Koalas, Up Close and Personal Additional Information

December 16, 2011 at 6:55 pm

Recommended Web sites:

To learn more about koalas, check out www.thekoala.com/koala/ (The Koala).

To see numerous pictures—and hear the sound that a koala makes—visit www.savethekoala.com/ (Australian Koala Foundation).

Read about the St. Bees Island Koala Research Project at www.koalaresearch.net.au/StBees.html (Koala Research and Information).

Learn about visiting Cape Otway National Park at www.capeotwaycentre.com/ (Cape Otway Centre for Conservation Biology).

Books recommended by SearchIt!Science:

Top to Bottom Down Under— Ted and Betsy Lewin

Published by HarperCollins, 2005

“Danger. Crocodiles. Watch Your Children and Dogs.” That’s the sign that greets authors Ted and Betsy Lewin at Kakadu National Park, the first stop on their Australian journey. Come along as they take a skiff through a billabong, fly to Kangaroo Island, and camp out at Seal Bay. The watercolor illustrations and field sketches show the creatures that they encounter, from spiny echidnas to furry koalas and toothy “salties.” Filled with information about wild creatures and Australian slang, this action-packed adventure ends with a page of wildlife facts.

A Koala Joey Grows Up— Joan Hewett

Published by Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing, 2004

Mel spends her first 7 months in her mother’s pouch. Then, she wiggles out, still clinging to her mother. Mel is a baby koala living in a wild animal park. See how she grows up in this book, which features full-color photographs. The authors describe how Mel rides piggyback on her mother, interacts with park workers, and feasts on eucalyptus leaves. An end note tells more about koalas, and a time line of Mel’s development is included.

Koalas— Denise Burt

Published by Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing, 1999

You may love cute, furry koalas, but unless you live in Australia, you’ll never see one in the wild. Why are koalas found only in Australia? This book explains why there are so many marsupials in Australia, describes their habitat in the eucalyptus forest, and tells how they survive in the treetops. Find out about the social lives of koalas, learn about mating habits, and see koala babies grow up. This book also mentions the uncertain future that wild koalas face. Color photographs, a glossary, and an index are included in this title from the “Nature Watch” series.

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Power Words

From The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary and The American Heritage® Children’s Science Dictionary.

drought A long, dry period in which there is unusually low rainfall. Crops and wildlife often suffer during a drought because they can’t get enough water.

habitat The area in which an animal or plant normally lives, such as a rain forest, a pond, or a coral reef. A particular habitat is often home to many different plants and animals. Cactus, lizards, scorpions, and many insects can live in a desert habitat.

marsupial A type of mammal in which the young finish growing and developing outside the mother’s body, attached to her nipple. The females usually have pouches in which the young are carried. Kangaroos, koalas, and opossums are marsupials.

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