This little joey has visitors to Werribee’s Open Range Zoo craning their necks for a peek.
The curious seven-month-old koala started popping her head out of mother Bella’s pouch in mid-June and is now venturing further – but only as far as her mum’s back, for now.
Zookeeper Kwai Chang-Kum says koala joeys typically spend their first six months growing in their mother’s pouches, popping in and out for as long as they can fit back inside.
And, she says, joeys remain close by their mothers for up to a year.
Keepers and vets are closely monitoring this joey’s growth. They predict she will get more adventurous as the weeks pass.
“Bella is an excellent mother, very relaxed and gentle,” Ms Chang-Kum says.
“The joey has picked up on the relaxed nature of her mother. But she’s also very curious and is starting to munch on eucalyptus leaves.”
