Watch: Koala Joey Emerges From Mom's Pouch At ZooTampa

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, FL — Here are more reasons to visit ZooTampa at Lowry Park.

After months of hiding in his mother's pouch, the koala joey has emerged and officially presented himself to zoo visitors.

The joey is the first koala baby born at the zoo in its history.

The offspring of zoo residents Ceduna and Heathcliff, the joey arrived in his mother's pouch in May. Koala newborns develop inside their mothers' pouches instead of the womb. Initially, a joey is blind and earless and relies on natural instincts and strong senses of touch and smell to find its way from the birth canal to its mother’s pouch.

Throughout the summer, the zoo staff's only glimpse of the joey was the occasional head briefly emerging to check out his surroundings at the zoo's Wallaroo Station. Now he's emerged from his pouch though he never leaves his mother's side, clinging to her back or belly at all times. He won't start climbing trees on his own until he reaches 1 year old.

Ceduna, who arrived at the zoo in 2015, and Heathcliff, who arrived in 2014, are part of the zoo’s effort to conserve the koala through the Species Survival Plan of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

One of Australia’s most iconic animals, koalas live primarily in forests and woodlands dominated by eucalyptus plants. Though poisonous to other species, specialized bacteria in a koala’s digestive tract enables it to break down the plant’s toxins and rely heavily on eucalyptus for its food.

While visiting the koalas, guest can check out another new baby at the zoo.

A nyala calf named Ohana was born at the zoo last month. Ohana's mom, Sahara, will protect her baby by tucking the calf away in bushes or low-lying trees for the first few weeks of her life. Then Ohana will join the nyala herd.

ZooTampa

Ohana was born in August.

This month, three Tampa attractions are celebrating SWAPtember. Throughout the month, member of MOSI, The Florida Aquarium and ZooTampa at Lowry Park can "swap" membership privileges. Click here to learn more.

ZooTampa is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa, and is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours for select events. Parking is free.

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