Koala, known as “考拉” in Chinese, is a unique and beloved animal native to Australia. It is one of the most recognizable creatures in the world, often associated with the country’s wildlife. This article provides an English introduction to the koala, followed by its Chinese version, offering a comprehensive understanding of this fascinating animal.

English Introduction:

The koala, scientifically named Phascolarctos cinereus, is a marsupial that lives primarily in the eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia. Despite its name, it is not a bear but a member of the family Phascolarctidae. Koalas are known for their soft, gray fur, large ears, and distinctive facial features that give them a calm and friendly appearance.

One of the most notable characteristics of the koala is its diet. It mainly feeds on the leaves of eucalyptus trees, which are toxic to most other animals. However, koalas have a special digestive system that allows them to process these leaves efficiently. Due to the low nutritional value of eucalyptus leaves, koalas spend up to 20 hours a day sleeping or resting.

Koalas are also known for their slow movement and quiet nature. They rarely move quickly and prefer to stay in one place, usually in the branches of trees. Male koalas mark their territory with scent glands, while females raise their young alone. Baby koalas, called joeys, are born very small and develop inside their mother’s pouch for about six months before they begin to explore the outside world.

Although koalas are not considered endangered, they face threats from habitat loss, climate change, and disease. Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect these gentle animals and ensure their survival for future generations.

中文版：

考拉，中文名為“考拉”，是一種原產(chǎn)于澳大利亞的動物。它是世界上最著名的動物之一，常被看作是澳大利亞野生動物的象征。本文提供一篇關(guān)于考拉的英文介紹，并附上對應(yīng)的中文翻譯，幫助讀者全面了解這種迷人的生物。

英文介紹：

考拉（學(xué)名：Phascolarctos cinereus）是一種有袋類動物，主要生活在澳大利亞東部的桉樹林中。盡管名字中有“熊”字，但它并不是熊，而是屬于袋熊科。考拉以其柔軟的灰色毛發(fā)、大耳朵和獨特的面部特征而聞名，看起來總是平靜而友善。

考拉最顯著的特點之一是它的飲食。它們主要以桉樹葉為食，而這些葉子對大多數(shù)其他動物來說是有毒的。然而，考拉擁有特殊的消化系統(tǒng)，可以高效地處理這些葉子。由于桉樹葉營養(yǎng)含量低，考拉每天要睡上多達(dá)20個小時，或在樹上休息。

考拉行動緩慢，性格安靜。它們很少快速移動，通常喜歡停留在一個地方，一般是在樹的枝條上。雄性考拉會用氣味腺標(biāo)記領(lǐng)地，而雌性則獨自撫養(yǎng)幼崽。小考拉被稱為“幼崽”，出生時非常小，會在母親的育兒袋中發(fā)育約六個月，之后才開始探索外面的世界。

雖然考拉目前并未被列為瀕危物種，但它們正面臨棲息地喪失、氣候變化和疾病等威脅。保護(hù)工作正在持續(xù)進(jìn)行，以確保這些溫順的動物能夠繼續(xù)生存下去，為后代所見。