Wombat Joey Emerges from the Pouch at Taronga Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: July 10, 2021 1:00 am

The 9 month old female wombat joey is pictured with experienced mom, Jetta at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia

Photo Credit: Taronga Zoo Sydney

Taronga Zoo have experienced further success as part of their wombat breeding program with a female joey now emerging from mom’s pouch. This is ninth joey born at the zoo since 2012.

The estimated 9 month old joey has just started emerging from her mother’s pouch. As yet keepers have not decided a name for the joey. Jetta is an experienced mother having previously given birth to another female joey, Wanyi last year.

Keepers say the joey has a cheeky and outgoing personality in contrast to her older sister.

“This is a big contrast to Wanyi, Jetta’s previous joey who fully emerged last year and is this joey’s big sister. Wanyi, was a lot shyer in nature and took a little longer to gain enough confidence to venture from her mother’s pouch,” says keeper Rebecca Russell-Cook.

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“Last year, we saw that mum, Jetta was extremely protective when she had Wanyi at pouch, this is also the case with the current joey, but I think she is a bit calmer this time around. In the wild, we would see Wanyi leaving Jetta, particularly because Jetta now has another joey, but it is incredible to witness the close bond Wanyi and the new joey already have, which will only continue to grow. Jetta is incredibly calm when Wanyi is around the joey, we have even caught them spooning each other with the joey in the pouch, it was a remarkable sight!” added Russell-Cook.

At birth wombats are the size of a jellybean. They spend the first 7-9 months of their life in mom’s pouch where they develop fur and open their eyes.

Taronga Zoo Sydney is currently closed to the public as part of lockdown measures in the city but once guests return it is expected they will be able to view the joey in the zoo’s Backyard to Bush habitat.

“At the moment the joey is out and about quite regularly exploring both the burrow and outside areas, on her own as well as with mum and sister Wanyi.”

“In the next few weeks the joey will become even more active so once Taronga starts welcoming guests back they will definitely get the chance to spot the little joey at Taronga’s wombat burrow at our Backyard to Bush precinct,” finished Russell-Cook.