VARIETY SPICE OF LIFE FOR ‘FUSSY’ KOALAS
AUSTRALIA’S most laid-back marsupials have no problem eating their greens, so long as they are the right ones.
Koalas at Taronga Zoo in Sydney can be picky, with keepers scouring the state to collect different types of eucalyptus leaves for them to eat.
“Koalas eat eucalyptus exclusively, (but) they’re very fussy with the species of eucalyptus they eat and they love the tender new growth at the tip of the branch,” koala keeper Amy Guilfoyle said.
“We have a dedicated ‘browse team’ that maintains and selects our koala food from a plantation where we sustainably grow a variety of our koalas’ favourite eucalyptus species, as well as several other locations across Sydney.
“Just like humans, koalas get sick of eating the same thing over and over again, so we ensure to collect at least three different species of eucalyptus each day. They definitely let us know if our selection isn’t up to standards.”
Koalas spend up to four hours a day munching through about half a kilogram of leaves.