Mother Daughter Koala Duo Pregnant at Reptile Park

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: April 16, 2021 1:59 pm

The mother-daughter pair are held by their keepers at the Australian Reptile Park

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

The Australian Reptile Park have made the exciting announcement that two of their koalas are carrying joeys. To make this even more exciting the pair are a mother and daughter.

Molly,13 and her daughter Maddie, 6 have both been confirmed to have pouch young marking an exciting start for the park’s breeding program this year.

The excitement doesn’t end there with Molly also becoming the oldest koala still breeding at the Australian Reptile Park. In her 13 years she has welcomed 7 joeys. Molly is following in mom’s footsteps as a prolific breeder with this being her 4th joey.

One of the pregnant koalas enjoys some gum at the Australian Reptile Park

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

Molly was paired with Joe this season to welcome their joey while Maddie found love with Gundy. Both pairings proved successful and will help to produce the next generation of koalas.

Director Tim Faulkner says “Our koala conservation breeding program has never been more crucial than what it is right now. From the fires that wiped out a huge percentage of koala habitat, to land clearing and habitat destruction, koalas are in trouble.”

Mr Faulkner continued “It brings me hope to know we are doing what we can, and how special to have this mother daughter duo able to be there for each other through the exciting process of having a joey! Molly and Maddie are both sensational koalas and I can’t wait to meet our newest family members when they decide to show their faces!”

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Koalas raise their young known as joeys in a pouch on their belly making them marsupials. At birth they would of been the size of a jellybean. They will spend the next six months developing in the pouch before emerging to greet the world for the first time.

Mother’s Molly and Maddie can be seen snuggled up together or eating eucalyptus at the Australian Reptile Park on Australia’s Central Coast.