A zoo in Australia has welcomed its first koala since the deadly bushfires earlier this year, which killed millions of animals.

The Australian Reptile Park has welcomed a joey at their zoo, which they named Ash.

Ash was born in January this year, however, joeys stay in their pouches for up to 7 months, so it was only safe to check on her well-being very recently.

The staff of the Australian Reptile Park said that Ash is around 5 months old and is right on track to be emerging from the pouch for the first time.

In a post that was made on Facebook, the Australian Reptile Park said:

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.

During an interview with Dan Rumsey, a zookeeper for the Australian Reptile Park, said:

They’re ambassadors for koalas in the wild: the ones who truly suffered in the bushfires. Koalas are iconic… and even though ours are bred in captivity, we like to think we’re helping the fairly decimated population. Ash represents the start of what we’re hoping to be another successful breeding season.

The birth of Ash is pretty remarkable, considering the fact that thousands of koalas were killed in the massive bushfires earlier this year.

Rumsey talked about what it felt like when Ash came out for the first time.

He said:

It was such an incredible moment when we saw Ash poke her head out of her mum’s pouch for the first time! Her mother Rosie has shown exemplary parenting skills and we know that Ash is in good paws.

The Australian Reptile Park reopened yesterday after being closed for a couple of months due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The staff of the zoo said they are ecstatic to open their doors again.

Rumsey said:

While I’ve been at work everyday, we know the animals have been missing the visitors. We’re taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our visitors, staff and animals and have implemented our COVID-safe reopening plan.

We wish Ash the best health!