Interesting Facts about Hedgehogs

Erinaceus europaeus, is the binomial name of the hedgehog. Hedgehog is a small mammal. Their body is covered by a coat of over 6000 quills. They are nocturnal animals and during the day, they sleep in nests made of grass and leaves or small burrows under shrubs, tree logs or rocks.

The name 'Hedgehog' came into existence due to the animal's habit of digging through hedges and undergrowth, searching for small creatures as food. As it forages its way through the hedges, it emits a peculiar grunting sound like that of a pig. Hence, the name Hedgehog! There are about 15 species of hedgehogs in Europe, Africa and Asia. Hedgehogs are considered useful pets, as they prey on common garden pests. To know more about these animals, read the interesting facts given below.

• Hedgehogs are solitary animals.
• The average lifespan of a hedgehog is 3.5 years. Some hedgehogs can live up to 9 years.
• Hedgehogs curl into a prickly ball when attacked. It is a very unappetizing sight for the predator, which compels it to leave the hedgehog alone. Hedgehogs normally, sleep by curling into a tight ball.
• The quills, hard on the outside, are filled with air pockets inside.
• Hedgehogs hibernate in winter. They also sleep through long spells of heat in the deserts and dry places, through a process called aestivation, which is also known as 'summer sleep'.
• The normal heartbeat of a hedgehog is 190 per minute which comes down to 20 per minute during hibernation.
• Hedgehogs have a strong sense of smell and hearing but they have weak eyesight.
• The male hedgehog is called a boar and the females are known as sows. Their offspring are known as hoglets.
• Baby hedgehogs have a high mortality rate. Smaller species have 3-4 offspring and larger species have 5-6. It is a relief to the sows that the hoglets are born without quills!
• Hoglets are born blind and their eyesight improves in about two weeks.
• Hoglets, when around 4-5 weeks old, leave their mother, as well as their nest.
• Hedgehog is basically an insectivore and feeds on baby birds, mice, small mammals, snails, millipedes, earwigs and even bees. However, it also consumes berries.
• Hedgehogs love bananas and it is found that bananas help in their digestion.
• Hedgehogs swim, climb walls and can run with a speed of 4.5 mph.
• Only 1 hedgehog in 12,000 is born with no pigmentation due to a mutation in the gene.
• Hedgehogs are mildly intolerant to lactose.
• Hedgehogs can also suffer from cancer. The sows may suffer from ovarian, uterine and mammary tumors and the boars may suffer from jaw and testicular cancer.
• Interestingly, in 'The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle' by Beatrix Potter, the main character is a hedgehog and is seen ironing or starching shirts.

It is very sad to know that these animals are becoming endangered. The next time you see a hedgehog, don't be alarmed by its spikes, rather, go for adopting one. It will surely be a great pet.

Tiger Facts for Kids

Majestically beautiful. Dangerous and strong.
Stripes like wildfire - black and long.
Eyes like shining beacons of terror.
Striking over, like another death bearer.
Stride akin that of controlled gait
The nails of steel to trap its bait.
The tiger is all that and more...much more. A creature that evokes emotions of awe and terror. But there's more to this wild animal than just that. Like all creatures of the wild, the tiger has certain characteristics that make it a thing to be feared and revered. Yet, what's saddening is that the tiger is in grave danger of becoming extinct. In this following article, we will take you through some interesting facts on tigers that kids can learn from, get interested in, and thereby campaign to save this dying species.


Facts about Tigers for Kids

It's safe to assume that you've seen a tiger on TV or in the zoo, and you have of course thought what a magnificent creature it is, right? But given all that, how much do you really know about the species? To give you more information on the same, here is a detailed account of the creature and all there is to know about it.


The Feline Family
Tigers belong to the feline family and their scientific name is Panthera Tigris. They are the biggest species of the cat family. Today, there are mainly 6 species of tigers that inhabit the planet. They are as follows.

• Bengal Tiger
• Sumatran Tiger
• Indochinese Tiger
• South China Tiger
• Siberian Tiger
• Malayan Tiger

There were 3 other tiger species as well, namely the Caspian, Javan and the Bali tigers. But these are now extinct and the remaining 6 are well on their way to extinction as well.

What of the white tiger then? Is it a separate species? There is a misconception that the white tiger is a subspecies of the tiger, but that is not the case at all. The white tiger was an accident that came to be due to pure mutation. A recessive gene is responsible for the color of their coats. White tigers are very, very rare and are bred by mating the Siberian and Bengal species. These tigers cannot survive in the wild because of their distinct coat color because it would fail to camouflage them. These tigers are thus only bred in captivity.

Physical Features
The tiger's majestic coat is its unique feature. Its coat ranges from yellowish orange or brownish white in color and is flanked by distinct black stripes. Each tiger has over a hundred stripes. These stripes are different in every tiger and the pattern will never be the same in any two, just as the fingerprints are never the same in case of two human beings. Not only do these stripes lead to a tiger looking majestic, but they also act as a great tool for camouflage in the wild, since they allow the coat to blend perfectly well with the forest colors.

A tiger can weigh as much as 660 pounds (300 kg), with the male tiger weighing more than a female tiger. A tiger can be around 11 feet (3.3 mtrs) in length. The Siberian tiger is the biggest species among all tigers. They can weigh approximately 700 lbs and grow to about 13 feet in length. The Sumatran tiger is the lightest of all the species weighing around 110 Kg (250 pounds).

A tiger's tail is about a meter (3 foot) long. The tail is essential in lending balance to the tiger when it is running after its prey.

Tiger Habitat
Tigers are natives of Asia and they usually dwell in dense forests, varied grasslands and swamp areas. In fact, tigers are never far from a water body. They prefer deciduous, temperate and tropical rain forests. Some are also found on mountainous terrains.

Food Habits
Tigers are carnivores, which means that their food habits consist primarily of meat. They eat animals, both, small and large that range from frogs, birds and turtles to deer and buffaloes. Tigers can consume up to 60 pounds of meat in one night. And while this is an interesting fact, what is more interesting is that they can go without food for a week at a time. Tigers usually hunt at dusk and during the night because it helps to camouflage them well. Tigers can see perfectly well in the dark, so hunting is never a problem.

When a tiger spots a prey, it will creep as close to it as possible and then run after it in full speed. If it's a small animal, the tiger will knock it off its feet using its sheer might and claws. Then using its teeth, it will strangle the animal's throat and break off its neck (in case of a smaller animal). In case of larger animals, the tiger will strangle them at the onset so that he can overpower them and they do not struggle. When the tiger is done feasting on its prey, it will cover it up with leaves and mud and hide it so that it can come back and feed on it later. This practice continues till the meat is gone.


Fun Tiger Facts for Kids


A baby tiger is called a cub and every litter usually has 1-6 cubs (typically 2). Most cubs die before they are two years old.


A cub will stay with its mother till the age of 2. After which it will go on to be on its own.


The cubs will follow their mother on her hunts after 6 months. While they learn to kill prey at age one, they will not go on to be on their own till age 2.


The mother takes care of the cubs all by herself with no help from the father.


Tigers are highly territorial and live alone (except when the mother raises her cubs). A male and female tiger will come together for mating and then go their separate ways.


Tigers mark their territory by peeing around the ground and the surrounding plants. They also scratch the trees for the same purpose.


A group of tigers is called an ambush or streak and their cry is known as a growl.


A tiger's cry can be heard up to 2 miles (3 kms) away.


Less than 10% of a tiger's hunting expeditions are successful.


Tigers are excellent swimmers and can swim a distance of 6 Kms at one time.


They can reach a maximum running speed of 65 kph.


Tigers can easily climb and jump over 5-6 meters in length.


One of the most interesting facts about white tigers is that these species carry a rare gene which leads to their white skin. This gene is present in one among ten thousand tigers.


Most species of tigers are completely extinct. And all tigers fall under the category of endangered species due to human hunting and poaching and due to the depletion of natural habitats (also due to humans).


More tigers are held privately as pets than there are in the wild. In captivity, tigers can live up to 26 years.


When a tiger breeds with a lion, it gives rise to hybrids. These are called ligers and tigons.


A tiger will keep its claws sharp by pulling them into a protective sheath. The claws are essential when it comes to hunting.


A tiger will retract its claws when it walks. Thus you'll never find claw marks on its tracks.


Tigers love the water and are the only cats who are known to cool off by rolling about in the water.

These facts on tigers will improve the kids' knowledge about tigers, and more so will make them aware of the danger that they are in. If their destruction continues in the same manner as is happening today, it won't be long before kids will only know about them through books and stories. And we don't want that happening, do we?

Interesting Facts about Rabbits

Keeping a rabbit is not as easy as keeping ordinary household pets like dogs and cats. Time will test your patience, angers will flare and yes, you will want to at some point, return the rabbit to where you got it from. When I first bought our pet rabbit and introduced it into our home, it was all fun and games and cute cuddly moments.

Twenty photographs later, and a week into the care taking, I started to get nervous. Why was this adorable creature turning into the bane of my existence? Why didn't she behave the way she looked? Why was it so darn hard to train her?

It was simple - I was dealing with a monster clad in rabbit fur. Don't worry about how things will turn out, since eventually you will know your pet rabbit in and out.

Informative Facts about Rabbits

The truth of the matter is, every animal will come loaded with troubles where you as its owner will have to deal with it all. Cleaning up after your pet has finished its 'business' and handling their vicious behavior is all part of the process.

Overtime, when dealt in the right manner, these things don't usually happen as often. If you're lucky, you'll have the best pet ever.

List of Rabbit Facts

If a rabbit isn't potty trained to litter in a cage or hatch, it will get used to messing up your furniture and random spots in the house. It will eventually repeat this habit in select areas of your home, including one focused place on where to do its business.

Rabbits will stand on its two hind legs, in order to get a peripheral view of what surrounds them, especially if they need to examine a higher surface.

Rabbits make these odd sounds when either terrified or furious. You'll notice them as your rabbit ages where they'll be quite audible. Baby rabbits make similar sounds, but only when in need for its mother's milk.

Male rabbits can be easily neutered when they reach an age where they are ready to mate. It makes them less aggressive and less prone to falling ill to serious health problems. Females too can be neutered although the surgery isn't as easy as is in the case of a male rabbit. If done by a trusted vet, it is possible to avoid complications or an infection in a female rabbit.

Rabbits are ready to mate once they cross 3 months of age. It is advisable not to encourage female/male rabbits to mate with their young, since these can lead to problems in their subsequent offspring.

When female rabbits start to pluck their fur, it is important to pull all of it out of its mouth, to avoid it from choking. This signals that the mother is readying the living space that it occupies, for its newborns. It could also be a fake pregnancy (which happens) if it hasn't mated at all.

The idea of a rabbit eating its young is a scary thought, since some animals do this as a way of cleaning up the stillborn birth, or to get rid of the weak ones.

Rabbits groom themselves, although bathing them on your own once a month, is necessary. Bathing a rabbit too often will weaken it eventually. Keep its living quarters clean to avoid your pet rabbit from smelling awful. When a rabbit has hardened stool stuck to its fur, owners will have to step in and take charge of the cleaning.

Avoid feeding rabbits human eatables except if they're made from white flour (crunchy snacks like biscuits). Avoid feeding them non-vegetarian eats, sweet dishes, certain vegetables (like French beans), and spicy/salty foods.

Rabbits resent owners for picking them up too often. If you're like me and will still pick up your rabbit to kiss and cuddle it, feeding it a treat right after will leave it less mad at you.

Rabbits sleep with their eyes open, where if its nose stops twitching, it will signal that it is asleep. Some rabbits when in a state of complete bliss and relaxation, will be seen with their eyes halfway closed.

Binkies are happy jumps that rabbits do, when they kick their feet sideways midair, while they run. This shows that he/she is extremely happy.

When a rabbit thumps its foot, it shows that he/she wasn't pleased with what you did. It also is a way to warn other rabbits of impending danger.

Never pick up a rabbit by its ears, since this is actually painful and can impair it. It has to be picked off a surface by lifting it from its underbelly, or sliding your hand behind its hind legs while supporting its sides and abdomen, with your other hand.

Rabbits will lick you either if you're in its way, or midway through petting to show love and affection. Sometimes they can hop right up to you and start licking at your toes or hands, by way of being sweet. If your rabbit is aggressive, it is only because it is either pregnant or not neutered. Females if not neutered will be much calmer and easier to handle post pregnancy, although some rabbit breeds can still be slightly aggressive even after delivering.

A rabbit's lifespan highly depends on what sort of breed it is, since it can greatly vary in that respect.

Rabbits if carefully laid down on their backs can go into a trance like state, making it easier to clip their nails or trim their fur. It is not good to keep a rabbit too long in this position though.

These interesting facts about rabbits I'm sure will amuse or surprise you, with a lot more on rabbits that you will witness, if you are the kind to keenly observe these animals. For those of you who don't own rabbits yet, I suggest you do a lot of research before committing to take care of one.

Unusual Animal Facts

There are many interesting and unusual animal facts that you may have possibly never heard about earlier. Let's browse through some of them...

A female anaconda is 3-5 times bigger in size than an average male anaconda.

It's a strange fact that all polar bears are left-handed and their liver is extremely poisonous as it contains too much of Vitamin C.

Sharks seemingly are the only animals that never fall sick and are immune to every known disease including cancer.

A lion can mate up to 50 times in a day.

Cats can sleep up to 16 hours in a day.

Mockingbirds can imitate sounds of other birds.

The rat tops the list of animals that can live without water for a long time; the camel being second to it. Another fascinating fact about a camel is that its milk does not ferment into curd.

The eyes of donkeys are placed in such a way that they can see all four feet at the same time.

There are around 2,600 known species of frogs, which live on every continent, except Antarctica.

The venom of a poison arrow frog can kill approximately 2,200 people.

Crocodiles can swallow large stones that stay permanently in their bellies and are used as ballast in diving.

Slugs have four noses, but none of them are visible.

An electric eel can produce a shock of up to 650 volts, which it uses to defend itself from predators or for hunting its prey.

A porcupine has 30,000 quills on an average. Its average heartbeat is around 190 beats per minute, which reduces to 20 during hibernation.

Butterflies surprisingly use their feet to taste.

A cockroach can stay alive up to nine days without its head, before it dies.

A woodpecker can peck up to 20 times in a second.

Bats unmistakably turn left when exiting a cave. A brown bat can catch around 1,200 mosquito-sized insects in just an hour.

The call of a blue whale reaches up to 188 decibels, which can be heard from hundred of miles underwater, thus entitling it to be the loudest animal on earth. In loudness, the whale is followed by the howler monkey.

The hummingbird can hover and fly straight up, down, or backward.

Father catfish keep eggs in their mouth until they are ready to hatch and don't eat until then, which may take several weeks.

A chameleon can move its eyes in any two separate directions at the same time.

Duck quacks do not echo; the reason for which is still unknown.

A cow can be led upstairs, but it can't be brought downstairs.

Normally, a dolphin consumes food equivalent to one-third of its weight, every day.

The sloth normally travels an average of 15-feet a day.

Generally, an average male llama weighs up to 375 pounds and stands 5-6 feet tall.

A newborn kangaroo's size is as small as that of a coffee bean.

Generally, 95% of a panda's diet consists of bamboo.

A full-grown bull's average weight is 900 pounds.

One out of every five thousand North Atlantic lobsters is born bright blue in color.

The black Uakari monkey travels an average of 1 to 2 miles every day.

A female ferret will literally die, if she can't find a mate after going into heat.

An average size of an adult guinea pig is two pounds.

A female praying mantis may eat the male's head just after or even during mating.

If a drop of liquor is put on the scorpion, it will sting himself to death.

The humpback whale has the longest flippers than any other marine mammal: up to one-third of its body length.

These are few unusual animal facts that are known to mankind. There are many more amazing, amusing and fascinating facts that are yet to be discovered.

Interesting Facts about Flamingos

The word flamingo comes from the Spanish word flamengo, an earlier form of flamenco. These words were derived from the Latin word flamma, which means 'a flame'. The habitat of these birds comprises large shallow lakes, lagoons, mangrove swamps, tidal flats, and sandy islands above the low tide mark. Adult flamingos range from 36 to 50 inches in height, with a wingspan of about 60 inches, and weigh around 8.75 lbs on an average. However, these statistics differ for different species. The bird has such a distinctive appearance, that in any given locale it is likely to be the only tall, pink bird. They have long, sinuous necks, slender legs, and black-tipped bills that achieve a downward bend upon maturity. After this basic information, let's get down to learn some interesting facts about these beautiful creatures.

Facts You Should Know About Flamingos

1 Flamingos are found in warm, shallow and watery regions of many continents. Their vast habitats include estuaries and saline or alkaline lakes in Africa, Asia, North America, Central America, South America, and Europe.

2 These highly adaptable birds can live in hot volcanic lakes, as well as in icy lakes of the Andean mountains.

3 Their beautiful color comes from the algae, diatoms, and small crustaceans that they eat, which are rich in the carotene pigment.

4 Their interesting feeding technique involves stirring up the mud and water with their long legs and webbed feet. They then bury their bills, or even their entire heads upside down in the water, and suck up both mud and water. They shake their head from side to side to expel the excess mud and water, hold back and eat the plankton, tiny fish and fly larvae. When feeding, flamingos hold their breath.

5 They are commonly witnessed preening, which takes up a considerable amount of time everyday. They preen using their bills to spread oil from a gland near the base of their tail through their feathers.

6 Contrary to their appearance, these are surprisingly fluid swimmers. Their webbed toes help them swim and stand in soft mud. However, they don't swim unless the water is too deep to waddle in.

7 They live in groups referred to as flocks or colonies. The large numbers provide safety against predators (flamingos have a few natural predators), especially while they feed with their heads underwater. They also don't nest unless there are other flamingos around.

8 They share equal responsibility in parenting. Both the male and female pile up mud to build a nest in which the female lays one egg. After about 30 days of incubating, which is done in turns, the egg hatches to produce a chick with gray or white plumage.

9 Both parents regurgitate food which is fed to the baby, and both mother and father secrete a milk-like substance that provides their young with proper nourishment. This goes on till the baby's beak is fully developed and is capable of hunting for its own food.

10 A flock of flamingos taking off is a truly magnificent sight. They gather speed by running prior to taking off and flap their wings almost constantly during flight. A flock can reach to a speed of 31 to 37 mph.

11 In recent times, changes in flamingo migration patterns have been witnessed due to environmental changes and global warming. These birds easily travel long distances and can cover over 300 miles at a stretch in a single night.

12 The lifespan of these birds is somewhere between 20 - 30 years in the wild, though these may live up to 50 years in captivity.

13 A total of six species of flamingos have been identified, namely, Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, James's Flamingo, Andean Flamingo, Chilean Flamingo and Caribbean Flamingo.

14 Greater Flamingos are largest of all the species and can grow up to 5 feet tall, whereas Lesser Flamingos are the smallest attaining a height of about 3 feet.

15 Resting on one leg is a technique which these birds have adopted to minimize the loss of body heat to cold water of shallows.

16 In some areas, flamingo fat is considered to be a treatment option for tuberculosis.

17 The long and slender neck of a flamingo consists a total of 19 bones.

18 Keratin, a very tough substance, is the major structural material of the beak and feathers of these birds.

19 These birds are often seen producing different vocalizations ranging from growling, honking and grunting.

20 The Andean Flamingo is categorized as vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with figures showing only 30,000 of them alive in the wild.

21 Females lay only one egg per year and do not lay another one if, by any chance, the egg suffers damage.

22 Flamingos are defenseless creatures which do not fight back and simply fly away when they feel threatened.

23 These have a good eyesight and color perception, a good hearing ability, but have a poor sense of smell and taste.

24 As observed in the Philadelphia zoo, these birds display group activities with hundreds of birds participating together. Group displays like "wing salutes", "head-flagging" and "marching" are a measure to regulate hormonal cycling for the mating season.

25 Lesser Flamingos found in East Africa form the largest flocks of birds with greater than one million of them flocking together.

The beauty of flamingos has never failed to grab human attention and that's the reason why many people wish to keep them pets. However, since these birds are better left alone in the wild, one must refer to respective state laws to learn the legalities governing their ownership. You would also be surprised to know that on one hand, the Ancient Egyptians related a flamingo to the god Ra, whereas on the other hand, Ancient Romans enjoyed the bird's tongue as a delicacy. Strange! Isn't it?

Sugar Glider Facts

Sugar gliders are found in Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea and Tasmania. They are very small in size. They are cute looking creatures. Let us learn some fun and interesting facts about them.

Top 50 Sugar Glider Facts

1. They are called sugar gliders because they love eating sugar and they glide from one tree to another.
2. Their weight is only about 4 ounces, even after they have grown as full adults.
3. They can glide over 150 feet.
4. Wild sugar gliders live on trees, and they hardly come on the ground.
5. Like kangaroos, sugar gliders have a pouch where the young one lives.
6. They have large, protruding eyes.
7. Their hands and feet have four fingers each and opposable thumbs.
8. Sugar gliders have fingers that are like sharp hooks, which help them glide and stick.
9. They are marsupials.
10. They are 5 to 6 inches long, and the tail is an addition to this length.
11. Their tail itself is around 6 inches long.
12. The color of their tail is usually gray or brown with a black tip.
13. These marsupials have furry membranes which stretch from their wrist to their ankle.
14. They are most active at night.
15. They are very friendly, and hence they bond a lot with their caretakers.
16. Sugar gliders are omnivorous.
17. They are so social that they can even die if deprived of social interaction.
18. They tend to become depressed when their death is near.
19. They can live for 12 to 15 years as pets under someone's care.
20. They are very clean animals, and hence as pets, they don't necessitate any complex house cleaning.
21. They have very sharp nails which they use to dig and land.
22. They have sharp teeth too.
23. They are not aggressive, but may use their teeth if they are frightened.
24. Sugar gliders are sometimes too low in calcium and high in phosphorous.
25. They can suffer from paralysis due to the imbalance in calcium and phosphorous.
26. They love being close to their owners, and hence you might find them inside someone's T-shirt or pocket.
27. They like eating chocolates and boiled eggs.
28. Many breeders have bred them to a variety of colors.
29. They live in a group of 20 to 40, in the forests.
30. They make nests by lining a hole in the trees.
31. As they love companionship, this animal lives in a group of 7 to 9 in one nest for warmth.
32. A female sugar glider can give birth to 2 or 3 baby gliders at once.
33. In some states, having sugar gliders as pets is illegal.
34. A male sugar glider marks the boundary of his territory by its secreting glands.
35. A female sugar glider breeds from the month of June to January.
36. It needs 16 to 20 days for a baby glider to be born.
37. Sometimes, these possums eat small birds and mammals.
38. At times, they lie on their back and play with a little woolen ball.
39. Sugar gliders bark, chirp, crab and chatter.
40. They love eating fruits and vegetables.
41. Sugar gliders are termed as 'high maintenance' pets.
42. They can be easily trained to use human toilets so as to keep the surroundings clean.
43. These animals groom themselves up as if they are going to go to meet their friends.
44. They can drink water from water bottles.
45. They love playing with soft toys.
46. Male sugar gliders have a bald spot on their head.
47. A sugar glider spreads its limbs when it lands on a tree.
48. It can actually change the curvature of its membrane while gliding.
49. They mark their nests with urine.
50. Sugar gliders never require bathing, and they have no smell.

I hope you enjoyed reading these facts. As sugar gliders love to play, kids can have a fun time with them. So, if you are thinking of getting one, make sure your kid has read these fun facts about sugar gliders.

Koala Facts for Kids

If you come across a cuddly, gray colored, bear like animal, but much smaller than a bear, then it is quite likely that what you have seen is a koala. This Australian animal is a small marsupial or pouched mammal, in which the female possesses an abdominal pouch (marsupium). Similar to a kangaroo, the pouch is used for carrying and feeding its young ones.

Koala Facts and Information for Kids

Koalas weigh about 15-20 pounds at maturity. They have thick, woolly fur, which helps in maintaining body temperature under harsh environmental conditions. Also, the fur repels water during rains. Though a koala resembles a bear in its physical attributes, it is not even a distant relative of bears. Or in other words, koala bears and true bears are totally different from each other. Some Australian koala facts are presented below:

True Arboreal: Koala is an arboreal animal, meaning it spends its entire life on the eucalyptus tree trunks. The trees not only provide food for the koalas, but they are also a resting place for them. On some days, they sleep on the branches throughout the daytime, for more than 19 hours.

Sexual Dimorphism: By sexual dimorphism, we mean the difference in characteristics between a male koala and a female koala. The adult female is smaller in size than the male koala. Speaking about the species diversity and facts about the koala, those inhabiting southern Australia are larger in size and darker in color than the northern ones.

Koala Habitat: Indigenous to the Australian states, koala habitat lies in the eastern coast and southern parts of Australia. The inhabiting areas have large and tall eucalyptus trees, which are important as food and sleeping place for koalas. The natural habitat of koala is found in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.

Koala Food: One of the amazing facts is its food and feeding habit. But, what do koala bears eat and what is so special about their diet. They are herbivorous and more than 90 percent food comprises eucalyptus leaves, which are less nutritious and fibrous. Nevertheless, the koala's digestive system is adapted to having eucalyptus leaves.

Koala Baby: So, what about baby koala facts? At birth, a baby koala (called joey) is pink, furless and weighs about 1/5 of an ounce. After birth, a joey remains in its mother's pouch for nearly six months. As soon as the young koala comes out of the pouch, it stays on its mother's back or clings to the abdomen for another 6 months.

Koala Lifespan: A healthy koala can live up to 10 years in the wild, provided that there is no shortage of food and favorable conditions are present. They prefer to remain in groups and choose areas, where eucalyptus trees are abundant. It is claimed that koalas take a long time to enter in areas, where a death has occurred or a dead koala is present.

Interesting Koala Facts for Children

• Koalas are nocturnal animals and they feed mostly at nighttime. On an average, they sleep about 16 hours a day.
• They are good climbers and can climb to about 150 feet tall trees. Similar to other arboreal animals, they leap from one treetop to another.
• For survival in woodlands, this fuzzy animal species requires a lot of space. It is suggested that a single koala needs 100 eucalyptus trees. So, you can imagine, the density of trees in the natural habitat.
• Excess consumption of eucalyptus leaves is poisonous for other animals. But, koalas have an exceptionally long gut that helps in breaking down the tough fibers.
• A koala can eat about 600 g to 1 Kg eucalyptus leaves per day. This is a huge amount, considering the small size of koalas.
• They keep a temporary stock of eucalyptus leaves in their pouches. They eat them any time, when they feel hungry.
• Koalas rarely drink water, as much of the moisture requirement is provided by the eucalyptus leaves. They need water in dry climates, and when there is shortage of food.
• The gestation period of koala is short, about 35 days. They give birth to their young ones, only once in a year. The infant koala becomes independent after about 1 year.
• Humans are directly or indirectly responsible for the declining population of koalas. Sometimes, they are attacked by dogs, otherwise koalas do not have natural predators.

In the 20th century, koalas were excessively hunted, especially for their fur. The population declined to such an extent that they were included in the endangered animals list. But, with conservatory steps taken up by the Australian government, their population has increased gradually. At present, it is estimated that more than 100,000 koalas thrive in the wild.