The world lost its shit a few months back when this baby Koala poked her head out of her mum’s pouch for the first time. Since then, Imogen has grown up, being hand-reared by keepers from Symbio Wildlife Park.
The decision to hand-rear Imogen was made after the mother of a second and much younger Koala joey named Harry, died.
So keepers attempted to successfully cross surrogate Harry into Imogen’s mother’s pouch. The Wildlife Park says the decision to hand-rear Imogen and cross foster young joey Harry was the safest choice to ensure both joeys had the best chances of survival.Symbio Wildlife Park curator, Kylie Elliott and general manager Matt Radnidge have become unannounced parents to baby Imogen, making sure she’s always with them, no matter where they go or what they’re doing.
“For such a small koala she takes up so much room”, says Matt.
Imogen is now 10 months old and weighs over 1800 grams. Symbio Wildlife Park says that she has been spending a lot of her time climbing around tree branches, slowly learning how to become more independent.
Kylie Elliot / Via symbiozoo.com.au
And when she’s not climbing on tree branches, she’s sitting in measuring jugs being cute AF.
Kylie says that she feels blessed to have played a part in Imogen’s rearing.
Kylie Elliot / Via symbiozoo.com.au
“Hand raising Imogen has been the most challenging and rewarding thing we have ever achieved. It hasn’t been an easy journey raising a joey with nocturnal habits and sharp claws - I definitely have a new respect for Koala mothers!”
We can’t wait to see what Matt and Kylie have in store for Imogen as she turns one. <3
Kylie Elliot / Via symbiozoo.com.au