04 Koalas are an internationally recognised Australian marsupial who have captivated the world with their cuteness. Once occupying vast parts of Eastern Australia, sadly koalas today are listed as endangered to extinction in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory. They need our help to survive. Habitat and diet: Koalas are folivores, feeding on a diet that is nearly entirely made up of leaves from the Eucalyptus genus, although they will occasionally eat non-Eucalypt species such as Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus), Allocasuarina sp. and Melaleuca sp. They depend on a variety of different species to maintain their health including a number of non-eucalypt species for shelter. Soil type and seasons have a major impact on whether leaf in a certain area is palatable. So whilst they may favour a species of eucalypt from one area, they may not eat it if it comes from a different area. There are also some species of eucalypt that koalas favour only in a specific season. In the Noosa region, we are fortunate to have a wide variety of eucalypt dominated ecosystems that support koala populations. This includes Blue Gums (Eucalyptus tereticornis) on the coastal and lower Noosa River fringes, right up to the Spotted Gums (Eucalyptus citriodora) on our highest elevated lands in the west of the shire. Koalas: Our Aussie icon
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