How do koalas digest gum leaves?

Answer 1

The koala’s digestive system is uniquely adapted to detoxify the chemicals and digest the high amount of fiber in the gum leaves.Their bodies are very rounded due to their very large intestines which are needed to digest eucalyptus leaves or gum leaves. Koalas have an unusual fibre-digesting organ called a caecum. Other mammals, including humans, also have a caecum, but the koala's is very long (200 cms) and it has a blind end. It contains millions of bacteria which break down the fibre into substances which are easier to absorb. Even so, the koala is still only able to absorb 25 per cent of fibre eaten, hence their need to eat large amounts of leaves.Joey koalas (baby koala) eat special droppings from their mothers called special poo called "pap" to get the special things they need to digest gum leaves.

The koala is the only mammal that can survive on eucalypt leaves diet (gum leaves) ; the leaves are very poisonous to most animals.They eat about 200-500 grams of leaves a day, but the leaves are very low in nutrition, having about the same nutrition value of cardboard. This make the koalas appear ‘drugged out’ or ‘drunk’ on gum leaves, but in fact the sleepy state is due to a slow metabolic rate, and for conserving the precious little energy that the leaves provide. They have to sleep more because it requires a lot of energy to digest their toxic, fibrous, low-nutrition diet and sleeping is the best way to conserve energy They spend about 19 hours asleep high in the trees, usually during the day when the temperature is the highest.

The nose of the koala have a highly developed sense of smell that can smell the difference between different types of gum leaves and are actually very picky when it comes to eating them, preferring the newest shoots and only certain types of the over 19 different kinds of eucalypt plant. At certain times of the year some eucalyptus leaves can be poisonous and Koalas will often sniff leaves first to see if they are suitable to eat.

Koalas are the best known and most loved Australian animal ofter called koala bear due to its likeness to teddy bear, they are not bears though as they are marsupials closely related to wombats and kangaroo. Koalas are only found in Australia, primarily in Victoria, New South Whales, South Australia, and Queensland.

The name ‘koala’ means ‘no drink’ in the Aborigine language. Koalas were named this because they can obtain most of their moisture requirements from their diet of gum and eucalypt leaves, and very rarely need to drink water.♥

Answer 2

They sleep up to 21 hours a day because their bodies need alot of energy to digest fibrous gum leaves. When they sleep they save energy.

Answer 3

They do by nature. They have special bacteria in their stomachs which help them digest the leaves we can't.