Koala Welcomed As San Diego Zoo Celebrates A Century Of Koala Conservation

SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego Zoo is celebrating the birth of a koala joey while commemorating a century of koala conservation.

The female koala joey is the first koala born at the zoo in two years. Born to mother Adori, she turned 7 months old on Valentine's Day.

The zoo is also celebrating 100 years of friendship with Taronga Conservation Society Australia. To honor the partnership, Taronga named the koala Inala, which means place of peace or rest and is from the Wakka Wakka / Jungara area of Queensland, Australia.

"The joey is doing well and has begun exploring outside her mother's pouch," zoo officials said in a news release. "At times she can be spotted tucked on her mom's belly or riding on her back. Inala is still nursing, but will taste eucalyptus leaves on occasion and will continue to eat more eucalyptus as she grows older."

Inala and her mother can be seen in their habitat at the zoo's Conrad Prebys Australian Outback.

This year marks 100 years since the first two koalas arrived in San Diego as a gift from the children of Sydney, Australia to the children of San Diego, sparking a century-long commitment to koala care. Since 1925, the San Diego Zoo has become home to the largest population of koalas and operates the most successful koala breeding program outside of Australia.

Koalas are classified as an endangered species in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of Australia. The main threats to the species in their native habitat include fragmentation, disease and bushfires such as the 2019-2020 wildfires that burned 59 million acres.