First Koala Joey of 2021 Emerges at Australian Reptile Park

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: August 6, 2021 2:05 am

Tippi, the first koala joey to emerge from mum’s pouch at the Australian Reptile Park this breeding season eats a gum leaf

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

The Australian Reptile Park have announced a successful breeding season for their koala population with six joeys detected. Eldest joey Tippi is now beginning to spend time outside of her mother’s pouch and had her first health check this week.

At her check-up she was confirmed to be in great health with all her physical characteristics in top condition. She has started to sample gum leaves which form the entire diet of the koala.

Tippi weighed in at 357g (12.6oz). Due to her small size she was weighed in a salad bowl while clinging to a toy koala to make the experience as stress free as possible.

Tippi, the first koala joey to emerge from mum’s pouch at the Australian Reptile Park this breeding season is pictured with keeper Hayley Shute

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

The large number of joeys born this year is a welcome success for keepers who have worked tirelessly at the wildlife sanctuary to ensure that the koala family is reproducing.

Each joey is a welcome addition to the population of koalas which is still working to recover after the 2019-2020 bushfire season.

It is hoped that the breeding work at the park can help ensure koala numbers do not plummet to the point where they join many of Australia’s mammals on the extinction list.

— AD —

Australian Reptile Park Director, Tim Faulkner, said, “Is there anything cuter than koala joeys?! We are so pleased to announce that our breeding program had another successful year to help this threatened species. And what an important time for good news like this, both with COVID rearing its head again in Sydney and the species facing serious peril in the wild.”

Mr Faulkner continued, “It’s becoming clear all over the world that koalas in Australia are under serious threat. Their habitat is disappearing at an unprecedented rate and the species really took an astronomical hit during the 2019-2020 bushfires.”

Tippi, the first koala joey to emerge from mum’s pouch at the Australian Reptile Park this breeding season clings to a stuffed toy koala while being weighed

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

40 koalas are housed at the Australian Reptile Park. This number grows each year as they experience success in their breeding project. The park have vowed to continue their work until moves are made to secure the species in the wild.

Staff are thrilled with the fantastic health check results from Tippi and are now eagerly awaiting the emergence from the pouch of the five additional koala joeys.