Longleat welcomes first southern koala baby
It will make its first public appearance very soon
Last updated 1st Feb 2022
The first-ever southern koala to have been born in Europe will be on show at Longleat in Wiltshire in the coming days - with keepers and staff saying they're 'delighted'.
Although mum Violet gave birth last year to the joey, the baby spent the first six months of its life safely inside her pouch and is only now beginning to start venturing outside.
The successful birth is a major milestone for the Wiltshire safari park which opened its purpose-built facility in 2019.
Lord Bath, who has been instrumental in bringing koalas to Longleat and is the patron of the Koala Life charitable organisation based in South Australia, said:
"The arrival of the first baby southern koala is a huge event for the entire team here and something we have all been working towards and hoping for since we launched the new facility three years ago.
"We are delighted with how well both mother and baby are doing. As well as being a first for us, this is also Violet's first experience of motherhood and she is proving to be a caring and attentive parent.
"We are still not fully sure on the sex of the joey but hope to get a better idea when it starts to spend more time outside of the pouch. Currently we want to leave them alone as much as possible."
Koalas give birth after around a month-long pregnancy. The joey is born blind and hairless and about the same size as a jellybean. Within minutes, the tiny baby is able to find its way into its mother's pouch.
As it continues to grow and develop, the joey will leave the pouch and explore. However, it will remain largely dependent on its mother until it is up to a year old.
"This birth is really important"
Longleat has been working closely with the Government of South Australia and Cleland Wildlife Park to establish Koala Creek as a European hub for the species.
"It has been a long and complicated process, but this birth is really important for a number of reasons," said keeper James Dennis.
"As well as helping to raise awareness of the southern koala and the threats it faces in the wild, it is also teaching us so much about the species' complex lifecycle.
"One of the most concerning issues with regard to southern koalas in Australia is the high levels of inbreeding and so the fact we are able to begin establishing a genetically diverse population here in Europe is also really important," he added.
At Longleat, the koalas' purpose-built enclosure includes a natural stream, eucalyptus trees, climbing poles, a mix of indoor and outdoor habitats, viewing areas, and a medical care unit.
A plantation of eucalyptus trees has also been established on the estate to provide the koalas with a regular supply of leaves, the only thing the marsupials will eat.
Longleat is part of a global koala-focused initiative
The facility is part of a ground-breaking joint initiative with the Government of South Australia, Cleland Wildlife Park and Longleat to support research and raise funds for koala management and conservation.
In the aftermath of the bushfires, keepers from Koala Creek travelled out to South Australia to help with the recovery programme.
In 2020 Longleat also donated over ÂŁ50,000 to support koala conservation and recovery programmes.
"The breeding of the first southern koala born in Europe represents the culmination of this fantastic partnership to better understand and protect koalas," said Professor Chris Daniels, from the University of South Australia and Chair of Koala Life.
"In addition, Longleat now has a small but vital group of healthy animals free of debilitating diseases including chlamydia and retrovirus. This will help us understand how to keep sanctuary populations healthy and provide important information about the effects of these diseases.
"So, this joey represents a small, but vital step in the process to secure the long-term survival of one of the world's most loved animals. A major achievement," he added.
There are two main subspecies of koala; the smaller northern variety and the southern koala, which has much thicker fur and can weigh twice as much as their northern relatives.
Visitors will have their first opportunity to see the baby koala when Longleat re-opens to the public this weekend.
Read more of our top animal stories:
From a parrot being unable to fly due to eating too many crisps to the RSPCA's strangest rescues of the year.
Ferret makes 'miraculous' recovery after going through the wash
Bandit the ferret made a 'miraculous' recovery after going through the wash in January.
Bud the parrot was put on a diet due to a crisp addiction
Bud the parrot was left unable to fly after eating too many crisps. She was put on a diet to help her lose some weight.
A very rare seal pup was rescued from the Yorkshire coast
Egg is a grey seal pup with melanism meaning her coat is almost black. Only 1 in 400 seals are born with the condition.
Neglected dogs become pampered pooches
Thirty abandoned dogs who were found in desperate need of some TLC underwent amazing transformations in RSPCA care.
Our pets might receive the Covid-19 vaccine one day
Scientists have said that our pets may receive the Covid-19 vaccine in the future to help prevent transmission in humans. However, experts assure this is simply precautionary planning for the future and there is no current examples of transmission from pets to owners.
A baby giraffe was named after Margaret Keenan, the first person to receive a Covid-19 vaccine
A baby giraffe born at Whipsnade zoo in Bedfordshire was named Margaret after the first person to receive a Covid-19 vaccine outside of a clinical trial.
Blind guinea pig Ami is guided by her sister Yuki
Being a blind guinea pig doesn't hinder Ami, who is guided by her loyal sister Yuki. According to an RSPCA representative, Yuki "looks out for" her sister every day.
A goat at a bus stop was among the RSPCA's strangest rescues last year
A goat at a bus stop was on the list of the RSPCA's strangest rescues of 2020, which included a seal on the treadmill and a puppy in a lounger chair.
First baby beaver for 600 years
A baby beaver has made history as the first to be born in Norfolk in more than 600 years. Two pairs of beavers were reintroduced near Heacham on the north Norfolk coast, last year. A baby beaver, known as a kit, has since been captured on camera paddling through water at night.
"Angry" chicken ruffles feathers by holding up traffic
An "angry" chicken ruffled feathers by holding up traffic in Littlehampton. Police said the "defensive" bird wasn't allowing anyone near it in Cornwall Road.
Cat missing for more than a decade reunited with owner
Fergus went missing from his Forres owner in late 2010 and 11 years later he was found by Cats Protection volunteers at a recycling centre in Aberdeen. It was only when his microchip was scanned they realised how far away from home he was.
Longleat welcomes first southern koala baby
The first-ever southern koala to have been born in Europe was welcomed by safari park Longleat in Wiltshire, with keepers and staff saying they're 'delighted'.
Missing cat invades football pitch and is reunited with owner
Topsey the cat invaded the pitch during a match between Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic at Hillsborough Stadium. After the game was stopped so Topsey could have her belly tickled and be escorted off the pitch, she was reunited with owner after being missing for 8 months.