In terms of size, adult koalas are only about 75 centimetres long and weigh about 7 kilograms on average, making them small mammals.

In terms of distribution, koalas are mainly distributed in dense forests along the east coast of Australia. Due to the presence of Australian wild dogs, wild cats and birds of prey such as eagles in their native environment, koalas have moved their "home" to trees.

Koalas are pure herbivores, and their food is very single, that is, eucalyptus leaves.

Eucalyptus leaves are disinfectant plants, which are often used as insect repellent and deodorant in clinics. Eucalyptus leaves are poisonous plants, but Australian koalas live on eucalyptus leaves. Koalas only eat eucalyptus leaves. However, will koalas that eat eucalyptus leaves be poisoned?

Why do koalas only eat eucalyptus leaves?

1. In Australia, there are many other animals in life. Similarly, animals often fight for food. Eucalyptus leaves are poisonous plants. In Australia, other animals do not eat eucalyptus leaves. Koalas only eat eucalyptus leaves to avoid competition with other animals and survive well.

2. Eucalyptus leaves are not only poisonous but also have very few nutrients, so people will not only worry about whether such a cute chubby koala will be malnourished by eating only eucalyptus leaves. There is no need to worry.

After years of evolution, koalas have adapted to this way of life very well. they only eat eucalyptus leaves and eat a small number of nutrients, but they sleep for three-quarters of the day to avoid energy consumption, so koalas can survive by eating only eucalyptus leaves.

Are koalas poisoned by eucalyptus leaves?

1. To be sure, koalas won't be poisoned by eucalyptus leaves. In the gut of koalas, there are countless microbes, one of which is called protein complex to degrade intestinal bacteria. The microbes help koalas break down the fibres in their leaves into nutrients that can be absorbed, as well as toxins in eucalyptus leaves. So koalas don't get poisoned.

While young koalas are not so resistant, female koalas will give soft food from their cecum to young koalas so that they will not be poisoned.

2. Koalas have a very keen sense of smell. By sniffing through their nose, they can tell which eucalyptus leaves are less toxic and more nutritious so that eating less toxic eucalyptus leaves will not have much impact on their lives.

Koalas have very powerful detoxification protein genes, which are more than twice as powerful as other organisms.