Koala

Possibly the most known of all Australian animals, the koala looks like a cuddly teddy bear. However, unlike what is commonly thought, the koala is NOT a bear, and if you pick one up it will probably scratch you hard! The koala is actually closely related to the panda.

Basic Facts:
The koala is a marsupial, which means that it is a mammal that carries its young in a pouch. Koalas rarley drink water, because their diet is almost exclusivly eucalypt leaves, and the leaves have a high water content. On average, koalas sleep for 19 hours a day, and spend most of their waking hours eating.
Females usually have one baby at a time, but twins have been born. She carries the baby in her pouch for about six months, after that the baby rides on her back for another six months. Other than mothers and babies, koalas are solitary animals.

Wildlife Main Page

Reference: The Healesville Sanctuary Book