Image via @AustralianReptilePark
With all the devastation that came as 2020 rolled in, the 2019-20 Australian Bush Fire was one of the worst. It had scorched 18.6 million hectares of land, 5900 buildings and killed 34 people. Not only that, it was estimated that Australia have lost over 1 billion animals with some species burnt to extinction.
While the world is still adjusting to the new normal with COVID-19, an Australian Wildlife Park received a new beacon of hope. The Australian Reptile Park welcomes the first koala joey after the bushfire that threatened the existence of koala bears. About 85% of their population in northern New South Wales were wiped out.
Image via @AustralianReptilePark
They were not expecting a joey so soon as koala bears might only reproduce once a year, or none at all. With the added stress of the bushfire, the newborn joey is a miracle during this unprecedented time. The joey was named Ash in tribute to the Black Summer fire season.
