Taronga Zoo Has Welcomed a New Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat Joey and It's As Adorable As You'd Expect

Good news hasn't been easy to find in Sydney of late. Being in lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic — and having those stay-at-home conditions expanded, extended and tightened as case numbers rise — will do that. But one infectiously adorable bundle of joy has just entered the world, and it's the heartwarmingly cute kind of sight that we all definitely need right now. If you're reading this from elsewhere in the country, trust us — you need this, too.

Taronga Zoo has announced the arrival of a southern hairy-nosed wombat joey that was born in October last year. Yes, that's more than a few months back now, but the as-yet-unnamed baby critter has only just started to emerge from her mother's pouch in recent weeks — so she's still big news.

The joey was born to experienced mum Jetta. Wombat joeys are the size of a jellybean when they first enter the world, and then they remain in their mother's pouch for between seven and nine months as they grow.

"The little joey has just reached the size where she no longer fits in the Jetta's pouch; we have seen her try to get back into the pouch a couple of times, but Jetta just won't allow it — she is just too big!" advises keeper Rebecca Russell-Cook.

"At the moment the joey is out and about quite regularly exploring both the burrow and outside areas, on her own as well as with mum and sister Wanyi," she continued. "In the next few weeks, the joey will become even more active — so once Taronga starts welcoming guests back, they will definitely get the chance to spot the little joey at Taronga's wombat burrow at our Backyard to Bush precinct."

That's enough words about this loveable little critter, because we all know that you're here to get a glimpse — and Taronga Zoo has helpfully released a video that shows the joey just doing super-cute joey things. Check it out below:

If you're after further information, you can also watch keeper Rebecca Russell-Cook chat about the joey — if you can hear her above all the "awwwwwwwwwws" you'll be exclaiming, that is.

Taronga Zoo is currently closed during Sydney's lockdown, but you can check out more videos of its cute animals via its online Taronga TV channel.