In July 2006, Chiang Mai Zoo became the first zoo in Thailand to house koalas as Australia shipped four of the marsupials here to mark the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the Throne. Now, let's welcome a newborn baby koala.
Koalas, which are native to Australia, weigh about 9 kilogrammes each on average. “Koala” is an Aboriginal word, meaning “no drink”. The animals get water from their chief food, eucalyptus or gum leaves.
The koala is sometimes called “koala bear” although it is not a member of the bear family but a marsupial like the kangaroo and the wombat. The trait distinguishing marsupials from other mammals is that they carry their young in pouches.
Female koalas take 2 to 3 years to reach productive age while males take 3 to 4 years. A healthy female koala can bear one offspring yearly for about 12 years.