Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat Joey Out And About At Brookfield Zoo

BROOKFIELD, IL — There are only nine southern hairy-nosed wombats in five North American institutions, including at Brookfield Zoo. Now, guests can go to the zoo’s Australia House to see the latest addition. A wombat joey, born on Feb. 4, is out and about exploring her surroundings along with her mom, 17-year-old Kambora.

According to the zoo, it wasn’t until the joey was about 6 and a half months old that animal care staff first saw her emerge from Kambora’s pouch. At birth, a wombat joey is tiny and hairless, and is about the size of a bumblebee. It climbs into its mom’s pouch where it attaches to a teat and remains there for the first few months of life.

The zoo said while in the pouch the young joey sleeps and nurses, getting all the necessary nutrients it needs to fully develop. The joey at Brookfield Zoo appeared out of Kambora’s pouch for the first time at the end of August, at which time she would be visible for short spurts before climbing back into the pouch. Now weighing just over 10 pounds, the joey is very inquisitive and becoming more independent.

According to the zoo, the not-yet-named joey is Kambora’s sixth offspring and the first for the sire, 5-year-old Darryl, who arrived at Brookfield Zoo in 2016 from Australia. Several years ago, Chicago Zoological Society staff worked closely with the other North American zoos that have southern hairy-nosed wombats, along with Zoos South Australia and their government, to form and develop a breeding program to ensure a genetically sustainable population for the species in professional care. In 1969, Brookfield Zoo received three southern hairy-nosed wombats, and, in 1974, became the first zoo outside of Australia to successfully breed the species in professional care. Since then, there have been 21 wombat births at Brookfield Zoo.

Photos provided by Chicago Zoological Society.