Digestive System

The entire digestive system of a koala is, on average, about 305 cm. long.

As an herbivore, koalas eat only the leaves of some of the 24 different species of Eucalyptus trees and select other stems or buds. In addition, most of the water they need to survive comes from the leaves they eat.

In order to digest their diet of plant matter, koalas are dependent on helpful bacteria in their digestive tracts.

Koalas also have cheek pouches to hold extra stems or leaves while they eat.