Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are not bears, but are large, iconic, tree-living, herbivorous marsupials that are found in eastern Australia. Koalas have stout, tailless bodies, a large head with a flat black nose and large fluffy ears. Koalas are about 60-85 cm (24-33 inches) long and weigh between 4-15 kilograms (9-33 ponds). Like Kangaroos and Wombats, Koala females give birth to tiny, under-developed young called Joeys who live in their mother’s pouch for about six months, after which they ride on their mother’s back, only returning to the pouch to sleep. Koalas live in open eucalypt woodlands, and are very particular as to which types of eucalyptus they eat. Eucalyptus leaves are tough and hard to digest, and have low nutritional and energy content. Koalas spend most of their time sleeping – up to 20 hours per day. This captive Koala was sitting in a forked tree branch, eating eucalyptus leaves in an enclosure at Yanchep National Park north of Perth In Western Australia. Note that it seems to have two thumbs, with two fingers directed backwards. This arrangement of its fingers helps it climb and to grasp eucalyptus leaves to eat. The birds calling in the background are endangered Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos.