Brookfield Zoo welcomes Goldie, the first Southern hairy-nosed wombat birth in North America since 2000, and the first at Brookfield Zoo since 1993! The jellybean-sized wombat baby (called a "joey") was born on October 29, 2006, and recently emerged from its mother's pouch for the first time. This joey marks the latest chapter in Chicago Zoological Society's (CZS) long history with wombats. Brookfield Zoo (which is managed by CZS) is one of only four zoos in North America to exhibit the species.
WHERE'S THAT WOMB-AT?
Wombats are marsupials, like kangaroos and many other Australian mammals. These are animals that carry their young in a pouch after birth. A joey is born after only about three weeks gestation—but it does most of its development inside their mom’s pouch! Immediately after birth, instinct and well-developed forelimbs guide the pinkie-fingernail-sized joey on its journey from the birth canal INTO the pouch so that it can begin to nurse. Once it arrives in the pouch, the joey attaches itself to one of the mother's teats, which responds by swelling up to keep the little joey attached so it does not fall out.
Staff noticed changes in the mother's pouch in December, and first saw the little wombat in early January. The level of observation was scientifically significant and unprecedented, partially because Kambora (the mom), has some notable sleeping habits. She is a heavy sleeper. And she sleeps on her back. Those two behaviors combined to give keepers unprecedented access into Kambora's pouch to get some startling photos and video footage of the joey’s development that have not been seen in zoos before.
Read More
Proud Pouch Parents
A recent photo of Goldie sleeping in the mother's pouch. She made this photo easy by sleeping on her back!