Australia Zoo Welcomes First Koala Joey of the Season as Queenie’s Baby Emerges
By Animals Correspondent
Australia Zoo is delighted to announce the first koala joey of the season has officially emerged from her mother’s pouch.
Queenie, one of the adult koalas at Australia Zoo, has welcomed a healthy female joey who is now beginning to explore her surroundings and settle into her new home.
Queenie’s joey is one of eight young koalas recently born at Australia Zoo, with several tiny joeys now starting to peek out from their mothers’ pouches for the first time.
Koalas generally give birth to a single joey, roughly the size of a jellybean.
The joey develops safely inside its mother’s pouch for around six months before gradually emerging. After leaving the pouch, young koalas spend another four to six months riding on their mother’s belly or back before becoming more independent.
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Australia Zoo continues to play an important role in koala conservation through its dedicated breeding program, helping establish a healthy insurance population for the species as wild numbers continue to decline.
Wildlife conservationist Terri Irwin said:
“Koalas were classed as an endangered species in 2022, and face many threats in the wild, including habitat loss, vehicle collisions, domestic pet attacks, and disease. Our team’s efforts to build a healthy population of koalas at Australia Zoo are critical to ensuring this iconic species survives for generations to come.”
The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, a world-class rehabilitation facility and flagship project of Wildlife Warriors, also provides critical care for sick, injured, and orphaned koalas, helping many return to the wild.
Koalas rely on a highly specialised diet of eucalyptus leaves, with individual animals favouring different species.
To support the growing koala population, Australia Zoo maintains extensive eucalyptus plantations that provide a sustainable supply of fresh leaf for both resident koalas and those recovering at the Wildlife Hospital. More than 16,500 trees have recently been planted to help secure a long-term food source.
“Conservation is at the heart of everything we do here at Australia Zoo. We are delighted to share these beautiful animals with our visitors and hope that they will be inspired to support our mission to protect them for future generations,” said Terri.
Visitors can see the adorable koalas at Australia Zoo and learn more about conservation initiatives by visiting Australia Zoo’s official website.
