Koalas
The male koalas are kept on one side of the exhibit, and the females on the other. Furthermore, the males are separated from each other, as they are typically a solitary animal and tend to fight amongst one another. This is the male enclosure.
Currently, there are seven males on exhibit.
Each koala gets its own "koala klimber" which provides shade, food, and most importantly, a comfy spot to sleep. Koalas sleep nearly 20 hours a day. The reason for this is that eucalyptus leaves provide very few calories and are difficult to digest. Thus, koalas live a very sedentary life.
So the majority of the time, you'll find the koalas sleeping... typically waking up to grab a quick snack, and then settling back to sleep. Being nocturnal, they are more active at night, when the zoo is closed. So it's hit and miss as to whether you'll see much activity during your visit to the exhibit.
At the opposite side of the Queenslander House is the female enclosure.
Here are the girls.
Sometimes you'll be lucky to see a young koala with its mother, called a joey. This joey is approaching adulthood, so he is becoming more independent and can be found more on his own, away from mom.
The next group of photos are of the females, as they seem to be a bit more active than the males, plus the sun is in a better spot to photograph them.
This "koala tree" sits near the female enclosure and allows kids to climb up with the koalas, providing a nice photo spot.
Koalas are in serious decline suffering from the effects of habitat destruction, domestic dog attacks, bushfires and road accidents. They are currently listed as "vulnerable" but many organizations believe their status should be elevated to "endangered". Due to the San Diego Zoo's conservation efforts over the years, the zoo has become famous for having the largest koala colony and the most successful breeding program outside of Australia.
