The bushfire season that started in June 2019 caused mass damage all around Australia with devastating blazes in each state and territory.
After burning approximately 474,971 acres (191,000 hectares), the fire was finally extinguished in March this year.
The Australian Reptile Park has welcomed its first baby koala since the fire devastated the area.
“We have a very special announcement… Our very first koala of the season has popped out of Mums pouch to say hello!” the caption reads.
Zookeepers named the joey Ash in honor of the thousands of others that died in the fire.
Ash was born in the animal sanctuary on the NSW Central Coast after numbers of koala were decimated by blazes.
Dan Rumsey, a zookeeper, said the joey is a sign of hope for the future of the native wildlife in the country.
“They’re ambassadors for koalas in the wild: the ones who truly suffered in the bushfires,” he expressed, according to News Corp.
“Koalas are iconic and even though ours are bred in captivity, we like to think we’re helping the fairly decimated population.”
According to reports, Ash was born in January but baby koalas stay in their mom’s pouch for several months.
After closing for two months due to lockdown, Australian Reptile Park will reopen on June 1, with Ash and other animals ready to meet visitors.
Mr. Rumsey continued: “We’re absolutely ecstatic to open our doors again. “While I’ve been at work everyday, we know the animals have been missing the visitors.”
One internet user commented: “That’s a mother love her baby koala. Cutie xoxo. I love she holding close to her.”
Another wrote: “So lovely, more charming animal stories please.”
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Replaced!