- Koala joey named Djilba after Noongar season of new life
- First koala joey born at Yanchep National Park in 15 years
- Another new koala Poppy has arrived in Yanchep from Victoria
Yanchep National Park is having a double celebration this week with the naming of akoala joey and the interstate arrival of a new koala.
In August, national park rangers revealed a breeding program success with Miffy, originally from Ballarat Wildlife Park, giving birth to a joey earlier this year.
Now, after nearly seven months in the pouch, the joey has been named 'Djilba' after the Noongar season - symbolising conception and new life.
Miffy and her brothers Louie Jett and Franklin Doogsie, originally from Ballarat and Cleland wildlife parks, joined Yanchep's colony in late 2024.
Following the success of Miffy and Louie, a new female koala, Poppy (aged five), has now also joined the colony from Ballarat Wildlife Park.
Perth Zoo vets assessed Poppy during her quarantine period and will monitor Miffy and Djilba as they progress.
Both mother and joey are doing very well under the care of ranger staff.
Koalas have been part of Yanchep National Park since 1938. With the latest arrivals, the colony now numbers six, including 15-year-old Koodah - the last koala born at the park before Djilba - whose lineage traces back to koalas introduced from South Australia in the late 1980s.
The park's koala colony serves as a healthy satellite breeding population, in support of wider national conservation efforts for the species.
The koalas can be viewed from a visitor boardwalk that winds through carefully managed koala habitat. Yanchep's koala attraction is best viewed between the hours of 8am to 4.30pm and is open daily.
As stated by the Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn:
"Congratulations to the team at Yanchep. It is wonderful news for staff, visitors and wildlife enthusiasts across Western Australia, that a joey has been born at Yanchep and another koala has arrived from interstate.
"Yanchep National Park achieved a record 460,000 visitors last year and, with these new additions, we expect more people will travel to Yanchep to see Miffy, Djilba and Poppy, as well as enjoy all the other features of this beautiful park."
As stated by Member for Butler Lorna Clarke:
"Yanchep National Park holds a special place in our community families have been coming here for generations to see the koalas, walk the trails, and enjoy the bush.
"It's wonderful to welcome Poppy to the park. These milestones show the hard work and dedication of the rangers who care for these animals every day.
"With Djilba and Poppy joining the colony, there's never been a better time to visit Yanchep and experience this unique part of our local environment."
