Koalas are specially adapted to eat gum leaves, or eucalyptus. Other animals do not compete for the koala's food. Koalas occupy a unique niche in the Australian bush ecosystem. Apart from the greater glider, the koala is the only other marsupial which lives almost exclusively on eucalyptus leaves. Koalas get all their nutrients and water requirements from gum leaves. Koalas consume about 200-500 grams of eucalyptus leaves every day, from about a dozen of their "preferred" varieties, in order to meet their energy requirements. Eucalyptus leaves contain approximately 50% water, 18% fibre, 13% tannins, 8% fat, 5% carbohydrates, 4% protein and 2% minerals. Koalas have been known to also eat the buds, flowers and bark of their particular preferred species, while dirt also seems to supplement mi