Koala joey marks successful breeding season at Yanchep National Park as visitors invited to choose name

There’s a tiny new face peeking out at Yanchep National Park, where the resident koala colony is celebrating the arrival of a new joey.

The youngster, believed to have been born around mid-March, is now about five months old and has begun making tentative appearances from its mother’s pouch, poking its head out during feeding time.

Its mother, Poppy, arrived from Victoria’s Ballarat Wildlife Park last year before being paired with Franklin Doogsie, who made the journey from South Australia’s Cleland Wildlife Park in late 2024.

The new addition follows another breeding milestone for Yanchep’s koala colony. Last year, Miffy and Louie Jet (Franklin’s brother) welcomed Djilba, the first koala joey born at the park in 15 years.

Park staff will continue keeping a close eye on Poppy and her joey, both of whom are said to be doing well. Perth Zoo veterinarians will also check on the joey as it grows.

Visitors can even have a say in what the tiny newcomer will be called. A shortlist of four names has been put to the public, with visitors able to vote by dropping a token into one of four koala feeding tubes at the McNess House Visitors Centre.

The public has been given four different options for the joey’s name. Karla is an Aboriginal word for “fire,” while Scout reflects the youngster’s growing curiosity as it begins venturing beyond its mother’s pouch.

Pembi is a nod to former Yanchep Senior Ranger John Wheeler and his connection to Pemberton, while Ash takes inspiration from the koala’s scientific name, Phascolarctos Cinereus, meaning “ash-coloured pouched bear.”

Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said that what’s almost as exciting as the arrival of the new joey is the chance for park visitors to name it.

“Everyone loves welcoming a little one into the family, so congratulations to Poppy and Franklin Doogsie and all our dedicated Parks and Wildlife Service staff at Yanchep National Park,” he said.

Koalas have been a feature of Yanchep National Park for almost 90 years, first arriving in 1938. For visitors wanting to see the colony today, the best viewing opportunities are generally between 8am and 4.30pm daily.