Koalas hug trees to stay cool
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.027983
Science : During hot weather, koalas often wrap themselves around the trunks of acacia trees. Because koalas eat only eucalyptus leaves, scientists were surprised to see them spending so much time in other types of trees. At first, Michael Kearney of the University of Melbourne in Australia and colleagues thought the koalas were simply seeking shade. Through the use of thermal imaging, however, the researchers realized that acacia tree trunks are several degrees cooler than those of other types of trees. Hence they may act as a type of heat sink for koalas. The finding is important for the establishment of koala habitats because it shows that the animals may need a variety of tree species, not just eucalyptus, to thrive.
