The main strategy koalas use to cool down in the summer is to put as much of their body along the trunk of a tree. This cools them without losing moisture as panting does. Very important because koalas don't generally drink water so they don't have any to spare on a cooling system. Thank you for the awesome comments and questions on my photos.
@samae it's rare for them to drink free flowing water - the name koala comes from a variety of names the original custodians of this land gave to them, all of which mean 'no water' or 'drought'.
It is one of the things that has them at the top of the list of 'most likely to be hard hit by climate change' - as things become hotter and drier. They need to obtain their water from the leaves they eat, and from rain. So little rain, and the trees throwing their dried up leaves so they survive, is making it really hard for the koala, as if they weren't battling enough issues!
It is one of the things that has them at the top of the list of 'most likely to be hard hit by climate change' - as things become hotter and drier. They need to obtain their water from the leaves they eat, and from rain. So little rain, and the trees throwing their dried up leaves so they survive, is making it really hard for the koala, as if they weren't battling enough issues!