UK’S only koala joey is named Inala and is starting to venture further every day
THE UK’S only koala joey has been named Inala, an Aboriginal word meaning
“rest time” or “place of peace”, it was announced yesterday.
The nine-month-old marsupial is developing quickly after emerging from its mother’s pouch at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo.
The attraction itself is currently a “place of peace”, after it closed to visitors last month following Government guidance on the coronavirus and social distancing.
Keepers at the wildlife conservation charity traditionally give the Queensland koalas names inspired by their native Australia, where RZSS supports conservation projects for the species.
Kirsty Mcfaul, senior animal keeper at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Inala is doing well at nine months old and is completely out of mum Alinga’s pouch now.
“She spends most of her time with her mother but is beginning to venture away a little further every day, finding her way about and exploring.
“The zoo is currently closed to the public but the keepers are still here giving all our amazing animals the best of care and we have a live koala cam so viewers can keep an eye on Inala’s dad, Tanami.”
Edinburgh Zoo is home to the UK’S only Queensland koalas. The species is native to eastern Australia, where it is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Inala is the fourth born at the attraction since 2013 and the first offspring for parents Alinga and Tanami as a breeding pair.
Alinga and another male, Goonaroo, produced males Yooranah in 2013 and Toorie in 2017, prior to female Kalari – meaning “daughter” – in 2018.
Inala was born on July 13 last year. However, koalas spend their early months growing inside their mother’s pouch, which has a powerful muscle to prevent the joey from falling out.
They only become independent at about 12 months old.
As well as being part of the international breeding programme for Queensland koalas, RZSS supports conservation projects for the species in Australia. The main threats facing koala populations are habitat loss, wildfires and climate change.
In January, keepers at the zoo raised £1,790 for Science For Wildlife, which worked to rescue koalas in the Blue Mountains region following wildfires that swept the country.
Ms Mcfaul added: “Being closed means we have no visitor income and we’re incredibly grateful to our members, supporters and everyone who has donated t this difficult time.”