Species of Concern
Koala
Phascolarctos cinereus
Also known as: Koala Bear, Monkey Bear, Native Bear, Australian Koala, Bear of Australia
About This Species
Spends most of the day motionless and well camouflaged high in the fork of a eucalypt, descending to move between trees mainly around dusk and through the night. Look up into mature eucalypt canopies along forest edges and river corridors, and listen for the male's deep, rasping bellow during the breeding season in spring. Cooler, overcast days sometimes bring more daytime movement between trees than hot, still weather.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- This is a threatened species, so stay well back, at least several tree-lengths, and never attempt to touch, feed or coax an animal down from its perch.
- It is a protected species across its Australian range under both state and federal law, and disturbing, handling or approaching it too closely can be an offence as well as a genuine stress risk to an already vulnerable population.
- If an animal appears unwell, sitting on the ground, or in obvious danger, the appropriate response is to contact a local wildlife rescue service rather than intervene directly.
VUMammaliaDiprotodontiaPhascolarctidae
Seasonal Activity
272,499 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Diprotodontia
- Family
- Phascolarctidae
Photo
(c) jraus, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.