COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium welcomed a baby koala, its first in 15 years.
The joey has successfully developed inside the mother Katy’s pouch since it was born July 5, the zoo said Tuesday.
“Unlike other mammals that develop in their mothers’ wombs, marsupial babies have to make their way from the birth canal to their mothers’ pouch,” the zoo said. “The good news is that Katy’s joey has already achieved this major milestone.”
🐨 New Year & New Addition: The Columbus Zoo’s Australia and the Islands region has a surprise awaiting guests. Katy the koala’s “baby bump” is now occasionally moving as her little joey, born on July 5, 2020, is developing inside her pouch! Read more: https://t.co/gA7nLp5NDD pic.twitter.com/VokzjVhsPY
— Columbus Zoo (@ColumbusZoo) January 5, 2021
Currently the joey is finely furred and about the size of a softball. A tiny arm or leg might appear out of Katy’s pouch as the joey continues to grow.
Katy was paired with Thoar, and were both born in 2015 at the San Diego Zoo. They arrived at the Columbus Zoo in 2017.
This is the first koala born at the zoo since 2006 and the third since 1991.
Koalas are considered a “vulnerable” species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Endangered Species.
Cox Media Group
