It is Allah who has created the koala with its flawless features. The koala does not drink water, for it feeds entirely on eucalyptus leaves.

Animals have various miraculous features and each one of them is a miracle of creation. One of these animals is the koala. The koala feeding on eucalyptus leaves has various splendid features that ensure a comfortable life for it on trees.

The bodily design of the koala, a native of Australia, has flawless details, that it needs in the kind of environment it lives. For instance, its limbs and claws ensure an easy climb to eucalyptus trees with wide trunks. The two fingers in its forepaws are separate from its other three fingers. When compared with the human hand, it can be said that the koala has two thumbs. These thumbs, which are quite different from other fingers, allows the koala to grip more securely.

Four of the limbs of the koala, with its claws that can stick into the soft and smooth trunks of trees like a hook, grasp tree branches with ease as if we grasp a stick, and render a comfortable climb for the koala.

A Miniature Bio-chemical Plant

Eucalyptus leaves have a very high fibre and low protein content. These leaves are rich in strong odorous oil and materials similar to cyanide that are inedible and even poisonous for many mammals. These materials, which are poisonous for other animals, lose their poisonous effect when it comes to the koala’s body, for the koala is equipped with a digestive system having a very special anatomy and physiology.

Just as in the case of other herbivorous mammals, the koala cannot digest cellulose, the major component of eucalyptus. However, this task is accomplished by cellulose-digesting micro-organisms in the cecum of the koala. The koala’s cecum, which is quite long, opens to a large intestine.The cecum is the most interesting part of the koala’s digestive system. The access of the leaves to the digestive system is delayed right at this point. Thanks to this delay, the micro-organisms in the cecum transform the cellulose into a structure from which the koala can benefit. With this structure, the koala’s cecum can be likened to a bio-chemical plant. While cellulose is being treated in this plant, oil and phenolic combinations, which are poisonous chemicals are rendered ineffective in the liver.

As is known, the unique food of the koala is eucalyptus leaves. This means, the animal meets its carbohydrate requirements entirely by cellulose digested by micro-organisms. In the absence of micro-organisms, it is obvious that the koala cannot survive.

Allah is aware of all the needs of the living-beings. He creates them perfectly. Such examples prove Allah’s infinite power to us.

The Koala and the Balance of Water

In the language of Aborigines, the Australian natives, the word “koala” means “the one who does not drink water.” Indeed, the koala does not drink water, for it feeds entirely on eucalyptus leaves. The eucalyptus leaves have a water content of around 40% to 65%. This ratio never drops below 40% because plants with less than 40% water content dry up and die. Thanks to this feature, eucalyptus leaves provide the necessary amount of water to the koala. The system in the kidneys that checks water loss of the koala’s body has a flawless design. Yet, what is more important is the fact that the digestive system of the koala has the feature of holding water. This way, only a small amount of the water is thrown out from the koala’s body. . If the digestive system of the koala lacked this feature, then the animal had to be down on earth, in constant search for water.

The Koala’s Protective Fur

The main factor that determines the koala’s body temperature is its fur. The fur is created in a way to ensure perfect heat insulation: The intensity of feathers in the fur may reach around 55 feathers per square millimeter. The fur on the back of the animal covers 77% of the body surface. The feathers on the stomach, on the other hand, are only half as intensive as the back fur, and it covers only 13% of the body surface.

The length of feathers changes from season to season. In summer, the difference between long feathers and short ones becomes even more. On windy days, the koalas on trees give only their middle-backs against the wind, and they curl-up into the shape of a ball. As the intensity of the wind increases, they bend their ears forward. This way, none of their limbs becomes vulnerable to the air stream. The back fur of the koala has the highest grade of insulation.

All of these features are required for the survival of an animal such as the koala that lives on trees. Could it be that these features, which are essential for the survival of the koala, have come into existence by chance, as evolutionists assert?

No. It is Allah who has created the koala with its flawless features. Allah reveals His infinite compassion and mercy through these features He grants to all living beings. Our Lord informs us about the miracles He creates in living beings as follows:

“And in the creation of yourselves and the fact that animals are scattered through the earth, are Signs for those of assured faith.”

(Surah Al-Jathiya: Verse : 4)

quran & Environment