One of four marsupials given to Chiang Mai Zoo by Australia gave birth in January this year. They were a gift to mark the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne.

News reports say that the pregnancy came as a suprise. The Koala named Coco seemed to have something moving in her pouch, so zoo staff kept her apart as a safety measure.

Somchai Chotapisitkul, a zoo veterinarian, said that after taking advice from an Australian professor the zoo decided not to do any x-rays or ultrasounds on Coco as the procedure required stretching the animal which might have proved dangerous. They let Coco deliver her first baby naturally on the 14th of January just one month after becoming pregnant.

The baby Koala has climbed into Coco’s front pouch where she will breastfeed the baby for five to six months, after which it should be strong enough to emerge and cling to it’s mother’s back.