Leipzig is head over heels in love: a cuddly koala is making its way into people’s lives!

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There’s great excitement at Leipzig Zoo over this little cuddly wonder! For the past two weeks, a curious little nose has been peeking out now and then from the pouch of Erlinga, the female koala. First one little paw, then two. One eye, then the other. A little head – and then quickly back into the cosy safety of the pouch. The popular MDR TV series “Elefant, Tiger & Co.” also reported on those first glimpses. But now the baby has climbed right out for the first time and is curiously eyeing Mum’s face, her fluffy ears and the delighted gazes of the visitors behind the glass pane of its cosy den. For Erlinga, this is her first offspring. And we’re showing an exclusive first picture of the mini-koala outside its mum’s pouch. However, it’s not possible to determine exactly when the little creature was actually born.

Born like a gummy bear

When a koala baby is born, at first – nothing really happens. No crying, no fuss. Because the newborn is barely bigger than a gummy bear. Naked, blind and pink. And yet this little miracle already knows the path it must now take. It crawls, without any help, through its mother’s thick fur and up into her pouch. A journey of just a few centimetres, yet a huge feat of strength for such a tiny creature. Inside the marsupium (Latin for ‘pouch’ or ‘bag’), it is warm and dark. And from the very start, it is fully catered for: the milk flows directly from a teat.

The first stage of its life now consists of sleeping, feeding and growing. The tiny creature remains hidden away for about six months. Only when the baby is strong enough does it begin to peek out of its den.

After around 22 weeks, koala babies begin to take in their surroundings. Photo: Benjamin Weinkauf

A princess’s child

Koala mum Erlinga was born in Duisburg in November 2021 and moved to Leipzig two years later as part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). Her name is the female counterpart to the male Scandinavian name ‘Erling’, which means ‘prince’ or ‘heir to the throne’. However, she will not be able to introduce her prince – Yuma, who was also born in Duisburg – to her offspring. Koalas are solitary animals and generally go their separate ways after mating. This is not uncommon in the animal kingdom. Tigers, snow leopards and lynx, for example, also live in this way.

For Erlinga, her baby will remain the centre of her world for the next few months. It is only after a period of about a year, during which the joey is carried on her back, that the phase of independence begins.

Hello out there! Erlinga with her baby, mid-October 2025. Photo: Leipzig Zoo

Beloved yet still at risk

Koalas are among the world’s most cuddly favourites. The soft toy manufacturer, founded in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, offers a cuddly replica of the original for a hefty 99 euros. However, the love for these Australian marsupials is so great that ‘Steiff’ is currently out of stock.

But first and foremost, the situation for the living population is not looking good. Deforestation is reducing their habitat, whilst road construction is leading to increased traffic, which these laid-back, long-sleeping creatures are ill-equipped to cope with. Added to this is climate change. Eucalyptus is the koalas’ sole source of food. Many varieties of this plant have properties that make them a fire hazard: their leaves contain so-called ‘volatile organic compounds’ (VOCs), which are highly flammable. The undergrowth and fallen leaves help forest fires to spread. Koalas are burnt alive in their natural habitat.

Through its membership of the European Breeding Programme, Leipzig Zoo is helping to ensure the survival of koalas.

Guten Morgen, du Schöne. Zwei Tierpflegerinnen begrüßen die glückliche Koala-Mama. Foto: Benjamin Weinkauf

The Koala House is situated just a few metres from the zoo entrance, opposite the Aquarium in the former monkey house. The building was constructed in 1901 and is therefore part of the zoo’s historic and iconic architecture. In 2016, the building was refurbished and reopened as the Koala House, featuring a spacious enclosure for this species native to Australia.

The zoo is open from 9 am to 5 pm. Exceptions are 1 November – 2 November (Halloween weekend, 9 am – 6 pm), 24 December (Christmas Eve, 9 am – 3 pm) and 31 December (New Year’s Eve, 9 am – 3 pm).

Online tickets are available HERE. The Zoological Garden can be reached by tram line 12. The zoo is fully accessible. Visitors with disabilities can collect their tickets without queuing at the group ticket office in the Safari Office, immediately to the left after the historic entrance archway.