Tumblr Explains Why Koalas Are Animals That Make Absolutely No Sense
Koalas are, surely, some of the cutest creatures on earth. With their fluffy ears, round bodies and beady eyes, they look like the softest plush toys; however, behind the cute koala exterior, a lot is going on with these marsupial animals. Their primary food source is eucalyptus tree leaves that are low in protein and high in toxins. Head of Koalas at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Karen Nilsson, provided some fun facts about the animal. “They don’t rest/sleep for 18-20 hours straight – they have short periods of activity throughout 24 hours but their most active times are around dawn and dusk,” she told Bored Panda. “Contrary to rumors, you cannot catch Chlamydia from koalas!” she added. Despite being extremely slow, these small marsupials are rarely preyed upon, with only dingos, large pythons and some birds of prey sometimes attacking.
That would make you think ‘oh, great, they must live for quite a while’, and while that statement might be right to some extent as the beady-eyed koala bears (that are, in fact, marsupials) can survive up to 18 years, there are a plethora of problems that the lil’ guys face in their existence. Tumblr has come together once again to address some of the little known animal facts about koalas and explain why they’re approaching an “evolutionary dead-end.” Scroll down below to read them and tell us what you think!
More info: koala.net
While koalas have an absolutely adorable exterior, behind it there’s a plethora of problems that they face
Image credits: Erik Veland
And people of Tumblr have come together to discuss some of them
Image credits: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Watch the video below to hear some of the koala sounds mentioned
Or the screaming that one user explained
51Kviews
Share on FacebookHaving spent a number of years rescuing koalas from all sorts of situations, I agree they are not the most well designed animal and they are indeed fragile and at times completely mystifying in their ways. Unlike humandisastersquad I have seen koalas eat a variety of things they are not supposed to eat but I am aware they can smell the amount of chemical constituent in leaves and feed accordingly. It is sad that an animal, so visually connected with my country is at once loved and unprotected in it's natural habitat. They may be odd and evolution may ensure their extinction in times to come, but I can assure you....they are beautiful and deserve as much research, funds and care as any other species.....to provide a future for our rare and beloved koalas.
I was surprised nobody mentioned that Chlamydia is a severe problem in koala community!
Oh yeah, I read that almost all of them have it. You hear that, almost 80% of koalas have chlamydia. And their babies eat their mother's poop because that plant so does not want to be eaten it's damn near impossible for a baby to digest.
Load More Replies...Why are they calling the koalas idiots like it's their fault they were born like that? It's not like the koala had a choice in the matter about what kind of food they had to adapt to eat of or the fact their teeth are inadequate.
Yea, but at the same time their existence is frustrating for those who study animals. Why do you exist like this? What is the point of your existence? It's suffering.
Load More Replies...As much as the facts are new to me, I can't stand the way it's written. Both grammar-wise and attitude-wise. Maybe I'm weird, but I was taught to respect not only people but animals also, and the fact that they can't understand us, or hear us doesn't take that attitude of mine away.
agreed, I skimmed at best. Waaayyy too much anger for such a cute animal. Now if you want to do an angry article involving the phirana, F-bomb away.
Load More Replies...That last video recalls the koala's much more ferocious cousin, the drop bear - a fearsome creature that fortunately is very difficult to find... http://ecite.utas.edu.au/82194
That video broke my heart. 😞 On another note, when someone is trying to explain something educational, why swear so much,. It just makes you look stupid and dumb. Just tell the story, leave the swear words out. Trying to read through all that hurt my brain
Not just the swearing, the entire piece made me weep for merciless butchery of the English language.
Load More Replies...This was a pain to read. Also how dare you call them dumb just because they are different.
Is it me or is this guy incredibly angry over the Krazy life of Koalas?
Koala are mean little buggers too, you'll be carrying one and bam! You have been attacked by their little stubby teeth and claws
Soo Koala's are still alive because mankind has decided they are cute and we like them so we'll do everything we can to keep this species alive??? Am I right?
Also because as mentioned, they don't really have any predators because they're literally poisonous.
Load More Replies...Getting worked up over nothing is also an indication of poor adaptation. I expect the toothless koalas will survive longer than these individuals if their parents cease supporting them.
These people work at a Koala rescue center so they have a job and probably some biology related degree. They get worked up because they love their work.
Load More Replies...Having spent a number of years rescuing koalas from all sorts of situations, I agree they are not the most well designed animal and they are indeed fragile and at times completely mystifying in their ways. Unlike humandisastersquad I have seen koalas eat a variety of things they are not supposed to eat but I am aware they can smell the amount of chemical constituent in leaves and feed accordingly. It is sad that an animal, so visually connected with my country is at once loved and unprotected in it's natural habitat. They may be odd and evolution may ensure their extinction in times to come, but I can assure you....they are beautiful and deserve as much research, funds and care as any other species.....to provide a future for our rare and beloved koalas.
I was surprised nobody mentioned that Chlamydia is a severe problem in koala community!
Oh yeah, I read that almost all of them have it. You hear that, almost 80% of koalas have chlamydia. And their babies eat their mother's poop because that plant so does not want to be eaten it's damn near impossible for a baby to digest.
Load More Replies...Why are they calling the koalas idiots like it's their fault they were born like that? It's not like the koala had a choice in the matter about what kind of food they had to adapt to eat of or the fact their teeth are inadequate.
Yea, but at the same time their existence is frustrating for those who study animals. Why do you exist like this? What is the point of your existence? It's suffering.
Load More Replies...As much as the facts are new to me, I can't stand the way it's written. Both grammar-wise and attitude-wise. Maybe I'm weird, but I was taught to respect not only people but animals also, and the fact that they can't understand us, or hear us doesn't take that attitude of mine away.
agreed, I skimmed at best. Waaayyy too much anger for such a cute animal. Now if you want to do an angry article involving the phirana, F-bomb away.
Load More Replies...That last video recalls the koala's much more ferocious cousin, the drop bear - a fearsome creature that fortunately is very difficult to find... http://ecite.utas.edu.au/82194
That video broke my heart. 😞 On another note, when someone is trying to explain something educational, why swear so much,. It just makes you look stupid and dumb. Just tell the story, leave the swear words out. Trying to read through all that hurt my brain
Not just the swearing, the entire piece made me weep for merciless butchery of the English language.
Load More Replies...This was a pain to read. Also how dare you call them dumb just because they are different.
Is it me or is this guy incredibly angry over the Krazy life of Koalas?
Koala are mean little buggers too, you'll be carrying one and bam! You have been attacked by their little stubby teeth and claws
Soo Koala's are still alive because mankind has decided they are cute and we like them so we'll do everything we can to keep this species alive??? Am I right?
Also because as mentioned, they don't really have any predators because they're literally poisonous.
Load More Replies...Getting worked up over nothing is also an indication of poor adaptation. I expect the toothless koalas will survive longer than these individuals if their parents cease supporting them.
These people work at a Koala rescue center so they have a job and probably some biology related degree. They get worked up because they love their work.
Load More Replies...
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