Koala life Cycle
Koalas breed once a year and mate from August to January. At this time they tend to move outside their normal territories looking for a mate. The male has a deep, guttural call and the female a high pitched catlike voice. The male has an oily gland on the centre of his chest which emits a strong odour. He rubs his scent against tree trunks and limbs to mark his territory.
When a female is 2 years old she is ready to mate. Males are capable of reproducing at 2 years of age but often not up to competing against older, larger males. The female comes on heat for only a few days and only then she will display her readiness for the male. 35 days after mating the female gives birth to a single Joey.
Occasionally twins are reported but a single young is the most common. At birth the Joey weighs less than 1 gram, has no fur, their eyes and ears are closed and are the size of a peanut. On average koalas on mainland Australia tend to produce one young every two years.
After birth the furless Joey makes its way, unaided, into the mother’s vertically opening pouch. It attaches itself to one of the 2 teats and remains in the pouch for approximately six months. During this time it develops slowly, and at about 22 weeks the eyes open and it begins to peep out of the pouch.
When a female is 2 years old she is ready to mate. Males are capable of reproducing at 2 years of age but often not up to competing against older, larger males. The female comes on heat for only a few days and only then she will display her readiness for the male. 35 days after mating the female gives birth to a single Joey.
Occasionally twins are reported but a single young is the most common. At birth the Joey weighs less than 1 gram, has no fur, their eyes and ears are closed and are the size of a peanut. On average koalas on mainland Australia tend to produce one young every two years.
After birth the furless Joey makes its way, unaided, into the mother’s vertically opening pouch. It attaches itself to one of the 2 teats and remains in the pouch for approximately six months. During this time it develops slowly, and at about 22 weeks the eyes open and it begins to peep out of the pouch.
koala Joey
When the Joey weighs about 250 grams at about 22 – 30 weeks, the mother koala passes a green slimy substance called ‘pap’ which the Joey laps up to help its transition from milk to leaves. Pap allows the mother to pass on micro-organisms, present in her digestive system, which are essential to the digestion of eucalyptus leaves. Full fur and first teeth erupt. Joeys can be observed nibbling leaf tips at about 31 weeks.
Koala Joey At 7MONTHS
When the Joey weighs about 250 grams at about 22 – 30 weeks, the mother koala passes a green slimy substance called ‘pap’ which the Joey laps up to help its transition from milk to leaves. Pap allows the mother to pass on micro-organisms, present in her digestive system, which are essential to the digestion of eucalyptus leaves. Full fur and first teeth erupt. Joeys can be observed nibbling leaf tips at about 31 weeks.
