Koala Bears

Koalas are often called koala bears, probably because they look so cute and cuddly and resemble teddy bears. These animals weigh anywhere from 9 to 29 pounds, and they're about 2 feet tall. While they do have a close resemblance to small bear cubs, koalas aren't bears at all. Koalas are actually marsupials and are more closely related to Australia's kangaroos and wombats. Marsupials have pouches to carry their offspring during early development stages. A baby koala, also known as a joey, is born blind and earless. It grows in the mother's pouch for about six months. After that, the joey rides around on its mother's back for another six months, using its mother's pouch to continue to feed during this time. Joeys are completely blind at birth, and their eyesight doesn't improve too much as they mature. Overall, koalas have poor vision. They aren't entirely blind, but their long-range sight is low. Because of this, these marsupials rely more on other senses to navigate their daily lives.