This behavior is not a sign of low intelligence, but rather extreme specialization. Koalas rely heavily on their sense of smell to determine the toxicity and moisture content of leaves. They are instinctually wired to forage from branches where they can smell the oils and assess the quality.

The internet loves a good meme, and few animals have been meme-ified quite like the koala. If you believe viral posts, the koala is an animal so remarkably unintelligent that it cannot recognize eucalyptus leaves unless they are still attached to a branch. They are painted as lazy, sluggish, and lacking the cognitive capacity to function.