Average weight: On average in the Noosa region, these cute fluffballs weigh around 6.5kg. With males reaching up to 9 kgs. Lifespan: In the wild, koalas can live for an impressive 12-13 years. They are aged by the wear pattern on their teeth. Reproduction & development: The koala breeding season in Southeast Queensland extends from around June through to December with most young born over the summer months. Usually a single joey (twins are rare) is born after a 34 to 36-day gestation. The jelly-bean sized joey makes its way through its mother’s fur from the birth canal to the pouch, where it immediately attaches itself to one of the mother’s two teats. The joey will remain in the pouch, drinking its mother’s milk from that same teat, until it is approximately 5.5 to 6 months of age. The joey will fully emerge from the pouch at around 6 to 6.5 months of age to cling to its mother’s stomach during rest. Once the joey reaches 8 to 8.5 months of age it will be too big to fit in the pouch and will become what is termed a ‘back young’ until it is around 12 months of age. Complete independence from the mother occurs between 12 to 18 months of age. Between 18 months to 2 years of age, juveniles generally move away from their maternal home range to establish their own territory. Females will often choose to set up a home range that will overlap their mother’s or will settle not too far away. Communication: Koalas have distinctive calls that are more noticeable during breeding season. Males have a low-pitched bellow but when threatened can also make loud screams and squeaks. Females produce various loud sounds, such as screams, squeaks, and short bellows. Territories: Koalas are territorial and have complex overlapping ranges of alpha males and females and sub-dominant animals. The size of a koala’s home range is highly variable and depends upon factors such as the koala’s age and sex, forest type, soil quality, reproductive status, area available, and the presence of other koalas. Scent marking is how koalas mark the trees in their territory. Males have a large scent gland on their chest that they rub on trees to mark their territory. During breeding season, dispersal aged koalas are pushed from their maternal home range into new locations, often travelling many kilometres to find a new location. They are highly vulnerable during this dispersal as they can encounter many dangers such as roads, predators and urban areas. Koalas tend to be faithful to their home range and will attempt to return if moved elsewhere (relocated). The relocation of mature individuals that are healthy and who are coping well within their home range is discouraged and there are laws in place to prevent this practice. Some koala facts 05
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