Koala

Australia · marsupial · tree climber

Not a bear. Even though people call it a 'koala bear,' the koala is actually a marsupial, a relative of kangaroos and wombats, not bears.

Tree dweller. Koalas live high up in trees along the eastern and southern coasts of Australia, spending most of their lives among the branches.

Fluffy ears. You can spot a koala by its stout, tailless body, big round fluffy ears, and a large dark nose.

Wombat cousins. The koala's closest living relatives are wombats, and it's the only living member of its animal family.

North vs south. Koalas from northern Australia are usually smaller and lighter in colour than the bigger, darker ones in the south.