Koala

Cuddle up to our adorable koalas and get the best koala selfie ever.

Cuddle up to our adorable koalas and get the best selfie ever.

Each and every day you can come to Symbio to meet our adorable koalas and book a unique opportunity to cuddle up to them to get that iconic Koala selfie you are after through one of our behind-the-scenes encounters.

The koalas at Symbio are considered to be some of the most famous in the world, with regular news and online stories circulating the world due to their amazing personalities and affection.

The Koala Sanctuary where they live here at Symbio is also regarded as the ‘best place in Sydney to cuddle up to koalas’ and have your photo with them due to being so open-planned and surrounded by lush gardens.

It is important to understand that in NSW, like many other states, it is illegal for a member of the public to hold and physically support the weight of a koala, however, you can cuddle up next to our koalas during your experience for the ultimate Koala photo opportunity.

In the Wild

In the wild, Koalas can be found along mainland Australia’s Eastern and Southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.

Koalas from the northern populations are typically smaller and lighter in colour than those found further south.

Mainly due to habitat loss, the Koalas population has seen a rapid decline over the years and there are believed to be less than 80,000 Koalas left in the wild today.

Koalas are easily recognisable by their stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, spoon-shaped noses. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm (24–33 in) and weighs 4–15 kg (9–33 lb). Fur colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown.

Diet

The diet of a koala consists of Eucalyptus leaves from Eucalyptus tree species consistent with their distribution range. They can consume 400-700 grams of leaves on a daily basis.

Of the over 600 different species of Eucalypt found in Australia, it is estimated that Koalas prefer to eat only 10% of them.

The low level of nutrients they receive from their diet means that Koalas have to conserve their energy by sleeping to help digest the toxins found in these leaves. They will typically sleep for 18-22 hours every day.

 Breeding

Koalas are seasonal breeders. They begin breeding in Spring and will last up to six months.

After a gestation period of only 35 days, a Koala (Joey) is born furless, blind and deaf.

They are just under 2cm in length and weigh under one gram.

After birth, they make their journey into mums pouch unaided and continue their growth, where it will feed off mum’s milk until its ready to begin emerging at 6-7 months.

Fun facts

Koalas have three fingers and two thumbs, aiding them to maintain a stronger grip when climbing and reaching out for branches.
The second and third fingers on the hind paw are fused together, forming a double claw. They use this for purposes such as grooming and removing ticks.
Koalas have similar finger prints to humans.
Koalas have thick, woolly fur, which acts as a water-repelling raincoat and protects them from extremes of both high and low temperatures.
The first scientific discovery of a Koala was just 20 minutes south of Symbio Wildlife Park at Hat Head, in the Illawarra Region.
Despite common misconceptions Koalas are not bears, in fact they are part of a family of animals called marsupials.

Distribution

In the wild, Koalas can be found along mainland Australia’s eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Koalas from the northern populations are typically smaller and lighter in colour than those found further south.

Habitat

Koalas live in eucalypt woodlands and forests with their range size varying according to quality of habitat, ranging from less than two hectares to several hundred hectares.