What is involved in raising a Koala bear? Are they hostile to humans? "I want an infestation of Koala bears. It would be the cutest infestation ever." - Mitch Hedberg
2007-01-04 16:23:08 · 13 answers · asked by take_it_slow 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
No, they don't. They are so specialized an organism, that eucalyptus leaves are it's ONLY food source. And you wouldn't want one as a pet, they are among the filthiest of animals, exceeded only by slothes (who are so bad that moss and mold actually grows in their fur).
2007-01-04 16:34:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Koalas are koalas - not koala bears. Their closest relative is the wombat, and they are in no way related to bears at all.
Their diet consists solely of leaves, the bulk of which come from the many different flowering eucalypt trees (although other species of trees also supplement their diet). They prefer the young shoots because they are the most tender to eat.
And NO they don't get stoned. They can get a little 'drunk' at times, because of the high fume content found in the eucalypt tree, but being stoned is a really old and painfully stupid myth.
They're illegal to keep as pets. And everyone here who's saying they're hostile to humans is (partway) wrong. They're no more hostile than any other wild animal. In captivity they can be handled by experienced zoologists who have bonded with them since birth, but even then their sharp claws and territorial natures (one koala will claim a piece of land about the size of 3 house blocks of land as its own) mean that they still need to be treated like wild animals - they're not cute and cuddly pets.
2007-01-04 22:42:20 · answer #2 · answered by dancingfool_holly 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Stoned? They are eating Eucalyptus leaves, not Marijauna. They sleep so much because their little activity is all that their metabolism can support from eating only hard to break down leaves. Same with sloths.
They are very hostile to humans. You can not raise them because it is illegal to keep an endangered species unless you are a zoo or credited rehab/institution. Plus you would need to freight eucalyptus by the truck full to feed them. They will specialists, and therefore doomed to go extinct in the wild in the next 50 yrs or so.
2007-01-04 16:34:30 · answer #3 · answered by D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can still get really cheap beach houses if you don't want to live right on the city beaches. The koalas on the beaches are probably on the East coast of Australia (as WA doesn't really have native Koalas if I remember rightly), and the houses in those areas would be getting a bit more expensive. As for the cost of living, the last time I was in the US, fast food was cheaper there, fresh food generally more expensive, clothes and consumer goods cheaper in the US, and salaries in the US were higher. That said, the standard of living in the two countries is roughly comparable, and I felt more relaxed in Australia than in the US.
2016-05-23 04:58:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all a pet peeve... Koalas are just that - Koalas... not Koala Bears. They are NOT a member of the bear family!!!!!! In Australia they are known simply as KOALAs.
Yes, they are very hostile to humans, raising them is incredibly difficult, you need to be a specialist and independantly wealthy in order to do it successfully. Plus, if you are in the states, you will never get a permit to import one as Australia will not allow them to go to private parties... only to certified Zoos.
2007-01-04 16:44:15 · answer #5 · answered by dogandcatluvr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if they get stoned, I doubt it. Koala's are wild animals and meant to stay that way. Just because they are cute does not mean they are safe to have around and they have really nasty claws. They only eat eucalyptus and even that they are very fussy about. Far as I know, because of that they are on the endangered list.
2007-01-04 16:36:38 · answer #6 · answered by J. A. M. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they r not koala bears they r just calle d koalas and no they dont get stoned from eating eucalyptus if u could get stoned from eating eucalyptus everyone would be eating it and u cant own a koloa only zoos and wildlife parks have them
2007-01-04 16:42:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard a Koala's claws are so sharp from digging into the trees that if you don't wear a protective suit of some kind you'll get torn up
2007-01-04 17:06:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Koals bears sleep for approx 20 hours a day, stoned from the Eucalyptus leaves they eat, so it was a real treat to see them awake and talkative!
Eucalyptus leaves contain tannins (which are believed to help reduce inflammation), flavonoids (such as quercetin which has antioxidants properties), and volatile oils
2007-01-04 16:33:54 · answer #9 · answered by Serinity4u2find 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I LOVE koala bears and would love to have one as a pet, but sadly koala's are not able to be pets.
I wish though
2007-01-04 16:57:48 · answer #10 · answered by the pointe? 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋