Koala Walking Along a Thick Branch in Soft Light

A grey koala walks along a heavy, deeply furrowed branch, its head turned slightly toward the camera. The fur is thick and silvery, with a cream chest and big white-fringed ears that catch the light, and a dark, leathery nose stands out against the pale face. Behind it the forest dissolves into a soft green blur, with a few leaves tinged orange at the left and trunks fading into shadow. The mood is calm and unhurried, and the sharp focus on the face keeps attention on the animal.

Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are marsupials native to eastern Australia, and they spend most of their lives in eucalyptus trees. They eat mainly eucalyptus leaves, which are low in energy, so they sleep many hours a day and move slowly. They do come down and walk or climb between trees, as this one is doing. Strong limbs and sharp claws help them grip bark. This image was taken at Zoo Duisburg in Germany. The landscape format and the dark, uncluttered right side suit widescreen desktop monitors, where icons can sit over the blurred background without covering the face.

More like this: Grizzly Walking Through Misty Yellowstone Meadow.