Koala bears – those cute little fuzzy creatures, half squirrel, half bear, half something else from down under. Every zoo wants some, until now.

It costs more to feed six koalas at Osaka’s Tennoji Zoo than to feed the rest of the zoo’s animals put together. That comes to Y92million ($950,000) a year to feed them or $160,000 each per year = $450/day per animal. And the Tennoji Zoo spends Y85 million on all the other animals it cares for.

The fuzzy wuzzies feast on Eucalyptus trees which are cultivated in only seven locations in Japan. Hey! I have one in my front yard!

Koalas apparently only eat about 50 eucalyptus species, introduced to them by their mothers when they are still in their mother’s pouches.

It all boils down to how much zoo visitors are willing to shell out to see the little rascals and whether or not it adds up to the cost to feed and care for them.

After all, it’s always about the money. Isn’t it?

Images by FrankMaurer, jcolman, alumroot

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Talk about survival of the fittest? There is one Koala in Australia that took on a car, got his head stuck in the grill and still came out a survivor. Could he be on television? A car hit the 8-years old bear at high speed, the bear got his head stuck in the grill of the car and went for a ride for 12km (7.4 miles). We’re thinking he lost a few years while zoom zoom zooming down the road. Still he’s alive.

“To have him survive and virtually unscathed is quite miraculous,” Australian Wildlife Hospital spokeswoman Carolyn Beaton said.

It’s the season for koalas to be on the move and drivers down under are being asked to drive with particular caution when in koala habitat areas. The bear, now nicknamed “Ely ‘Lucky’ Grills” was freed with a pair of scissors after hanging on with one arm and his head stuck. When the driver stopped at a railway station, he was cut loose.

Lucky, who might be better nicknamed Look-before-you-cross-the-road is recovering in a hospital. “Whilst Lucky was in shock, he quickly recovered and was nearly better after a couple of hours rest and a feed,” she said.