2020-08-13 Thu

The cute tree climbing bears, Koala is a paradigmatic Australian mammal. Fuzzy Koala hairs are like the coarse wool of sheep. They have 2 opposing thumbs and 2 fused toes with rough pads. So that they can easily climb and grab branches with their claws. They used fused toes to comb their hairs.

Koalas are herbivorous and reside in the eucalyptus forests of southeastern and eastern Australia. They perform two types of activities for the whole day- eating and sleeping. They can sleep 18 to 22 hours a day.

During the late 19th and early 20th century, they became a victim of hunting for their fur which resulted in a sharp drop in their population. Also, land clearing, logging, bushfires, and global warming are making their number more vulnerable.

In order to preserve the natural heritage and at the same time to create awareness about Koala, the Australian government issued stamps and miniature sheets on 12th May 1994.

Visit philamart to view and purchase variety of stamps from all over the world.

Image Courtesy: Stampsoftheworld.co.uk