Koala Food
There are about 600 varieties of eucalypts. Koalas across Australia only eat from about 120 of these. In each specific area koalas would prefer to eat about 4 - 6 different types. Koalas also have seasonal preferences so rarely eat exclusively on the same species all year round.
In Port Stephens there are three Eucalyptus species that are preferred koala food. These are:
In Port Stephens there are three Eucalyptus species that are preferred koala food. These are:
- Swamp Mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta)
- Parramatta Red Gum (Eucalyptus parramattensis)
- Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)
- Small Leaf Peppermint (Eucalyptus Nicholii)
KOALA FOOTROT EATING
Swamp Mahogamy
Swamp Mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta)
This is a favourite koala food tree in Port Stephens. Koalas are often found in these small to medium sized trees that grow on the margins of swamps, creeks and estuaries. Swamp Mahogany can be identified by its fruit and buds, distinctive rough bark and large, glossy green leaves.
This is a favourite koala food tree in Port Stephens. Koalas are often found in these small to medium sized trees that grow on the margins of swamps, creeks and estuaries. Swamp Mahogany can be identified by its fruit and buds, distinctive rough bark and large, glossy green leaves.
Koalas will also feed on hybrids of these trees. While koalas may eat leaves from other trees, preferred food trees must be present for koalas to survive. For this reason it is important to protect and re-establish preferred koala food trees in Port Stephens so that we can continue to see these beautiful animals in the wild.
Source - Port Stephens Council
On the Tilligerry Peninsula the preferred choice of food is:
Source - Port Stephens Council
On the Tilligerry Peninsula the preferred choice of food is:
- Swamp Mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta)
- Small Leaf Peppermint (Eucalyptus nicholii)
- Broad Leaf Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervioa)
- Bangalay (Eucalyptus botryoides)
- Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma)
- Willow Gum (Eucalyptus scoparia)
- Grey Gum (Eucalyptus punctata)
- Spotted Gum (Eucalyptus maculata)
- Drooping Red Gum (Eucalyptus parramattenis)
- Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys)
- Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis)
- Lemon Scented Gum (Eucalyptus citriodora)
- Small fruit Grey Gum (Eucalyptus propinqua)
The koala is able to take a daily dose of eucalyptus oil that would kill most mammals. At certain times of the year nature makes the leaves of some food trees unpalatable and possibly poisonous, so the koala must at all times have access to a variety of species. Each population of koala has adapted to species of trees in their area and cannot always digest leaves of trees from other areas. This makes the relocation of koalas a more difficult task. Koalas eat about 200 – 500 grams of leaves each night. The front teeth (incisors) are adapted to nip the leaves from the trees and the back teeth (molars) cut and shred the leaves rather than just crush them.
Source - Australian Koala Foundation, Port Stephens Council
Gumnuts
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Eucalyptus Leaves
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