Koalas' Social Behavior

Koalas have their own unique social behaviors and lifestyle. Even though koalas are considered as the solitary animals yet still one way or another they do exhibit unique aspects of their own social behaviors. When an animal or organism interacts with another animal or organism of the same species, this interaction comes within the context of social behavior. Therefore; the social behavior of the koalas will highlight its interactions as a whole with other koalas.

Koalas possess a unique degree of social behavior which can be categorized on the basis of their vocalization, territorial interactions, scent marking, breeding and maternal life.

Based on these interactions, the social behavior of the koalas can be categorized on the basis of the vocalization, territory sharing, scent marking, breeding and maternal life. A brief explanation about each of these social behaviors will understand the overall lifestyle of the koalas which is rather obscure to the rest of the world.

Koalas' Social Behavior
Koalas have a very unique social behavior and it can be categorized on the basis of their vocalization, territory management, mating behavior and maternal behavior etc. Photo courtesy of  

Koalas have
Unique Social Behavior Social Behavior
Same Species' Interaction Social Behavior of Communication
Koalas' Vocalization Social Behavior of Dominance
Territory Management by Dominant Male Social Behavior with Babies
Maternal Interaction with Koala Joeys Social Behavior of Identity
Scent Marking of Koalas Reproductive Social Behavior
Successful Mating of Koalas

Koalas' eating behavior is unique.
Koala only Eats Eucalyptus Leaves. Koalas possess a real unique eating behavior. This Picture belongs to  

Vocalization is the basic social behavior among the koalas to communicate with one another. Koalas vocalize for about 15 minutes per day on average. Vocalization helps the koalas to not only stay connected with their community but also to manage their lifestyle as well. For example, a male koala uses loud vocalizations to announce his territorial dominance within the area over the other males. This way the other males know that a certain area is dominated by a particular koala and whether they should avoid him or challenge him for the crown.

Vocalization is one form of a social behavior among the koalas which helps them to communicate with one another. Vocalization is most common among the dominant male koalas, koala mothers and the koala joeys.

This social behavior is very common during the breeding season. During a one on one fight the male koalas make louder grunts to scare off the rival. Similarly; a koala joey makes squeaking vocalizations, if it feels threatened or loses her mother for a time being. The mother responds and gets back to her joey to secure it. Female koalas Koalas don't vocalize much and only vocalize when feel threatened.

Koalas Social Behavior includes Vocalization
Vocalization is a core social behavior of koalas through which they communicate with one another. Photo courtesy of  

Koalas' Vocalization
Koalas Communication Average Koala Vocalization
15 Minutes Male Koalas
Loud Vocalizations Koala Joeys
squeaking Vocalizations Female Koalas
Self-Defense Vocalizations

Koalas' Social Behavior.
Koalas' Social Behavior is highly unique as compared to the rest of the marsupial and arboreal animals. This Picture is specifically used with the permission of its owner  

Territory management is a very common social behavior among the koalas. Usually the dominant male koala manages its territory and in its territory he may have as many females as possible. The dominant male makes sure that no other male koala enters this territory. He either scares him away or fight him off. Female koalas in this territory under the dominant male tend to live a solitary life.

Usually the male koalas manage and establish their own territories and may have many solitary females within this territory. Female koalas tolerate their juvenile daughters in their territories while juvenile sons are forced out.

Female koalas are mostly tolerant to other female koalas. Under droughts both male and female koalas may also battle with one another to get the greenest tree. Females usually tolerate their daughters (when they grow up)within their territories but they expel their juvenile sons out of the territory. This also prevents inner breeding within koalas' social lifestyle.

Koalas Social Behavior of Territory Management
Dominant Male Koalas adapt a social behavior of the territory management. It expels any intruding male koala in its territory. Photo courtesy of  

Territory Management
Koalas' Social Behavior Dominate Male
Dominates the Territory One Territory
One Male with many Solitary Females Female Koalas
Tolerate Daughters in Territory Female Koalas
Expel Sons from Territory

Koalas' Scent Marking Behavior.
Koalas' Scent marking behavior is rather similar with other male Mammals as well. Just like many other males, scent making within koalas always serve as marking and territory ownership etc. This Picture is specifically displayed with the permission of its owner 

Scent marking is another social behavior among the koalas. This social behavior is very common within the dominant male koalas. Male koalas exhibit this social behavior to mark their territory and dominance within the area. Every male koala has its own smell of the scent. Therefore; a male koala understands territorial information on the basis of the scent. Male koalas excrete scent from their chest.

Scent making is another social behavior which is very common among the male koalas. The dominant male not only marks its territory but also send warnings to the rival males through this scent.

The secretion area which secretes the scent is clearly visible within the chest of the adult male koalas and it is called also the sternal gland area. If an intruding male koala ignores the scent warnings of the dominant male in the area, it means a one on one battle is likely to take place between the dominant male and the challenger. Female koalas when in heat have their own unique scent and the adult male koalas pick the females' scent for mating.

Koalas Social Behavior of Scent Marking the trees
In order to keep their identity known, the koalas scent mark the trees within their territories as part of their social behavior. Photo courtesy of  

Scent Marking
Key Social Behavior Dominant Male Koala
Scent Marks its Territory Male Koala Scent
Excretes through the Sternal Gland Each Koala
Unique Smell of Scent Scent Marking
Keeps Rival Males Away Female Koalas
Produce Scent for Mating

Koalas behavioral lifestyle.
Koalas Lifestyle typically represents their Behavior. This Picture belongs to 

One of the key social behavior which ensures the future generations of the koalas is their breeding and mating behavior. This is perhaps the most important social behavior for the koalas and in fact for all the living beings on the planet earth. Male koalas are capable of breeding from the age of 18 months. Females are capable of breeding from their second year and onwards. Usually the dominant male breeds during the breeding season.

Male koalas are capable of mating at the age of 18 months. Female koalas successfully breed with the male koalas from their second year onwards.

However; non-dominant males are also able to mate successfully as well. Female koalas are usually reluctant to mate with the male koalas and a fight breaks out. It is common for the male koalas to have failed mating attempts with the female koalas. The mating intercourse period lasts for one minute usually and they usually do the sexual intercourse three times. After the mating, the male koala leaves quickly.

Koalas Social Behavior of Mating and Breeding
Mating and Breeding is an important social behavior of Koalas' life because it ensures the survival of the species. Photo courtesy of  

Koalas' Mating
Key Social Behavior Male Koalas
Capable of Mating at 18 months Female Koalas
Starts Mating from 2nd Year Dominant Male Koalas
Successfuly Mates Mating Interval
1 Minute Normal Mating
3 Times

Koalas have solitary behavior.
Koalas possess a highly solitary behavior. They live alone throughout their lives. A mother Koala Joey leaves its mother at the age of 11 to 13 months. This picture specifically belongs to 

Lastly; another most important and the most adorable social behavior of the koalas include the maternal behavior. Male Koalas make no part in raising the cubs, therefore; the maternal behavior is all in all associated with the female koalas. After the birth; the koala joey completely stays inside its mother's pouch for at least 6 months. Onwards; it comes out of the pouch and starts learning about the world around it.

In maternal social behavior, a koala joey stays completely inside its mother's pouch for almost 6 months. Onwards; when it comes out it stays with its mother at the age of 18 months and sometimes 24 months.

Occasionally; a koala joey also plays with its mother like a puppy. When the koala joey becomes bigger, it clings at the back of its mother most of the time because pouch is too small for it. Often other juvenile koalas allow the koala joeys on their back as well. Juvenile koalas usually stay with their mothers until they become 18 months older. Onwards they live on their own, thereby living a solitary lifestyle.

Maternal Behavior
Koala Joey and its Mother's Social Behavior Koala Joey Stays Inside Pouch
6 Months Juvenile Koala
Clings on its Mother's Back Other Juvenile Koalas
Tolerant to Koala Joeys

Maternal Social Behavior of the Kaola mother and its Joey.
Maternal Social Behavior invovles a mother's care for the little koala joey for more than a year.