Although they are sometimes colloquially referred to as koala bears, koalas have no relation to bears and are instead a type of marsupial. Koalas are only found in the coastal regions of Australia, primarily on the south side of the continent.
History:
Sadly, koalas were recently listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Their numbers are dramatically dropping in areas like Queensland and New South Wales, although all signs point to their populations still being abundant in Victoria and South Australia. While koalas are protected by many different laws and regulations, they are still threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation.