Phascolarctidae – Koala

Fluffy ears, spoon-shaped nose, chill attitude, and a loveable face – meet the iconic koalas

When it comes to the most adored and loveable animals, koalas are up at the top, right there with pandas, puppies, and whatnot. Native to Australia, they play an integral role in maintaining forest health, and you know how they do so? Sleeping more than 20 hours a day and defecating all the time keeps the forest-floor nutrient-rich where plants can grow.

But sadly, being iconic and saving the forests is still not a reason enough to leave these innocent animals alone. Hundreds of thousands were shot dead for the fur trade in the past, and now they are facing yet another threat – deforestation & wildfires: humans keen on destroying the places they literally help bring to life!