There’s nothing like moving into a nice, new home, and some koalas at the San Diego Zoo are doing just that.
Female koala Tonahleah and her 10-month-old male joey, Gummy (pictured above), have been settling into their new home at the Conrad Prebys Australian Outback exhibit, which open this Friday at the San Diego Zoo.
The mother and joey are two of 21 koalas living at the San Diego Zoo.
The new, 3-acre Australian Outback exhibit is the new home to koalas and other marsupial species from Australia including wallabies, wombats and a short-beaked echidna. The exhibit also features native Australian birds like the kookaburra.
Tonahleah and Gummy will share their new digs with a few other koalas, including the zoo’s newly-named joey, Kirra.
Kirra, which means “leaf” in the Aboriginal language, was officially named earlier this month after more than 4,000 people voted on her name on the zoo’s website.
Zookeepers said the name is fitting because Kirra started eating eucalyptus leaves at an early age. Kirra has been the star of the zoo's Koala Cam since January. Now, fans will be able to see Kirra and other koalas live at the Australian Outback exhibit.
Zoo officials say the San Diego Zoo has the largest breeding colony of Queensland koalas and most successful breeding program outside of Australia.
To learn more about the Australian Outback exhibit opening Friday at the San Diego Zoo, visit this website.
