Koalas are specialist folivores. This means they eat a diet consisting of leaves, and in this case they have a narrow range of leaves that they are able to eat. Some people say koalas are ‘fussy eaters’, but the reason for their particular choices of which tree, and then which leaves in the tree they will eat, is fascinating.
We often think of the koala as being a laid back, relaxed, easy going creature, living a life of ease. This perception comes from putting a human interpretation on their postures and the amount of time they spend resting and sleeping.

The eucalyptus leaf, if studied closely is tough, abrasive and toxic. Have you ever plucked one of these leaves and felt it with your fingers?
The koala must put a lot of effort into grinding the leaves with their molars. The amount of wear on the molars is the most accurate way we have of determining the age of a koala. The wear on the teeth continues as the koala ages, and if the animal remains healthy and lives to an old age, their teeth may wear down so far they become unable to eat.

It is fascinating to see that an animal that has a limited primary food source has actually adapted to living in a diverse range of habitats, and across such a range of climates. The koala is found living in tropical and subtropical areas of QLD, and yet also in areas around Canberra that snow in the winter, and even some of the drier areas of Victoria. We observe certain basic differences in the appearance of the northern and southern cousins, yet they are the same species.
Across this range of habitats there are around 14 eucalypts that are considered their primary food sources. Yet in nearly every area koalas live, there are usually only around 3 of the primary species that the koalas use in that area.
They are observed to feed from around 30 non-eucalypt trees, but again the species used vary from region to region.
Each eucalypt leaf contains a wide range of ingredients, including the things we would expect such as protein, complex carbohydrates and water.
They also contain high levels of tannin, tough fibres, oil and cyanidic substances (which convert into cyanide). Yikes, that sounds like a mouthful of poison doesn’t it? It certainly is, to most mammals, and you can be sure it even tastes that way as well.

It is interesting to note that when we pluck a eucalyptus leaf from a tree, we can tell very little about it’s make up without taking it to a sophisticated laboratory. It feels tough and a little dry, because they have a rough surface, but it actually has a high water content – often at least 50%. This means around half the food the koala eats, is actually water.
Most animals could not survive the toxicity of the eucalypt leaf diet, and even the koala has to be careful they to not exceed certain levels of eucalyptol (the main component in eucalyptus oil).
So how do they make sure they can cope with their diet?
Koalas have the ability to chemically analyse the contents of the leaves by smell. That huge nose is like a portable laboratory. If you get the chance to watch a koala feeding in the wild, you will notice how often they smell leaves before eating. This is a constant balancing act they must perform.
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