Koalas are marsupials, not bears. They spend most of their lives sleeping and feeding exclusively on eucalyptus leaves. Finding them requires knowing their geographical and institutional locations.
Koala Native Range in Australia
The koala’s natural distribution is confined to the eastern and southeastern coastal regions of mainland Australia. This broad range covers parts of four main states: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. The populations are not continuous but are instead fragmented due to the koala’s specialized dependence on specific eucalyptus forest and woodland habitats.
They possess a specialized digestive system that helps them detoxify the compounds in these leaves, which are toxic to most other animals. Because eucalyptus leaves offer little nutritional value, koalas conserve energy by sleeping for up to 20 hours a day, making them challenging to spot in the wild. The range extends from the Atherton Tableland in northern Queensland down to the islands off the coast of Victoria and South Australia.
Koalas in the southern part of this range, such as Victoria, tend to be larger and heavier than those in the north. While koala populations in Queensland and New South Wales are currently listed as endangered, populations in Victoria and South Australia are considered stable and in some areas have even led to overpopulation concerns.
Reliable Viewing at Australian Wildlife Parks and Reserves
Managed Sanctuaries
For visitors seeking a reliable koala sighting, Australia offers managed environments that guarantee close-up views. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Queensland, is the world’s oldest and largest koala sanctuary, hosting over 100 koalas. The Koala Conservation Reserve on Phillip Island in Victoria provides elevated boardwalks that allow visitors to view koalas at eye level as they perch in their natural habitat.
Wild and Protected Areas
Seeing koalas in truly wild settings often requires visiting specific, protected areas known for dense populations. Kangaroo Island in South Australia is a significant haven where koalas can be found in the wild at sites like Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. On Raymond Island in Victoria, a dedicated Koala Trail allows visitors a high probability of spotting the approximately 250 wild koalas that inhabit the area. Along the New South Wales coast, the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary offers a protected environment, often caring for sick or injured koalas in its hospital. In northern Queensland, Magnetic Island holds the largest koala population in the region, with the Forts Walk providing a reliable trail for spotting them in their natural habitat.
Koala Presence in International Zoos
Koalas are relatively rare in international zoos due to the complexity of meeting their specialized dietary needs. Maintaining a koala colony requires a continuous supply of fresh eucalyptus leaves, which must be grown locally or imported frequently, making their care expensive and logistically difficult.
The San Diego Zoo in the United States is famous for having the largest koala colony and most successful breeding program outside of Australia, having housed the species since 1925. Other North American facilities, such as Brookfield Zoo Chicago, are among the few accredited zoological institutions in the continent that have the resources to care for them. These facilities often partner with Australian conservation programs to support global species management.
In Europe, the number of institutions with koalas is also small, with only around 70 koalas housed across the continent. Zoos like ZooParc de Beauval in France and Ouwehands Dierenpark in the Netherlands participate in international breeding efforts. These programs maintain genetic diversity and raise awareness of the koala’s vulnerable status in the wild.