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Stories1 min(s) read
Published 15:26 10 Jul 2020 GMT
Five koalas have returned home for the first time since the devastating Australian bushfires in January.
Jed, Scully, Billa, Gulu, and Yellow were removed from the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in Canberra as the flames tore through more than 2.5 million acres, killing over a billion animals.
Animals from the reserve were taken to safety during the devastating disaster, and the koalas found themselves at the Australian National University specialist Endangered Species quarters shortly before Orroral Valley bushfire claimed 22% of the reserve.
Watch the heartwarming moment the koalas return home below:
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But over half a year later, they have finally returned home and the happy news was revealed by ACT Parks and Conservation Service in a Facebook post that detailed they had a brand-new enclosure on Thursday, July.
"Our hearts melted watching them explore the new gumtree furniture," the post read. "You can now come see them playing, snoozing or snacking in their new digs all day long. A new viewing platform, clear fencing and seating have also been installed."
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Wildlife team leader Dr. Sarah May said the koalas immediately knew that they'd come home and their happiness was clear for all to see.
"Everything's just coming back to normal," she said.
In an interview with 9News, Dr. May continued: "It's midway through the year and we're still getting our animals back so it’s just this feeling that we're finally moving forward. We are getting back to a sense of normality."
But the koalas and the reserve have more than one thing to celebrate, as their numbers increased by one while they were gone, with Yellow having given birth to a new joey.
The joey is believed to be around three months old, which means it will be emerging from Yellow's pouch within the next few months.
This typically doesn't happen until koalas are five to six months old and then the keepers will be able to tell whether it's a boy or a girl.
Congratulations to Yellow and everyone at the reserve!