Step 1 : Introduction to the question "1. High in a gum tree eating eucalyptus leaves lives this so-called bear. What is the name of this animal?"
...1. Koala 2. Tree kangaroo 3. Wombat 4. Bilby Koalas are often called koala bears because they somewhat resemble teddy bears, but they are not related to the bear family at all. Their scientific name is Phascolarctos cinereus which means "ash coloured bear". They are marsupials and are related to the wombat and the kangaroo and, like them, carry their young in pouches. Koalas are found only in the southern and eastern parts of the Australian mainland. They rely on the eucalyptus trees for their food and water. Only when the temperature is high do they actually drink water. Their strong claws make them excellent climbers and they spend most of their time high in the tress of woodland areas. Their numbers have diminished by about 90% since settlement, mainly due to the loss of habitat. Their diminishing numbers were partly caused by the felling of native forests and partly because they were hunted almost to extinction for their fur. They are now a protected species. In NSW, Queensland and Victoria, the koala is now listed as vulnerable, and in South Australia as rare. I am fortunate to live in an area where gum trees are plentiful and they are often to be seen. A mother with a baby on her back is a real treat. Calpurnia09
