What is a koala?

Koalas are tree-dwelling marsupials native to eastern and southeastern Australia. They spend much of their time in eucalyptus forests and feed mainly on eucalyptus leaves, which are low in energy and require a specialized digestive system. Adult koalas usually sleep for many hours a day to conserve energy. Although often called koala bears, they are marsupials, not bears, and females raise their young in a pouch.