Koala-spotting in South Australia
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325818)
Rockingham, Australia
July 31, 2018 5:38pm CST
While visiting our friends who live just outside of Adelaide, South Australia, she took us to a National Park and we went ‘koala-spotting’. After some time, we managed to see two. They are very difficult to spot. You have to look for a solid ‘lump’ in the trees. One was in a tree limb almost directly above the road but it still wasn’t easy to photograph.
Koalas do a lot of sleeping as they have a very low metabolism. They also have a cartilaginous pad on their rump which makes sitting on tree limbs more comfortable. Wombats have a similar reinforced rear although in their case it is intended as protection from predators. If a dingo is pursuing a wombat they will dig themselves burrow and the dingo is unable to get a hold on the plump and sturdy hindquarters.
In any areas where I saw a road sign warning of koalas, I’d start scanning the trees trying to spot one. However we only saw three in the wild.
22 people like this
24 responses
@thedevilinme (3904)
• Northampton, England
2 Aug 18
@JudyEv drunk on yukoliptus leaves , like the Abos.lol
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
1 Aug 18
Awww, they are so cute, one of my favorites.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Aug 18
They are cute but they can also scratch badly too if they have a mind to.
@RasmaSandra (73444)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Aug 18
Great photos. I love koala bears and have always wanted to cuddle one.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
1 Aug 18
I only saw koalas on tv and I find them really cute.
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
1 Aug 18
@JudyEv Koala is a national treasure of Australia. Like pandas are National treasure of China.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Aug 18
@caopaopao They are certainly quite unique.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118449)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Aug 18
I read somewhere recently that part of the reason they sleep a lot is because the leaves they eat have mild toxins in them that factor in to their drowsiness. It probably doesn't help either that their diet is limited to one type of vegetation. I wonder how they get all the nutrients they need if they only eat one type of food? Can you imagine if humans only ate one type of food?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118449)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Aug 18
@JudyEv Could you imagine if we humans only ate one type of food, and nothing else? Eating meals would surely be very boring!
@dgobucks226 (34369)
•
3 Aug 18
When I was a kid my sibs and I would try to spot Volkswagens on highway trips with our parents. We called them "Beavers." Kind of like Koala spotting except they were not in trees 
I guess you could call those Koala's hard-assed 
I know silly me!
I guess you could call those Koala's hard-assed I know silly me!1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
•
4 Aug 18
@JudyEv I found that explanation about the Koala's ability to sleep for so long in trees very interesting plus informative 
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37958)
• Philippines
13 Aug 18
I like koalas temperament they look cute and looks harmless but others says when they feel threatened they can fight back. I am also impressed how they can survive that rather harsh climate that Australia have and this creature looks so vulnerable bu they are tough survivors indeed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Aug 18
Yes, they do look cute and cuddly but they are quite prepared to defend themselves if they need to.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
2 Aug 18
How amazing is that? I would love to go koala spotting.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Aug 18
I sometimes thought I'd sat on mine for so long it had calloused over.
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Aug 18
They certainly are but from time to time they need to change trees.
@thedevilinme (3904)
• Northampton, England
1 Aug 18
Its funny how cute animals gt all the love and attention
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Aug 18
That's true - and with some cute animals if you get up close to them, they're not so cute.
