Australia rocked by 'lesbian' koala revelation

**LilSel** · 27th February 2007, 07:57

Australia rocked by 'lesbian' koala revelation
11:00AM Sunday February 25, 2007
By Roger Dobson
Female koalas indulge in lesbian "sex sessions", rejecting male suitors and attempting to mate with each other, sometimes up to five at a time, according to researchers.

The furry, eucalyptus-eating creatures appear to develop this tendency for same-sex liaisons when they are in captivity. In the wild, they remain heterosexual.

Scientists monitoring the marsupials with digital cameras counted three homosexual interactions for every heterosexual one.

"Some females rejected the advances of males that were in their enclosures, only to become willing participants in homosexual encounters immediately after," say the researchers.

"On several occasions more than one pair of females shared the same pole, and multiple females mounted each other simultaneously. At least one multiple encounter involved five female koalas.

"One theory put forward by the researchers is that the females do it to attract males; another is that it is simply hormonal, or that it is a stress reliever.

Scientists from the University of Queensland studied 130 koalas in captivity and will publish their results in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

"Our aim was to determine the extent of differences in the homosexual and heterosexual behaviour of female koalas and thereby to determine the purpose of female homosexual behaviour in the koala," say the researchers.

"Wild koalas brought into captivity clearly display homosexual behaviour on a regular basis. A total of 15 heterosexual and 43 homosexual interactions were recorded in separate animals. Homosexual behaviour was restricted to females only. Heterosexual encounters were typically twice as long as homosexual encounters," they add.

GO THE KOALA'S!!!!

**placidfemme** · 27th February 2007, 08:01

Originally Posted by LilSel

"One theory put forward by the researchers is that the females do it to attract males"

LOL thats what they tell straight men too...

**LilSel** · 27th February 2007, 08:15

Originally Posted by placidfemme

LOL thats what they tell straight men too...

LOL.... I thought it was an 'interesting article' lol

**Wolf** · 27th February 2007, 08:16

Now you've done it, half the blokes on KB will be racing off to the University of Queensland to ogle at the Lesbian Action.

Anyone heard from The Dover or WT this morning?

**ManDownUnder** · 27th February 2007, 08:22

Just an observation but the tendency seems to be true of humans too... Women tend to have a greater propenstiy to be Homosexual (Lesbian) or Bi tha guys.

Not sure if it's social conditioning (i.e. it's "less acceptable to guys than women") or genetic.... or my observation could be somewhat biased...

Just my 5c.

**MSTRS:Me** · 27th February 2007, 08:52

Originally Posted by LilSel

The furry, eucalyptus-eating creatures appear to develop this tendency for same-sex liaisons when they are in captivity. In the wild, they remain heterosexual.

That's funny....ever been 'inside'? (and yes, I do realise...)

**LilSel** · 27th February 2007, 08:58

Originally Posted by MSTRS

That's funny....ever been 'inside'? (and yes, I do realise...)

Been 'Inside' Plenty....

.... Jail??... No..

lol

**ManDownUnder** · 27th February 2007, 09:03

Originally Posted by LilSel

Been 'Inside' Plenty....

.... Jail??... No..

lol

so much in common...

edit - I like KB... it just told me to spread meself around some more... WOO HOO!

**jrandom** · 27th February 2007, 12:08

I think that about the only thing one can take from the above article is that, well... koalas just ain't that smart.

**Guitana** · 27th February 2007, 12:49

This is why Koalas get the clap!!! Dirty filthy little tree huggers!!!

**Maha** · 27th February 2007, 12:56

I was a Koala in a former life and let em tell you......being 'tweaked' by Katie Koala at number 7 Blue Gum Dr wasnt all to unpleasent, but much perferred Park Ranger BOB......

**Fatjim** · 27th February 2007, 13:23

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

Just an observation but the tendency seems to be true of humans too... Women tend to have a greater propenstiy to be Homosexual (Lesbian) or Bi tha guys.

Not sure if it's social conditioning (i.e. it's "less acceptable to guys than women") or genetic.... or my observation could be somewhat biased...

Just my 5c.

I thought all women were lesbians?

**Toaster** · 27th February 2007, 13:28

Originally Posted by Wolf

Now you've done it, half the blokes on KB will be racing off to the University of Queensland to ogle at the Lesbian Action.

Anyone heard from The Dover or WT this morning?

Apparently they are getting frisked at the airport on their way to see the little gay teddybears.