First Time we saw the Cutest Teddy Bears in Real: KOALAS

We have always been hearing the name of Koalas. We get pictures of cute little creatures which look like teddy bears. But to see them was a far away dream for me as they are not found in India. But thanks to my husband and his project at Melbourne because of which we had a chance of visiting Phillip Island.

It was at Koala Conservation Centre we have seen some really cute Koalas. We were surprised to see that they resemble so close to the brown teddy bears. We haven't touched them but they look so soft. They have long and sharp claws. Koalas are often misunderstood as bears but one most obvious difference is bears are omnivorous and Koalas are herbivorous.

We have seen more of Brown Koalas than the Black Koalas. Their color is said from the color of their fur. We have seen Koalas with brown fur. The fur was long.

These are some interesting facts which we learnt about Koalas during our trip -

1. The main differences between male and female koala are the heavier head of male Koala and scent gland found on chest of male Koala.

2. The child of Koala is known as Joey who stays in mother's pouch for 6 months. They are not born with eyes, ears, and fur. Joey develops them in these six months.

3. Koalas are herbivorous animals and live mostly on eucalyptus leaves. It eats almost all the species of eucalyptus and there a few non eucalyptus species it eats.

4. Koalas spend 20 hours of a day sleeping. This is because it needs a lot of energy to digest eucalyptus leaves and sleeping saves a lot of energy.

5. The mating between them is generally during summer. Male Koala is supposed to be very dominant in mating.

Koalas are native to Australia. However they are extinct now. Australian government is taking lot of steps for saving the species. One more interesting fact which our tour guide said us was that touching Koalas is prohibited and anyone who does that is arrested. We had to be very careful while taking pictures.

It has been a very pleasant experience seeing them. Many people have hunted Koalas for fur. They also die in bush fires. Some die hit by car on the country side. This way they are becoming extinct to the world.

As citizens of world I think we must do something to save these teddy bears from being extinct.