Two young koalas born in 2025 have made their first public appearance at Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou. The male joeys, named Ocean and Onion, are part of the park's successful breeding program for this vulnerable species.
Ocean, born on March 27, now weighs 1.27 kilograms and has recently begun venturing out of his mother Ida's pouch. Nearby, Onion, born on May 10 and weighing 0.77 kilograms, has also started exploring outside the pouch under the watch of his mother Hana. Like all koalas, the newborns spent their first months inside their mothers' pouches, which provide a protected, sterile environment where they rely entirely on milk.
Koalas, native to Australia, are marsupials. Infants measure about two centimeters at birth and instinctively climb into the pouch, where they remain for roughly six months before gradually emerging. According to keeper Wang Zhihui, the joeys have begun nibbling eucalyptus leaves to develop their chewing skills, though milk remains their primary food.
Chimelong introduced its first koalas in 2006 and now hosts over 80 koalas, the largest population outside Australia. In 2025, the park welcomed a total of four koala births: Olivia, Orange, Ocean, and Onion, which are now available for limited public viewing.
The park's breeding success is supported by dedicated eucalyptus plantations and veterinary care, helping to maintain a self-sustaining colony in Guangdong's subtropical climate.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Panyu Converged Media Center
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
