The joey was born about the size of a jellybean late last year to first-time mum Mindjil and dad Laurie. 

Over the past months, keepers have been closely watching over Mindjil and tracking her pouch movements - occasionally spotting a little pink elbow or foot poking out. 

Now, as the joey grows in size and confidence, lucky visitors might see it hitching a ride on mum's back and even munching on eucalyptus leaves!
Mindjil and Laurie arrived just last year as part of Perth Zoo's role in the regionally coordinated koala breeding program. 


Successfully birthing a little joey in their first breeding season is a big achievement, and a testament to the excellent care provided by Perth Zoo's expert animal carers. 

Mindjil is proving to be a great first-time koala mum, and keepers will continue to watch over the pair from a comfortable distance.

It's hoped keepers will be able to successfully record the sex of the joey in the coming weeks as it continues to grow in confidence. 

Lucky Zoo guests should start to get glimpses of the joey on their next visit, with the best chance during the FREE koala keeper talk, which runs at 3pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. 

Stay tuned for more adorable updates to come!

FAST FACTS

• Koalas sleep between 18 to 20 hours a day.
   
• Despite being a Perth Zoo favourite, koalas are not native to WA. In the wild, they’re found in South Australia and throughout bushland in the eastern states.
   
• In 2022, the status of wild koala populations in QLD, NSW and ACT was uplisted to Endangered – the biggest threat to the species in the wild is habitat loss of their homes and food source.

• Koalas are picky eaters and will only feed on specific types of eucalyptus leaves