Show Koala Hear Cear er About Half H If I an Inch Long L ng hen When Born i The koala kOll bear Australia's most ost popular native is a n lovable loable live toy writes write Mason Warner in the I Chicano Chicago Chic l o Tribune He never grows very big The young are arc born in inan inan an In immature state little more than I half halt an inch in length and are car car- carried carried ried led and developed in the mothers mother's pouch for about six months at the end of which time the baby meas meas- measures measures measures ures about six inches in length weighs about six ounces and sports a fine fur coat For three or four months longer the mother carries the cub on her herback herback herback back where it holds on with its arms around her neck or clings to her bosom with her protecting arms around it But the pouch is still used until the young one has grown too big to get into it Maternal care and protection continue till the cub cubis is a year old A mother will hold her infant on her lap and fondle and stroke it in almost human fash lash ion When molested a little one will whimper and cry like a hurt baby The koala reaches maturity at about four years and may live to reach the age of 20 Full grown ones weigh about 30 pounds and measure 24 to 30 inches from tip of nose to where the tail would begin if they had a tail They range in color from dark gray to brown The Australian native bear loves the tall eucalyptus trees and he is adapted to its environment He can climb the smooth trees with ease and grace His powerful limbs and strong sharp claws en en- enable enable enable able him to keep his position aloft unperturbed in the fiercest gales The koala is the personification of indolent leisure He does not move about while the sun is high He sits and sleeps in the crotch of a tree most of the day He apparently be be- becomes becomes becomes comes active only to eat and pre pre- prefers prefers fers to go from the limb of ot one tree to the limb of another rather than descend to the ground |