Behaviour of the Koala, Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss), in CAptivity V*. Sexual Behaviour

Abstract

At the height of the breeding season male koalas frequently attempted copulation. These attempts were often apparently spontaneous, but many followed bellowing or agonistic interactions. Sexual behaviour began at 3 y old in males, except for penile erections, which sometimes occurred in younger males. Males performed no courtship behaviour. Behavioural oestrus was brief, and consisted of four distinct types of activity: jerking, bellowing, mild aggression towards the male, and pseudomale behaviour. Oestrous females could become very excited by the presence of a male, and the four activities were very flexible in their expression. Copulation itself was quite brief and consisted of mounting, thrusting, convulsions, and disengagement. The pair were always in a vertical position in a tree, the male grasping the female's neck in his jaws.