Mammal profile

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Phascolarctos cinereus

Database risk label: LOW
Location: Eastern Australia
Database size: 60-85cm

WildGuardian record: Mammal | Risk label: LOW

The koala is a tree-dwelling Australian marsupial, not a bear. Its accepted scientific name is Phascolarctos cinereus, and it is the single living koala species in the family Phascolarctidae. [1] [3] The LOW label is record metadata supplied for this page and should not be read as a conservation listing.

Identification: what makes a koala a koala

A koala typically has thick grey to brown-grey fur, a white underside or chest, a broad round head, large furry ears, a prominent black nose and no tail. It is an arboreal marsupial with long, sharp claws adapted for climbing. [2] [5] The Australian Museum gives a length range of 68–82 centimetres. [2]

There is real geographic variation. Southern koalas tend to be larger and have longer, thicker brown-grey fur, while northern koalas are generally smaller with shorter, silver-grey fur. [1] Queensland Government guidance likewise notes that adult animals there are, on average, smaller and lighter-coloured than koalas in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. [3]

That variation is an important identification limit. Three geographic subspecies were historically described from differences in size and fur, but the Australian Government’s conservation advice says genetic evidence does not support those subspecies. A photograph of colour or apparent size alone should therefore not be used to label a koala as a separate subspecies. [1]

Sex is not always clear from a distant view. Adult males are generally larger and have a conspicuous chest scent gland; females have a cleaner white chest and a backward-facing pouch. [3] A resting animal high in a tree may not show either feature. Record a sighting as a koala rather than trying to determine sex when those details are not visible.

Australian range and habitat

Koalas are endemic to Australia. Their distribution includes Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia, but it is patchy rather than continuous because subpopulations are separated by cleared land or unsuitable habitat. [1] Queensland Government information describes the broad modern distribution as much of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, plus a small area of South Australia; it also notes that there are no fossil records of koalas ever living in Tasmania. [3]

They live in eucalypt forests, woodlands and related tree communities. [1] [2] A woodland is not automatically koala habitat simply because it contains gums: the presence and density of locally suitable food trees are major influences on koala distribution and numbers. [4] In New South Wales, preferred food trees differ by region, and the availability of primary and secondary browse species helps explain why koalas are unevenly distributed across their range. [4]

Food trees are only part of the picture. Koalas also use other trees for rest and shelter, including during extreme weather; NSW guidance gives turpentine, cypress pine and brush box as examples of shelter trees. [4] This helps explain why a sighting in a particular tree should not be interpreted as proof that the animal eats that tree, or that every nearby tree is equally useful habitat.

Ecology and daily behaviour

Koalas eat a specialised diet dominated by the leaves of selected eucalypt species, with some flowers and stems. Their long caecum helps digest this fibrous food, and the leaves have a high moisture content. [2] In any one locality, koalas select preferred browse species rather than using every eucalypt equally. [4]

Their low-energy diet shapes a quiet, tree-centred routine. Queensland Government guidance says koalas can sleep for up to 20 hours a day, while the NSW species profile describes them as inactive for most of the day and feeding and moving mainly at night. [3] [5] They are mostly solitary, although their home ranges can overlap and males use vocalisations and scent marking in breeding contexts. [3] [5]

Most time is spent in trees, but a koala can descend and travel over the ground between trees. [2] [5] Seeing one on the ground is therefore not, by itself, a diagnosis of illness or abandonment. In Queensland, government advice lists a koala sitting at the base of a tree without moving for a long time as one possible reason to report concern, alongside visible injury or other signs of illness. [6]

Safer encounters with koalas

A sighting is best treated as wildlife to observe, not an invitation to interact. Keep the encounter calm, do not crowd the animal or its tree, and do not try to touch or move the koala. Queensland Government guidance specifically says to avoid touching a koala in a safe location and not to move it. [6]

Keep dogs away. Barking can severely stress a koala, and the Queensland Government warns that a dog bite can be fatal. [6] If you notice a koala that may be sick, injured or dead, report the concern to the relevant wildlife authority or wildlife rescue service rather than attempting to manage the animal yourself. In Queensland, official guidance directs people to contact a wildlife carer, and notes that specialised wildlife hospitals or licensed wildlife carers are the people permitted to keep and care for native wildlife. [6] [7]

Report what you have observed rather than trying to diagnose the animal, and provide its location to the service. Queensland’s wildlife guidance says to record the location where wildlife is found so it can be returned to the same place after treatment if appropriate. [7]

Medical response after a bite

A normal koala sighting does not require medical action. If a koala bite breaks the skin, seek medical advice as soon as possible. Healthdirect Australia advises that infection can occur when an animal bite breaks skin and that any native animal can bite. [8] Go to an emergency department for a large or deep wound, a bite to the face or head, or bleeding that will not stop; call triple zero (000) for an ambulance if needed. [8] This is general Australian clinical guidance for animal bites, not a reason to approach or handle a koala.

Frequently asked questions

Is a koala a bear?

No. A koala is a marsupial in the family Phascolarctidae. It is closely related to wombats, despite the common historical use of the phrase “koala bear”. [3]

Are koalas found throughout Australia?

No. Their present distribution is in parts of Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia, and it is fragmented or patchy within that broad area. [1] Queensland Government information says there are no fossil records of koalas ever having lived in Tasmania. [3]

Why might a koala be active during the day?

Koalas mostly feed and move at night, but Queensland guidance says they may move during the day if disturbed, too hot or cold, or looking for a new tree. Daytime movement alone cannot establish why a particular animal is active. [3]

Can I tell whether a koala is male or female from a photo?

Sometimes, but not reliably in every image. Adult males tend to be larger and show a chest scent gland, while females have a pouch; those features are often hidden when a koala is high in a tree or facing away. [3]

Does this page’s LOW risk label mean koalas are not threatened?

No. LOW is a record label supplied for this page; conservation listing is a separate matter. The NSW threatened-species profile lists the koala as Endangered in New South Wales and at the Commonwealth level. [5]

References

Last reviewed: 21 October 2026. This is general information, not a substitute for medical care.