Unusual cooling way of koalas

Scientists have finally discovered why the koalas often hug trees when the weather is hot. It is essentially a way to cool the unique body of this creature, according to a new study.

Experts from the University of Melbourne (Australia) conducted a study on how koalas regulate their temperature. This is part of a broader study of the impact of climate on terrestrial animals in Australia, which has just undergone an extreme heat wave earlier this year.

Koalas often hug trees when the weather is hot.(Photo: Corbis)

The team found that in the winter, koalas will climb high on trees, near eating leaves. However, in the hot summer, they will move lower and even press their bodies against the bare trunk.

Using thermal cameras, the team discovered that koalas' bizarre behavior is actually a way of cooling their extremely unique body.

The results of measuring the temperature of the trunk revealed, on hot sunny days to 39 degrees Celsius, they were cooler than air to 7 degrees Celsius . "Plants like tools to reduce heat ," explains Dr. Michael Kearney, a research team member.

Mr. Kearney used a thermal camera to take pictures of koalas on a particularly hot day. The pictures show clearly what this creature is doing: The koalas sit on the coolest part of the trunk and their buttocks are pressed against the coolest point.

According to Dr. Kearney, big trees have their own protective 'microclimate' . This system is likely to become increasingly important for living organisms that rely on plants such as koalas, if global temperatures continue to rise.

Images taken with thermal cameras revealed, their bodies hugged with the lowest temperature on the tree.(Photo: BBC)

Another researcher, Dr. Justin Welbergen from James Cook University (Australia), added that thermal images have revealed exactly how animals can conceive of a cooler microclimate in plants. mortar , which helps them maximize their chances of surviving in extreme heat periods.

Welbergen's research has found that 45,000 flying foxes died on a very hot day in southeast Queensland. Flying foxes tried to cope with the extreme heat by spraying saliva on their wings.

According to this expert, hugging the tree also helps the koalas avoid similar dehydration as above. This action allows them to remove heat from the plant and avoid panting.