Hope the wombat (L) and Elsa the koala. Image: Instagram/@australianreptilepark
In what has been viewed as an unlikely bond, a wombat and a koala apparently turned into best friends after sharing the same enclosure at a zoo in Australia.
The wombat named Hope and Elsa the koala “bonded during isolation,” according to Australia Reptile Park’s YouTube channel on June 2. The two creatures snuggled while they were both being carried by their caretakers.
The zoo also showed the “[cute] friendship duo” via Instagram last Tuesday, June 16.
The zoo reopened to the public on June 1 after being closed since March due to the COVID-19 crisis. Its staff has been working through the lockdown by taking care of the animals, as per its Facebook post on May 24.
Koalas and wombats have some similarities. Both are mammals and herbivore creatures, National Geographic noted. Both creatures are also marsupials, which means they have pouches to carry their young ones. Koalas are, however, considered as “vulnerable” creatures, especially after the bushfires affected the ecosystem in Australia. Common wombats have been classified under the bracket of “least concern” as its population is currently stable. JB
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