In today’s instalment of much-needed wholesome news: An Australian zoo is celebrating the birth of the first koala joey since the devastating bushfires that ravaged the country and destroyed much of the wild koala population in early 2020 and late 2019.
Footage of the joey, who was actually born in January — baby koalas don’t typically poke their heads out of the mothers’ pouches until they are about five or six months old — was shared to the wildlife sanctuary’s social media channels.
“We have a very special announcement… Our very first koala of the season has popped out of Mum’s pouch to say hello!” the park announced on their Facebook page on May 27.
“Keepers have decided to name her Ash! Ash is … a sign of hope for the future of Australia’s native wildlife.”
Check out the video below to meet sweet baby Ash.
“Ash represents the start of what we’re hoping to be another successful breeding season,” Dan Rumsey, Australian Reptile Park Zookeeper, told the media.
“It was such an incredible moment when we saw Ash poke her head out of her mum’s pouch for the first time!
“Ash is estimated to be five months old and is right on track to be emerging from the pouch for the first time.”
Ash’s emergence symbolises hope for the growth of Australia’s wild koala population. March 2020 reports revealed that around 5,000 koalas in New South Wales alone are likely to have died in the catastrophic fires that destroyed more than 2.5 million acres of land.
Along with Ash’s arrival, there have been other positive signs for our beloved native animal.
In March, it was also reported that some of the koalas who were taken into zoo care after suffering in the fires have been since been released back into the wild, with more to be released in the future.
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