Koala Diet and Food

Information about what koalas eat and their diets.

Koalas feed on only milk for the first 6 months of their lives within their mothers' pouches. After 30 weeks, they begin to eat a semi-liquid form of their mother's excrement known as pap. From there up until 12 months of age, they feed on milk and gum leaves.

Once koalas are out on their own, their diet consists of primarily eucalyptus leaves. These are low in protein, high with indigestible substances, and have phenolic and terpene compounds which are toxic to most other animals. Average koalas eat 500 grams of eucalyptus leaves every day. Some favorite eucalyptus leaf "flavors" are: Manna Gum, Blue Gum, Swamp Gum, Grey Gum, Tallowwood, and River Red Gum.