(MELBOURNE, Australia) -- We’ve all seen the koala bear hugging those trees. Ever wonder why?
According to a new study from the University of Melbourne in Australia, and published in the June 2 issue of Biology Letters, koala bears hug trees to help regulate their body temperatures on hot days. Thermal images show the koala bear, glowing yellow, is “hot” and the tree, dark purple, is “cool.” The trunk, therefore, serves as a sort of air conditioning unit for the animal.
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio