Meet Ash, the first koala born in Australia since devastating bushfires
An Australian zoo welcomed its first koala of the season on 27 May 2020. This is said to be the first koala born after a devastating string of bushfires, which ravaged nearly the entire country for several months earlier this year.
Some good news: Meeting Ash, the koala
According to Global News, the furry bundle of joy was aptly named Ash as the fires killed many wild animals, including koalas. In fact, at least 5 000 koalas are estimated to have died, according to the report from the global conservation group International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
“Koalas are particularly vulnerable to bushfires as they are slow-moving and live in eucalyptus trees that burn quickly and intensely,” IFAW Wildlife Campaigner Josey Sharrad told CNN at the time.”When fires sweep through their homes, they often don’t have time to escape, particularly in intense crown fires that rage through the treetops where they live,” she added.
Luckily at the end of April, several animals who were injured in bushfires were re-released into the wild.
And now, zookeepers at the Australian Reptile Park in New South Wales where Ash was born shared an adorable video of one of them greeting the little koala, as she pokes her head out of her mother Rosie’s pouch.
“We have a very special announcement…our very first koala of the season has popped out of mums pouch to say hello!” the Facebook post reads. “Keepers have decided to name her Ash! Ash is the first koala born at the park since the tragic Australian bushfires and is a sign of hope for the future of Australia’s native wildlife.”
A sign of hope
As of 28 May, the Facebook post was viewed over 900 000 times.
The park is all set to reopen on Monday, 1 June 2020 following Australia’s lockdown measures, according to another Facebook video. It is said that keepers have posted a steady stream of videos during quarantine, attracting millions of viewers curious to get to know the animals.
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