It’s tough to wake mom when she sleeps 18-22 hours a day! Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are marsupials native to Australia. They are found in coastal areas of the mainland's eastern and southern regions, and eat eucalyptus leaves almost exclusively. Koalas give birth to underdeveloped young that crawl into their mothers' pouch, where they stay for the first six to seven months. The joey continues to nurse for up to a year. Photo: 300mm lens at Sydney Zoo.