Koalas

These cute and cuddly animals are usually high up in a tree out of harm's way but they do occasionally come down and walk around (usually at dusk). Being tree climbing animals they have strong arms and long, sharp claws which can make a koala with an attitude far from cuddly. You could liken them to a climbing wombat I suppose.

The other great attribute of the koala is it's call and the first time you hear one in the wild you expect to see a big mean animal standing about 1m at the shoulders come out of the bushes at you.

Koalas main attraction to tourists are from places that allow "cuddling" of koalas. Some states have now banned this practise because of the stress it causes the animals and some places have "controlled" cuddling. If you want to cuddle a koala go into the bush and find one... at least then it will stand a fighting chance (i.e.. it will probably be sleeping high in a tree while it's captive counterparts are posing for tourists cameras).