Koala Time

Kangaroos may get most of the attention, but Australia’s favorite marsupial has got to be the utterly cute koala. Visiting the land down under and not petting one of these furry creatures is simply tragic. These lazy eucalyptus-eating buddies can sleep as much as 18 hours per day and love to hang out on top of trees.

Perhaps for that reason, the koala population is currently declining, with excessive deforestation to blame. More than just cute real-life teddy bears, koalas are also intelligent, curious, and friendly creatures. As a cultural and touristic symbol of Australia, they deserve to be protected.