, 426/635, 426/636, 426/548, 426/658, 426/636, 426/807 View Patent Images: 426/598 Other References: Ullrey et al, "Composition of Preferred & Rejected Eucalyptus Browse Offered to Captive Koalas", Dialog Abst. No. 1402282, file 53 (1981). Cork et al, "Digestion & Metabolism of a Natural Foliar Diet Eucalyptus-Punctata", Dialog Abst. No. 0014236560, file 5 (1983).

Cork, "Foilage of Eucalyptus-Punctata & The Maintenance Nitrogen Requirements of Koalas Phascalarctos-Cinereus", Dialog Abst. No. 5367245, file 5 (1986). Nogy et al., "Field Metabolism Rate Water Flux Fluid Consumption and Time Budget of Koalas", Dialog Abstract No. 5244930, file 5 (1985). Primary Examiner: Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen Parent Case Data: This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 308,132, filed Feb. 8, 1989 U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,418. Claims: We claim: 1.

A method of maintaining koalas in captivity comprising the step of feeding to said koalas a feedstuff which comprises: 60 to 70 wt % water, 10 to 50 wt % ground forage, 5 to 10 wt % binding agent, 0 to 5 wt % sweetener, 5 to 10 wt % lactose-free milk substitute, and either 8 to 12 wt % ground eucalypt leaf or an equivalent amount of eucalypt oil extract. 2. A method according to claim 1 in which the feedstuff is fed in conjunction with a liquid dip composition comprising: 40 to 75 wt% lactose-free milk substitute, 25 to 40 wt% water, 0 to 6 wt% sweetener, 6 to 13 wt% ground eucalypt leaf or an equivalent amount of eucalypt oil extract. Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a replacement feedstuff for koalas suitable for replacing at least in part the koala's natural diet of eucalypt leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known that koalas have extremely specialised feeding habits. Koalas are natives of Australia and are one of the few mammals whose diet consists almost exclusively of the leaves of native eucalypt trees. Eucalyptus trees contain eucalypt oils which are toxic to most animal species. Koalas have a metabolism which is adapted to cope with these toxins. However, koalas from a given area feed almost exclusively on a diet made up of only a very limited number of Eucalyptus species. This specialised feeding behaviour makes it very difficult to successfully keep koalas in zoos, particularly where the required Eucalyptus species are not freely available. In practice, it is necessary to give the animals fresh leaves each day. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention provides a method of maintaining koalas in captivity comprising the step of feeding to koalas a replacement feedstuff as set out herein. The feedstuff for feeding koalas comprises water, ground forage, a binding agent, a sweetener, a lactose-free milk substitute, and either eucalypt leaf or an equivalent amount of eucalypt oil extract.

A second aspect of the invention provides a liquid dip composition for use in conjunction with the replacement feedstuff. The liquid dip composition comprises a lactose-free milk substitute, water, a sweetener, and either eucalypt leaf or an equivalent amount of eucalypt oil extract. In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of preparing a feedstuff for koalas comprising the steps of: (a) dissolving a binding agent in water, (b) adding ground forage, a sweetener, a lactose-free milk substitute, a ground eucalypt leaf or an equivalent amount of eucalyptus oil extract, (c) mixing, (d) rolling the mixture to form a sheet, and (e) cutting the sheet into portions.

PREFERRED FEATURES OF THE INVENTION The feedstuff in accordance with the first aspect of the invention comprises: 60 to 70 wt% water, 10 to 15 wt% ground forage, 5 to 10 wt% binding agent, 0 to 5 wt% sweetener, 5 to 10 wt% lactose-free milk substitute, and either 8 to 12 wt% ground or chopped eucalypt leaf or an equivalent amount of eucalypt oil extract. Although the feedstuff could be in particulate form, it is preferred to be in the form of a shaped solid, such as a biscuit. The feedstuff preferably comprises 65 to 70 wt % water. The ground forage may be ground oaten hay or ground dried grass, but is preferably ground lucerne (alfalfa) hay. The function of the binding agent is to bind together the various ingredients and to absorb water. Agar and gelatine are preferred binding agents. Other edible, water-soluble binding agents would readily occur to the person skilled in the art.

The presence of the sweetener is not essential but is preferred in order to improve the palatability of the feedstuff. The sweetner is preferably sucrose or other sugar, or an artificial sweetner such as saccharin or aspartame. The milk substitute should be lactose-free, since koalas do not have an enzyme capable of digesting lactose, and it provides a suitable source of protein, minerals and vitamins. The milk substitute may be in the form of a suitable composition comprising isolated protein, vegetable oils, minerals, and vitamins, and may be derived from soya beans. A suitable milk substitute is Prosobee powder (Prosobee is a trade mark of Mead Johnson). The ground eucalypt leaf content may be made up of a balanced mixture of Eucalyptus species appropriate to the particular koala population. For example, a preferred mixture of species for koalas from the New England area of Australia would be Eucalyptus viminalis, E. nova-anglica, E. nicholii and E. blakelyi. In the region of Sydney, Australia the staple diet consists of E. punctata, E. tereticornis, and E.

microcorys. In the region of Victoria, Australia the staple species include E. viminalis, E. ovata and E. camaldulensis. In Queensland, Australia the staple species include E. camaldulensis, E. tereticornis, E. crebra and E. populnea. Feedstuffs for koalas from these regions would generally include these staple species, although the koalas also tolerate minor amounts of additional species. It is also possible that each batch of feedstuff (e.g. biscuit) would contain a single eucalypt species, the koala being fed an appropriate mixture of different single-species batches. This would depend on the preferences shown by the animals. It is possible to replace the ground eucalypt leaf content with an equivalent amount of eucalypt oil extract such that the content of eucalypt oils in the feedstuff is the same. The oil extract may be a mixture of oils from different eucalypts with the oil being prepared from leaves of the staple food species, for example by steam distillation. The leaf may be substituted partially or completely by the oil extract.

When oil is used, the abovementioned weight percentages of the other constituents will have to be varied accordingly. In order to improve the palatability of the feedstuff, it may, at least initially, be desirable to feed it in conjunction with a liquid dip composition comprising: 40 to 75 wt% lactose-free milk substitute, 25 to 40 wt% water, 0 to 6 wt% sweetener, and 6 to 13 wt% ground eucalypt leaf or the equivalent amount of eucalypt oil extract. It will usually be necessary to wean the koalas gradually off a diet of wholly fresh eucalypt leaves onto the substitute feedstuff, and this may be done by feeding with increasing proportions of the feedstuff optionally with the dip over a prolonged period. It has been found that the feedstuff according to the invention has a relatively short shelf-life. It is therefore recommended that the feedstuff be stored frozen (for up to three months) or preferably prepared fresh every second day. The feedstuff is therefore adapted to be prepared on site, close to the time of use.

We have found that the preparation and feeding of the feedstuff and liquid dip composition of the invention can readily be incorporated into the daily routine of a koala keeper. The invention will now be illustrated by way of reference only to the following non-limiting examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EXAMPLE 1 - BISCUIT FORMULATION The following ingredients were mixed together; 63.6 wt % water, The dip composition was optionally used together with the biscuits when feeding the koalas. EXAMPLE 5 - DIP COMPOSITION WITH EXTRACT OF MIXED EUCALYPT OILS A second liquid dip composition was made up as follows: 290ml water, 210g lactose-free milk substitute, e.g. Prosobee, and 0.6ml steam-distilled mixed eucalypt oils. The dip composition was used as in Example 4. EXAMPLE 6 - PREPARATION OF FEEDSTUFF Due to the relatively short shelf-life (approx 24 hrs) it is preferable to prepare the feedstuff fresh every second day. To this end the feedstuff can be supplied in three components.

Component A (dry in plastic bag) 88g ground lucerne, 40g lactose-free milk substitute, e.g. Prosobee Component B (dry in plastic bag) 38g agar. Component C (preferably in capsules) 0.6ml steam-distilled mixed eucalypt oils. The prepared feedstuff component B was firstly dissolved in 425ml water heated to a temperature just below boiling point. Components A and C were then mixed in thoroughly. The mixture is then poured onto a plastic sheet on a flat surface, a second plastic sheet placed on top, and the mixture rolled while still hot to a thickness of 2-3mm. When cooled and set, the feedstuff was cut into portions approximately 2.5cm×8cm. Suitably, the portions are biscuit-like. If fresh eucalypt leaf is available, component C can be replaced by 50g of chopped leaf, and the volume of water reduced from 425ml to 400ml.

EXAMPLE 7 - FEEDING OF KOALAS Biscuits formulated as in Example 1 or Example 2, and preferably prepared as in Example 5, were fed by hand to koalas. The biscuits may optionally first be dipped in a dip formulation as set out in Example 3 or 4, depending on the preferences of individual animals. It will be clearly understood that the invention in its general aspects is not limited to the specific details referred to hereinabove. koala | marsupial | Britannica.com marsupial Alternative Titles: koala bear, Phascolarctos cinereus Related Topics Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), also called koala bear, tree-dwelling marsupial of coastal eastern Australia classified in the family Phascolarctidae (suborder Vombatiformes). Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).

Anthony Mercieca—The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers The koala is about 60 to 85 cm (24 to 33 inches) long and weighs up to 14 kg (31 pounds) in the southern part of its range ( Victoria ) but only about half that in subtropical Queensland to the north. Virtually tailless, the body is stout and gray, with a pale yellow or cream-coloured chest and mottling on the rump. The broad face has a wide, rounded, leathery nose, small yellow eyes, and big fluffy ears. The feet are strong and clawed; the two inner digits of the front feet and the innermost digit of the hind feet are opposable for grasping. Owing to the animal’s superficial resemblance to a small bear , the koala is sometimes called, albeit erroneously, the koala bear. The koala feeds very selectively on the leaves of certain eucalyptus trees . Generally solitary, individuals move within a home range of more than a dozen trees, one of which is favoured over the others.

If koalas become too numerous in a restricted area, they defoliate preferred food trees and, unable to subsist on even closely related species, decline rapidly. To aid in digesting as much as 1.3 kg (3 pounds) of leaves daily, the koala has an intestinal pouch ( cecum ) about 2 metres (7 feet) long, where symbiotic bacteria degrade the tannins and other toxic and complex substances abundant in eucalyptus. This diet is relatively poor in nutrients and provides the koala little spare energy, so the animal spends long hours simply sitting or sleeping in tree forks, exposed to the elements but insulated by thick fur. Although placid most of the time, koalas produce loud, hollow grunts. Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent The koala is the only member of the family Phascolarctidae . Unlike those of other arboreal marsupials, its pouch opens rearward. Births are single, occurring after a gestation of 34 to 36 days.

The youngster (called a joey) first puts its head out of the pouch at about five months of age. For up to six weeks, it is weaned on a soupy predigested eucalyptus called pap that is lapped directly from the mother’s anus. Pap is thought to be derived from the cecum. After weaning, the joey emerges completely from the pouch and clings to the mother’s back until it is nearly a year old. A koala can live to about 15 years of age in the wild, somewhat longer in captivity. Koala feedstuff - The University of Sydney Koala feedstuff United States Patent 5102684 Abstract: Koalas are natives of Australia and are one of the few mammals whose diet consists almost exclusively of the leaves of native eucalypt trees. The present invention provides a method of preparing a feedstuff for koalas. Inventors: Hume, Ian D. (Gordon, AU) Pahl, Lester I. (Brisbane, AU) Application Number: The University of Sydney (New York, AU) Zoological, Society N. Y.

(New York, NY) Primary Class: 426/517, 426/518, 426/548, 426/634, 426/635, 426/655, 426/658 International Classes: A23K1/14; A23K1/16; A23K1/18; (IPC1-7): A23K1/00 Field of Search: 426/635, 426/636, 426/548, 426/655, 426/634, 426/517, 426/518, 426/658 View Patent Images: 426/598 Other References: Cork et al., "Digestion & Metabolism of a Natural Foliara Diet Eucalyptus-Punctata" File 5 (1983) Dialog Abstract No. 0014236560.

Ullrey et al., "Composition of Preferred & Rejected Eucalyptus Browse Offered to Captive Koalas" File 53 (1981) Dialog Abst. No. 1402282. Southwell "The Koala--Addicted to Eucalyptus Oil?" File 53 (1978) Dialog Abstract No. 1305287. Morrison "Feeds and Feeding" Morrison Publishing Co. 22nd Edition (1957) pp. 202-203 and 303-304. Primary Examiner: Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen Parent Case Data: This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 308,132, filed Feb. 8, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,418. Claims: 1. A method of preparing a feedstuff for koalas, comprising the steps of: a) dissolving 5 to 10 wt. % binding agent in 60 to 70 wt.

% water, b) adding 10 to 15 wt. % ground forage, 0 to 5 wt. % sweetener, 5 to 10 wt. % lactose-free milk substitute, and 8 to 12 wt. % ground or chopped eucalypt leaf or an equivalent amount of eucalyptus oil extract, c) mixing, d) rolling the mixture to form a sheet, and e) cutting the sheet into portions. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the ground forage is selected from the group consisting of oaten hay, ground dried grass or ground lucerne (alfalfa) hay. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the binding agent is selected from the group consisting of agar and gelatine, and the water is hot water. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sweetener is a sugar. 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the sweetener is sucrose. 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sweetener is an artifical sweetener. 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the sweetener is saccharin or aspartame. 8.

A method according to claim 1, wherein the milk substitute is a lactose-free composition comprising isolated protein, vegetable oils, minerals and vitamins. 9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the milk substitute is derived from soya beans. 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the ground eucalypt leaf component comprises leaves of one or more species selected from the group consisting of Eucalyptus viminalis, E. nova-anglica, E. nicholii, E. blakelyi, E. punctata, E. tereticornis, E. microcorys, E. ovata, E. camaldulensis, E. crebra and E. populnea. 11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the eucalypt oil extract comprises a mixture of eucalypt oils derived from species as claimed in claim 10. Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a replacement feedstuff for koalas suitable for replacing at least in part the koala's natural diet of eucalypt leaves. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known that koalas have extremely specialised feeding habits.

Koalas are natives of Australia and are one of the few mammals whose diet consists almost exclusively of the leaves of native eucalypt trees. Eucalyptus trees contain eucalypt oils which are toxic to most animal species. Koalas have a metabolism which is adapted to cope with these toxins. However, koalas from a given area feed almost exclusively on a diet made up of only a very limited number of Eucalyptus species. This specialised feeding behaviour makes it very difficult to successfully keep koalas in zoos, particularly where the required Eucalyptus species are not freely available. In practice, it is necessary to give the animals fresh leaves each day. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention provides a feedstuff for feeding koalas which comprises water, ground forage, a binding agent, a sweetener, a lactose-free milk substitute, and either eucalypt leaf or an equivalent amount of eucalypt oil extract. A second aspect of the invention provides a liquid dip composition for use in conjunction with the replacement feedstuff.

The liquid dip composition comprises a lactose-free milk substitute, water, a sweetener, and either eucalypt leaf or an equivalent amount of eucalypt oil extract. In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of preparing a feedstuff for koalas comprising the steps of: (a) dissolving a binding agent in water, (b) adding ground forage, a sweetener, a lactose-free milk substitute, a ground eucalypt leaf or an equivalent amount of eucalyptus oil extract, (c) mixing, (d) rolling the mixture to form a sheet, and (e) cutting the sheet into portions. PREFERRED FEATURES OF THE INVENTION The feedstuff in accordance with the first aspect of the invention comprises: 60 to 70 wt % water, 10 to 15 wt % ground forage, 5 to 10 wt % binding agent, 0 to 5 wt % sweetener, 5 to 10 wt % lactose-free milk substitute, and either 8 to 12 wt % ground or chopped eucalypt leaf or an equivalent amount of eucalypt oil extract.

Although the feedstuff could be in particulate form, it is preferred to be in the form of a shaped solid, such as a biscuit. The feedstuff preferably comprises 65 to 70 wt % water. The ground forage may be ground oaten hay or ground dried grass, but is preferably ground lucerne (alfalfa) hay. The function of the binding agent is to bind together the various ingredients and to absorb water. Agar and gelatine are preferred binding agents. Other edible, water-soluble binding agents would readily occur to the person skilled in the art. The presence of the sweetener is not essential but is preferred in order to improve the palatability of the feedstuff. The sweetner is preferably sucrose or other sugar, or an artificial sweetner such as saccharin or aspartame. The milk substitute should be lactose-free, since koalas do not have an enzyme capable of digesting lactose, and it provides a suitable source of protein, minerals and vitamins. The milk substitute may be in the form of a suitable composition comprising isolated protein, vegetable oils, minerals, and vitamins, and may be derived from soya beans.

A suitable milk substitute is Prosobee powder (Prosobee is a trade mark of Mead Johnson). The ground eucalypt leaf content may be made up of a balanced mixture of Eucalyptus species appropriate to the particular koala population. For example, a preferred mixture of species for koalas from the New England area of Australia would be Eucalyptus viminalis, E. nova-anglica, E. nicholii and E. blakelyi. In the region of Sydney, Australia the staple diet consists of E. punctata. E. tereticornis, and E. microcorys. In the region of Victoria, Australia the staple species include E. viminalis. E. ovata and E. camaldulensis. In Queensland, Australia the staple species include E. camaldulensis, E. tereticornis, E. crebra and E. populnea. Feedstuffs for koalas from these regions would generally include these staple species, although the koalas also tolerate minor amounts of additional species. It is also possible that each batch of feedstuff (e.g.

biscuit) would contain a single eucalypt species, the koala being fed an appropriate mixture of different single-species batches. This would depend on the preferences shown by the animals. It is possible to replace the ground eucalypt leaf content with an equivalent amount of eucalypt oil extract such that the content of eucalypt oils in the feedstuff is the same. The oil extract may be a mixture of oils from different eucalypts with the oil being prepared from leaves of the staple food species, for example by steam distillation. The leaf may be substituted partially or completely by the oil extract. When oil is used, the abovementioned weight percentages of the other constituents will have to be varied accordingly. In order to improve the palatability of the feedstuff, it may, at least initially, be desirable to feed it in conjunction with a liquid dip composition comprising: 40 to 75 wt % lactose-free milk substitute, 25 to 40 wt % water, 0 to 6 wt % sweetener, and 6 to 13 wt % ground eucalypt leaf or the equivalent amount of eucalypt oil extract.

It will usually be necessary to wean the koalas gradually off a diet of wholly fresh eucalypt leaves onto the substitute feedstuff, and this may be done by feeding with increasing proportions of the feedstuff optionally with the dip over a prolonged period. It has been found that the feedstuff according to the invention has a relatively short shelf-life. It is therefore recommended that the feedstuff be stored frozen (for up to three months) or preferably prepared fresh every second day. The feedstuff is therefore adapted to be prepared on site, close to the time of use. We have found that the preparation and feeding of the feedstuff and liquid dip composition of the invention can readily be incorporated into the daily routine of a koala keeper. The invention will now be illustrated by way of reference only to the following non-limiting examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EXAMPLE 1 The following ingredients were mixed together; 63.6 wt % water, 40 g lactose-free substitute, e.g. Prosobee, and 0.6 ml steam-distilled mixed eucalypt oils.

EXAMPLE 4 Dip Composition with Fresh Eucalypt Leaf A liquid dip composition was made up as follows: 210 g lactose-free milk substitute, e.g. Prosobee, 290 ml water, 40 g ground eucalyptus leaf. The dip composition was optionally used together with the biscuits when feeding the koalas. EXAMPLE 5 Dip Composition with Extract of Mixed Eucalypt Oils A second liquid dip composition was made up as follows: 290 ml water, 210 g lactose-free milk substitute, e.g. Prosobee, and 0.6 ml steam-distilled mixed eucalypt oils. The dip composition was used as in Example 4. EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of Feedstuff Due to the relatively short shelf-life (approx 24 hrs) it is preferable to prepare the feedstuff fresh every second day. To this end the feedstuff can be supplied in three components. Component A (Dry in Platic Bag) 88 g ground lucerne, 40 g lactose-free milk substitute, e.g. Prosobee. Component B (Dry in Plastic Bag) 38 g agar.

Component C (Preferably in Capsules) 0.6 ml steam-distilled mixed eucalypt oils. The prepared feedstuff component B was firstly dissolved in 425ml water heated to a temperature just below boiling point. Components A and C were then mixed in thoroughly. The mixture is then poured onto a plastic sheet on a flat surface, a second plastic sheet placed on top, and the mixture rolled while still hot to a thickness of 2-3 mm. When cooled and set, the feedstuff was cut into portions approximately 2.5 cm×8 cm. Suitably, the portions are biscuit-like. If fresh eucalypt leaf is available, component C can be replaced by 50 g of chopped leaf, and the volume of water reduced from 425 ml to 400 ml. EXAMPLE 7 Feeding of Koalas Biscuits formulated as in Example 1 or Example 2, and preferably prepared as in Example 5, were fed by hand to koalas. The biscuits may optionally first be dipped in a dip formulation as set out in Example 3 or 4, depending on the preferences of individual animals.

It will be clearly understood that the invention in its general aspects is not limited to the specific details referred to hereinabove.

Question: What provides the staple diet of a koala?
Answer: Eucalyptus tree