Baby koala makes first foray among eucalyptus leaves, away from mum’s pouch

SUPER-CUTE Moose was ready for his first close-up on Friday.

New baby koala Moose pokes out his head from underneath mum Maggie at Calmsley Hill City Farm. Picture: Carmela Roche

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SUPER-CUTE Moose was ready for his first close-up on Friday.

Calmsley Hill City Farm’s new baby koala emerged fully from mother Maggie’s pouch for the first time to pose for the camera.

Moose checks out the Fairfield Advance photographer to see what the fuss is about. Picture: Carmela Roche

Moose hangs on tight to mum Maggie at Calmsley Hill City Farm. Picture: Carmela Roche

Farm manager Tara Gunter said Moose was Maggie’s third joey and son of resident male Joe.

He was discovered in December when staff did a pouch check on Maggie. At the time Moose was just a few weeks old and little more than the size of a jelly bean.

“They come out when they can’t fit in there any more,” Ms Gunter said. “He will climb all over us for a cuddle — they’re very affectionate and playful animals.”

The diminutive marsupial will be ready to enter the world full-time in two weeks.

He is one of 38 koalas born over 20 years at the Abbotsbury farm. The last born was Maisy, in January 2016.

“The breeding program is very important because there aren’t a lot of koalas left in the wild,” Ms Gunter said. “In captivity it’s also important to have different bloodlines so that, in the near future, we can breed to release them into the wild.”

The biggest threat to koalas in the wild is humans.

“Land-clearing for roads, houses and other kinds of human development is the number one threat,” Ms Gunter said. “The other is pet dogs, so it is important for owners to keep them locked up at night.”

Mooseis Maggie’s third joey at Calmsley Hill City Farm. Picture: Carmela Roche

There are 600 eucalyptus species in Australia, but Moose and his koala relatives only eat 50 specific varieties.

Moose received his unique name in line with all of Maggie’s joeys being given M monikers.