Meet Humphrey, the latest addition to Taronga Zoo Sydney and the first joey to be born in the enclosure in over a year.
Humphrey, an 8-month old koala joey, was named after one of Taronga Zoo Sydney’s foundation members and key supporters, backing the zoo’s efforts towards conservation and threatened species work. The joey had emerged from his mother Willow’s pouch in February, a full 8 months after being born — a regular occurrence amongst koalas.
Despite having four other siblings, Humphrey is the first joey to be born at this famous tourist attraction in more than a year, after a series of devastating bushfires ravaged the koala population in 2019 and 2020. He is expected to remain with his mother until he turns a year old, after which he is expected to mature and become more independent.
Photo credit: Facebook/Taronga Zoo Sydney
Given the recent bushfires, koalas have not fared well in the wild and their numbers continue to dwindle. As urban development continues to invade their natural habitat, koalas become more at risk. Recent events have already shown that they are in danger of being hit by cars and their natural habitats are adversely impacted by land clearings.
In order to keep koalas safe, people must stay alert whilst driving during dawn and dusk when koalas are most active. Donating to koala enclosures and using recycled products also helps the environment, which helps increase a koala’s odds of survival.
Taronga Zoo Sydney is located in Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088, open every day from 9:30AM to 5:00PM. For more details, visit their website. For any updates concerning special events, new additions to the zoo, and general information concerning wildlife and the zoo’s inhabitants, follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.