Koalas at San Diego Zoo — Live Webcam Streaming Online

Meet the San Diego Zoo Koalas

This live webcam offers a view of one of the most unique corners of the San Diego Zoo — the koala enclosure. These fluffy gray-brown animals, resembling teddy bears, spend their days on eucalyptus branches, barely moving. The real-time camera allows you to observe their leisurely lifestyle from anywhere in the world.

The San Diego Zoo in California holds a special place among the world's zoological institutions. Located in Balboa Park, it has become home to more than 3,500 animals of various species. But it is the koalas that are the true stars here, with nearly a century of history.

How Koalas Came to San Diego

The history of koalas at the San Diego Zoo began in 1925, when the first two koalas arrived as a gift from the children of Sydney (Australia) to the children of San Diego. They were named Snugglepot and Cuddlepie — after characters from the famous Australian children's story by May Gibbs. This gesture of friendship between the two cities launched one of the most successful koala care programs outside of Australia.

Today, the San Diego Zoo boasts the largest colony of koalas outside of Australia and the most successful breeding program for these marsupials in the world. In 2025, the institution celebrated 100 years of koala conservation — a century since the arrival of the first two animals.

Koala Enclosure: Design and Habitat

The koala enclosure at the San Diego Zoo features six separate open-air enclosures, each designed for maximum animal comfort. Inside, dead tree trunks are installed for climbing, and special canopies with perforated steel roofs create shade and protect from the scorching California sun.

The Queenslander-style structure serves as the koala care center — from here, zoo staff monitor the animals' condition and health. The enclosure houses at least one male koala, with a total population of no fewer than seven individuals. Wooden logs and structures mimic the natural habitat, allowing koalas to maintain their usual lifestyle.

Eucalyptus Diet: Tons of Leaves Every Day

The diet of koalas at the San Diego Zoo is a story in itself. Each koala is offered 25 pounds (about 11.3 kg) of fresh eucalyptus daily. However, each koala eats only about 1.5 pounds (about 680 g) of that amount. The rest goes toward creating bedding and environmental enrichment.

Eucalyptus for the koalas is delivered from special plantations. The zoo collaborates with California farmers who grow various species of eucalyptus to ensure dietary variety. Koalas are extremely picky eaters — they recognize different species of eucalyptus and choose those with fewer toxins and more moisture.

Sleep, a Bit More Sleep, and Eucalyptus

Watching the koalas on this live webcam, don't be surprised if the animals seem motionless. Koalas at the San Diego Zoo sleep 18 to 22 hours a day — more than cats. This is due to their low-calorie diet: eucalyptus leaves contain little energy, and the koala's body conserves it through prolonged sleep.

Periods of activity occur during morning and evening hours, when koalas wake up to eat, move to another branch, or simply look around. During the day and at night, they usually sleep, curled up in the fork of a tree. This is why the koala webcam is interesting at any time of day — even a sleeping animal is endearing.

Koala Joeys: Joy and Care

The birth of a koala joey at the San Diego Zoo is always an event. The baby, called a joey, is born the size of a bean and immediately crawls into its mother's pouch. There it spends about six months before starting to peek out.

The zoo has successfully raised several joeys, including a baby named Inala — the first joey born here in two years. And the story of a joey named Omeo touched many hearts: he was orphaned at 5.5 months old when his mother died of cancer. Zoo staff provided him with round-the-clock care using an artificial pouch and gradually introduced him to other koalas, teaching him socialization and climbing.

Why You Should Watch Koalas Online

The San Diego Zoo koala webcam is a rare opportunity to see these animals in an environment as close to natural as possible. Unlike zoos with cramped enclosures, here koalas live in spacious open areas with natural vegetation.

The camera operates in real time, allowing you to watch the koalas at any time. You can see them sleeping on branches, leisurely chewing eucalyptus leaves, or moving around the enclosure. It's a meditative spectacle that helps you escape the daily hustle and bustle.

What You Can See on the Camera

On this webcam, you can see the San Diego Zoo's koala enclosure. On a tree branch, surrounded by wooden logs and structures, sits a koala — a fluffy gray-brown animal with characteristic large ears and a round head. All around is lush green vegetation: trees, shrubs, and eucalyptus foliage.

The wooden log structure mimics the natural habitat of koalas, providing the animals with plenty of opportunities for climbing and resting. Elements of the Queenslander-style structure are visible — a central building from which paths extend to different parts of the enclosure. The camera transmits images in real time, allowing you to watch the koalas as if you were standing right in front of the enclosure at the San Diego Zoo.