Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are herbivorous marsupials that carry their babies, called joeys, in their pouch for the first six to seven months after birth. When the joeys emerge from the pouch, they ride on their mother’s back for another six months, learning how to climb and to eat the leaves of the eucalyptus tree, which are the koala’s only source of food. Mom strongly encourages the kid to “leave home” when it’s about a year old.

Eucalyptus leaves are actually quite poisonous but koalas have evolved the ability to break down the toxins in their liver.

Eucalyptus leaves are low in nutritious value so koalas are not very energetic and spend most of their time sleeping or resting in tree branches. Because the leaves have a high water content, koalas usually don’t need to drink much water but when drought and fires destroy the eucalyptus leaves, koalas can become dangerously dehydrated.

Koalas, which are endemic only to Australia, are classified as threatened/vulnerable on the international conservation status list and many have been killed by bushfires, loss of habitat and other environmental threats. Climate change is increasing the risks to koalas, which are vulnerable to heat stress and dehydration.