Although sometimes colloquially referred to as koala bears, koalas are not related to bears and are instead a type of marsupial. Koalas are found only in the coastal areas of Australia, mostly on the southern side of the continent.

History: Unfortunately, koalas were recently classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Their numbers are dramatically decreasing in areas such as Queensland and New South Wales, although all signs indicate that their populations are still abundant in Victoria and South Australia. While koalas are protected by many different laws and regulations, they are still threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation.

Scientific name: Phascolarctos cinereus

Characteristics: Due to their diet, koalas are incredibly sedentary and sometimes spend up to 20 hours of their day sleeping.