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At the edge of the earth, lies the island continent of Australia. Being the youngest of the seven continents, the animal kingdom had thousands of years to thrive and flourish here before being discovered in this once isolated part of the globe. In time, it was the koala bear, with its cute and cuddly appearance, that became the most embraced and beloved native species of Australia. Today, the koala bear serves as an ambassador to the world and a reminder of the intriguing wildlife spawned in the land down under.

Koala bears are from the marsupial family. Marsupials are defined as an animal that rear their young in a pouch. But unlike other marsupials, such as kangaroos, the pouch of the koala bear opens at the foot end instead of the head end of the mother. Because of their "upside down" pouch, it's believed the kola bear was once a burrowing animal rather than the tree dweller it is today. The pouch of burrowing marsupials opens at the foot end to avoid dirt being hurled into the pouch and onto their young while digging.

Other physical characteristics of the koala bear combine perfectly to give them their adorable appearance. Their large furry ears, small beady eyes, protruding nose and little seen mouth, give them a loveable face. This with their 2-3 foot small bodies make them as desirable as a teddy bear, and it's been said this is where the name "bear" comes from in the name koala bear.

But, they are still a wild animal, and do not make good pets. They have very strong hands and feet with sharp claws. With their strong hands and feet and upper body strength, koalas can climb 150 feet to top a tree where they eat, sleep, and tree hop.

With the exception of small amounts of dirt to help with digestion, koalas eat only eucalyptus leaves. The leaves also provide the majority of their liquid intake. Though it sounds like a "boring" diet, there are hundreds of species of eucalyptus trees. To the finicky koala, the taste from one tree to the next could be as different as a piece of chocolate cake and a porterhouse steak.

Their digestive tracks work slowly. This contributes to the koala's inactive and slow nature. Koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day anchored in branches and crooks of tree tops. When they walk on the ground, mostly to get to another tree, they walk very slowly. So tree dwelling also serves as a fortress from predators on the ground that would be quick to take advantage of the koala's slow movements.

Eucalyptus trees are the life line for koala bears. It

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