Why do koalas sleep so much?
For grown-ups: the science
Koalas sleep a lot to save energy because eucalyptus leaves do not give them much energy.
Koalas have a low-energy diet made mostly of eucalyptus foliage, which is fibrous and contains plant chemicals that require specialized digestion. They conserve energy through long periods of sleep and rest, often around 18–20 hours daily, though this varies with weather, age, and activity.
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Transcript
A koala is curled in a tree, snoozing through the day. Why does it sleep so much?
Koalas mostly eat eucalyptus leaves from trees. These leaves do not give them much energy.
Their bodies work hard and slowly to digest the leaves. Resting helps them save energy.
A koala may sleep or rest for 18 to 20 hours in a day. Then it wakes up to eat and move around.
So koalas sleep a lot because their leafy food gives them only a little energy.