“Hope” is Born AT ZOO MIAMI Serving as a beacon of optimism and a reminder of why we fight for the future of wildlife, the baby was given the name “Hope.” From November to February, the entire world watched on as devasting bushfires raged through Australia, affecting thousands of people, billions of animals and their homes and habitats. During their summer season, dozens of fires erupted in New South Wales, rapidly spreading and becoming some of the most intense and destructive fires on record. Together, the world mourned the loss of wildlife. Together, we contributed what we could and waited for relief. In January 2020, amidst all of the tragic news, a tiny face of one of Australia’s most iconic species peeked out of his mother’s pouch to greet the world, right here at Zoo Miami. For the third time in the zoo’s history and the first time in over 28 years, a surviving koala joey was born at the zoo. Although the baby was actually born back in May of 2019, this was the first time he emerged completely from his mother’s pouch. Serving as a beacon of optimism and a reminder of why we fight for the future of wildlife, the baby was given the name “Hope.”
Baby Hope was born to fouryear-old mother “Rinny” and eight-year-old father “Milo”.
Here at Zoo Miami, we celebrate and honor each and every birth and life of our animal residents. But of course, some are just extra special. True to his name, our baby offered hope to those in Australia and around the world, and he was even featured on the Today Show to continue spreading the good news and encouragement. Baby Hope became a symbol for a positive future and Zoo Miami Foundation, along with the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment, donors and volunteers were thrilled to raise over $12,000 for Australian relief efforts.
Because koalas are marsupials, they have very short pregnancies, lasting only around 30 days. However, when the baby is born, at about the size of a jellybean, it is practically in an embryonic state. Totally hairless, with non-developed eyes and tiny limbs, it makes its way into the mother’s pouch where it remains for about six months to continue developing.
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