Young koalas weigh less than 0.5 g. when born and live in the mother’s pouch for 5-7 months feeding on milk and predigested leaves.
Young koalas weigh less than 0.5 grams when born and attach to one of the nipples in the pouch.
They have a pouch life of 5-7 months, feeding on milk or predigested leaves that are nontoxic, and are weaned at 6-12 months. Toward the end of their pouch life, the young feed regularly on material passed through the mother’s digestive tract. Once the young begins to feed on leaves, growth is rapid.
The young leaves the pouch after seven months and is carried about on the mother’s back. By 11 months of age, the young is independent but may continue to live close to the mother for a few months.
• Image | ©️ Mathias Appel, Public Domain, (CC0 1.0)
• Sources | (Dubuc & Eckroad, 1999; Nowak, 1999)
