Zoo Miami celebrated a historic first: a southern hairy-nosed wombat joey born Jan. 19, the only successful birth of the species in the zoo’s history.

Zoo Miami celebrated a historic first: a southern hairy-nosed wombat joey born Jan. 19, the only successful birth of the species in the zoo’s history.

Ron Magill

Zoo Miami

Big ears, stubby legs and an extra-strong butt — Zoo Miami celebrated the newest addition to its animal family Friday. However, this tiny girl — a southern hairy-nosed wombat — is a historic landmark for the zoo and a rare sight for the nation.

The tiny baby, known as a joey, is thought to have been born on Jan. 19, Zoo Communications Director Ron Magill said. Hairy-nosed wombat births are hard to spot, as after about a 30-day pregnancy, the joey crawls into its mother’s pouch. There, it develops for up to six months.

The joey’s arrival was the first successful birth of a southern hairy-nosed wombat in Zoo Miami’s history. It is also the only successful birth of the species across the U.S. this year, Magill said.

Newborn southern hairy-nosed wombats stay in their mother’s pouch for up to six months. Newborn southern hairy-nosed wombats stay in their mother’s pouch for up to six months. Ron Magill Zoo Miami

Born to first-time parents Gordon, the 8.5-year-old father from the Los Angeles Zoo, and Adelaid, the 9.5-year-old mother from the Brookfield Zoo, the unnamed joey has only recently begun to emerge from its mother’s pouch.

The southern hairy-nosed wombat is the smallest of three species of wombats, all found in Australia, typically weighing between 45 and 65 pounds. The species is distinguished by relatively large ears and broad snouts covered with fine hairs.

One of the wombat’s most unusual defense adaptations is its “heavily reinforced rear end” containing strong cartilage. It uses its “powerful” butt to block the entrance to its burrow, and help defend against predators.

That’s not the species’ only quirk. Wombats are also the only mammals to produce cube-shaped poop.

Take a look at Zoo Miami’s newest friend:

The joey’s arrival was the first successful birth of a southern hairy-nosed wombat in Zoo Miami’s history. It is also the only successful birth of the species across the U.S. this year. The joey’s arrival was the first successful birth of a southern hairy-nosed wombat in Zoo Miami’s history. It is also the only successful birth of the species across the U.S. this year. Ron Magill Zoo Miami Zoo Miami celebrated a historic first: a southern hairy-nosed wombat joey born Jan. 19, the only successful birth of the species in the zoo’s history. Zoo Miami celebrated a historic first: a southern hairy-nosed wombat joey born Jan. 19, the only successful birth of the species in the zoo’s history. Ron Magill Miami Herald


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Devoun Cetoute

Miami Herald

Miami Herald Cops and Breaking News Reporter Devoun Cetoute covers a plethora of Florida topics, from breaking news to crime patterns. He was on the breaking news team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2022. He’s a graduate of the University of Florida, born and raised in Miami-Dade. Theme parks, movies and cars are on his mind in and out of the office.