Are koala bears omnivores?

Are koala bears omnivores?

No. Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are herbivores with a highly specialized leaf diet (folivores), not omnivores. According to the Australian Museum, their diet is made up of the leaves of certain eucalypt species, plus some flowers and stems. They do not eat meat as a regular part of their diet.

Eucalypt leaves are high in fiber and toxins, so koalas rely on a long caecum and specialized gut microbes to digest them. Despite the nickname “koala bear,” they are marsupials, not bears.

Source: Koala — The Australian Museum

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