Koala bears are often synonymous with the regions Down Under, the symbol of a region which has its own unique flora and fauna. For a bear with fur the region can get pretty heated up and despite the thin fur on the body of the Koala, it has to feel the heat waves that frequently hit the area. So what does the Koala bear do to ensure that it doesn’t lose its cool?

Most observing researchers will tell you that the Koala bears will immediately begin to climb trees when a heat wave strikes. A team at the University of Melbourne was trying to figure out why they did this and just how it helped? Apparently each tree has its own micro climate and as the temperatures soar to 104 degrees Fahrenheit the Koala will often take advantage of this mirco climate.

By climbing up and hugging the tree  the Koala is actually opening up its own personal fridge door and letting the cool air in. Thermal images of how temperature is distributed allowed the researchers conducting the science experiment to see that the tree limbs on which the Koala would press down were usually cooler than the surrounding areas by several degrees allowing them to escape the heat wave on the ground.