New koala on display at Riverbanks Zoo

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A new koala joey is now making appearances at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia.

The koala was born in October and has been growing in its mother’s pouch before making its firsts public appearance. Koala joeys start out about the size of a jelly bean and spend about six months in their mother’s pouch before they begin exploring the outside.

This birth is the fourth offspring for Jimmie and the sixth for Lottie.

Jimmie came to Riverbanks from the Los Angeles Zoo in 2008. Lottie came to Riverbanks from Australia in 2003.

Guests at the Riverbanks Society’s annual ZOOfari on Sept. 28 can take part in a silent auction to win the opportunity to name the new koala.