Australia Zoo welcomes first white koala

By AG Staff 22 August 2017
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The white female koala joey isn’t albino, but has something scientists call the ‘silvering gene’.

AUSTRALIA ZOO has welcomed its very first white koala joey, born to mum Tia back in January.

The only white joey of the 12 joeys born, the little girl is quite unique.

The new addition to the Australia Zoo family, while white, is not albino as her eyes and nose are a normal brown-black colour.

“Her pale colouration has been observed as a characteristic in her maternal bloodline. Tia (the mum), has had joeys previously which are paler in comparison however they’ve never seen a joey with such white fur as this,” said a spokesperson for Tourism Australia, the company in charge of the naming, who are encouraging members of the public to submit suggestions to their Facebook album dedicated to the new addition. 

“In veterinary science it’s often referred to as the ‘silvering gene’ where animals are born with white or very pale fur and, just like baby teeth, they eventually shed their baby fur and the regular adult colouration comes through,” explained Rosie Booth, the director of the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.

The white koala joey is currently residing in the ‘Mums and Bubs’ section of the zoo where they can be viewed by visitors however encounters are not available during this developmental stage. 

white koala

(Image Credit: Australia Zoo)

white koala

(Image Credit: Australia Zoo)

Image alt text

(Image Credit: Australia Zoo)

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