Koalas live mainly in eastern and southeastern Australia, where summers can reach extremely high temperatures of between 40-50 degrees centigrade. While winters are much cooler, koalas have developed strategies to cope when the mercury rises. Let’s take a closer look at how these cuddly critters survive and keep themselves as comfortable as possible in the searing heat.

Koalas Seek Out Microclimates 

Koalas are smart when it comes to their survival, and try to seek out the optimum environment when the summer heat rises. Just like humans seek out shade on a scorching day, koalas climb down from the upper canopy of their eucalyptus trees and rest on the lower, shaded branches to stay out of the direct sunshine. 

Koalas Hug Trees

For years scientists were baffled by why koalas hug trees, but recent research revealed it helps them to regulate their body temperature. Tree trunks can be 5-7 degrees cooler than the surrounding air, so by pressing their bodies against the bark, koalas can release excess heat and avoid dangerous dehydration during heatwaves. 

Koalas Sleep To Reduce Metabolic Heat Production

Whether you see koalas in the wild or read a koala bear story, you’ll know that this marsupial likes to sleep, sometimes as much as 22 hours a day. This not only helps them to digest their tough, fibrous eucalyptus leaf diet, but is also a heat management strategy. When temperatures rise, koalas stay as still as possible for as long as they can to reduce the amount of heat produced from digestion and activity. Less movement means less internal heat, which enables them to avoid dehydration or overheating.

Koalas Hydrate More When It’s Hot

Unlike other animals such as dogs or big cats, koalas do not turn to water to quench their thirst when it’s hot. In fact, they rarely drink water in the wild. When temperatures rise, koalas survive by eating younger, juicier eucalyptus leaves which help to rehydrate their bodies more effectively. While this adjustment might be subtle, the right eucalyptus leaf selection can make a big difference. Koalas are picky eaters anyway, carefully selecting the correct eucalyptus leaves to eat daily, so this process comes naturally to them. While Australia has over 700 eucalyptus species, koalas typically only eat about 50 of them. 

A Koala’s Fur Helps Them to Stay Cool

Contrary to popular belief, a koala’s thick fur does not make them feel hotter in warm climates. It actually helps to insulate them from radiant heat. Incredibly, their fur reflects solar radiation and slows heat absorption, so it’s not like us putting on a thick fluffy coat in the middle of summer and wondering why we are overheating. Koalas also adopt postures that help them to get rid of heat such as exposing their belly to maximise heat loss. 

Embrace Change with The Koala Who Could 

If you love koalas and are looking for ‘indoor family fun near me’, why not see The Koala Who Could live on stage? This fun, inspirational production, based on the koala picture book by Rachel Bright and Jim Field, is currently touring the UK, offering a perfect introduction to theatre for children aged three and above. Book your tickets today.