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Koalas are listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Among the many threats to their existence are habitat destruction caused by agriculture, urbanisation, droughts, and associated bushfires, some related to climate change. Their wild numbers are estimated to be around 300,000 mature individuals, but showing a declining population trend.

The word "koala" is thought to originate from one of the Australian Aboriginal languages, Dharug, which roughly translates to ‘no drink’ or ‘no water’. In the Australian bush, koalas rarely drink water as the majority of their water intake comes from eating fresh eucalyptus leaves. Koalas drinking water is uncommon in the wild, although they can do so if necessary, especially during heat waves, droughts or bushfires.

The koala, is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats.
It is found in coastal areas of the mainland's eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, living in open Eucalyptus woodland, as the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet. Koalas rely heavily on their sense of smell to make better food choices. They use their prominent nose to differentiate toxin levels in eucalyptus leaves and choose the juiciest, most nutrient and rich ones.

Koalas are largely sedentary and sleep up to twenty hours a day. They are mostly asocial marsupials, preferring a solitary lifestyle in the wild.