Koalas shield themselves from extreme weather events by sheltering in trees different to those they feed on, new research has shown.

Biologists discovered that in order to survive extreme heat and drought, Koalas need the right combination of shelter trees and eucalyptus trees.

The study used GPS signals to track 40 koalas living around farmland in north western New South Wales and found that during hot weather koalas showed a preference for bigger trees with dense foliage, situated in cooler low-lying areas.

The results have implications for preserving koala populations and could impact the development of land management practices.