The San Diego Zoo’s 20 koalas have moved into their new, much bigger home. The three-acre exhibit, Conrad Prebys Australian Outback, opens to the public today.
The San Diego Zoo has the largest breeding colony of Queensland koalas and the most successful koala breeding program outside of Australia, according to the San Diego Zoological Society.
The $7 million exhibit is also home to other species native to the land Down Under, including wallabies, wombats, the short-beaked echidna, and a variety of birds.
“You'll be at eye level with the koalas as they sun, nap, and eat while perched in the trees,” zoo officials said in a news release. “Keep an eye out for baby koala joeys in the pouch or on mom's back, too.”
Koalas sleep approximately 20 hours a day because of their low calorie diet, but zoo officials say the best time to view them is in the early morning.
To learn more about the Australian Outback exhibit opening Friday at the San Diego Zoo, visit the zoo's website.
