Darcy Watchorn works for Zoos Victoria, a not-for-profit zoo-based conservation organisation. Suddenly, it lifts its head. I sit up straight, pen poised to record what happens. But the koala simply yawns and resumes the blob position. I sigh and take another sip of tea. Why am I doing this? To research the social behaviour of koalas and hopefully learn more about what they do at night, when they are most active.
After many nights, and many sips of tea, I witness something truly unexpected: male koalas engaging in affectionate behaviours with each other, such as play and grooming.
I was shocked. Adult koalas are normally solitary, so observations such as this are exceedingly rare. My new research paper presents these findings.
It provides the most detailed account of these behaviours to date, and offers a unique glimpse into how social dynamics between koalas may change when they are forced to live in close quarters. Most animals exhibit some type of social behaviour. These can include mating, vocalising to communicate, or defending their territory.
But some highly social, group-living animals — such as wolves , primates and dolphins — will also display friendly and peaceful acts between individuals, such as grooming each other and playing. Adult koalas, though, are generally solitary except, obviously, when mating. They are usually widely spread over an area and rarely come face-to-face, instead interacting over long distances by vocalising and leaving their scent.
