Toronto’s Baby Wombat Has A Name!

Toronto Zoo’s Baby Wombat Has a Name!

The votes are in, and Toronto’s most famous pouch potato finally has a name. After more than 16,000 votes, the Toronto Zoo has announced that its female southern hairy-nosed wombat joey — known until now by the hashtag #TZpouchpotato — is officially Clover.

A Name Inspired by Mom

The name is a sweet nod to Clover’s mother, Matilba, who loves munching on clover in her outdoor habitat. After almost 10 months of carrying her little one in her pouch on and off through its development, Matilba now has a namesake treat to match. The Zoo says the community chose a fitting way to celebrate both mom and baby.

Clover is also making a bit of Toronto Zoo history: she is the first wombat reared at the Zoo in more than 30 years.

“We’re thrilled the community came together to help name Clover — the first wombat reared at your Zoo in over 30 years,” said Dolf DeJong, CEO of the Toronto Zoo. “As an important ambassador for this marsupial species, Clover will inspire guests to learn more and become Guardians of Wild. We’re grateful to our friends at the Australian Consulate-General in Toronto for helping us select naming options for this little joey. Aligning with representatives from the animal’s place of origin is a powerful way to build strong community connections and honour the cultural origins of the species.”

The Australian government also weighed in on the news. “The naming of this wonderful joey is a celebration of the unique bond between Australia and Canada,” said Kate Logan, Australian High Commissioner to Canada. “Wombats hold a special place in the hearts of Australians, and it is heartwarming to see Canadians welcome this little ambassador to the Toronto Zoo. We have been overjoyed to see how enthusiastically our Canadian friends have embraced little Clover and we look forward to watching Clover engage with Toronto Zoo guests. We are sure that she will be a delightful marsupial member of the Zoo community.”

A Rare Win for the Zoo

Clover is the result of years of planning and fine-tuning by Toronto Zoo staff, with support from other zoos that care for wombats. Breeding behaviour was observed between mom Matilba and dad Arthur in January, and in early April, keepers noticed “fluttering movements” in Matilba’s pouch — the first sign that a baby was on board.

She is only the second wombat ever successfully reared at the Zoo. The first, a female named Nan (1994–2018), is Clover’s great-grandmother.

What’s Happening Inside That Pouch?

Wombats are marsupials, and their pregnancies last only about three weeks. Most of a joey’s development happens outside the womb, in the pouch.

• At birth: The baby is about the size of a jellybean and weighs half a gram. Born naked and blind, with back legs not yet developed, the joey claws its way through its mother’s fur and into the pouch.
• Months 0–4: Inside the warm pouch, the joey fastens onto a teat and nurses for about four months. Its eyes open at around four months.
• Month 6: The joey can start poking its nose out of the pouch, though it won’t venture outside to explore for another month or two.
• Month 10: The joey leaves the pouch permanently and follows at its mother’s heels, learning to burrow and graze.

Southern hairy-nosed wombat mothers also invest heavily in their young. Over nearly a year of nursing, a mother’s body adapts the composition of her milk to match the joey’s changing needs, increasing fat and decreasing carbohydrate to support each stage of development.

What’s Next for Clover

Clover is getting braver by the day. She’s no longer living in Matilba’s pouch and only sticks her mouth in to feed. Visitors to the Australasia Pavilion may be able to catch a glimpse of her exploring the habitat — though, like any baby, she’s very much on her own schedule.

Wombats in the Wild

Southern hairy-nosed wombats are currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, but they face challenges including drought, habitat changes, and competition for food. They live in the semi-arid and arid grasslands and woodlands of southeastern Western Australia, southern South Australia, and southwestern New South Wales.

A trend toward a drier climate in arid southern Australia could pose a serious threat. The animals breed once a year, only if rainfall is good enough to grow the grass that sustains young wombats, and joeys born during a drought have little chance of survival. Overgrazing can also destroy the perennial grasses that juvenile wombats need in favour of annual grasses that don’t meet their nutritional needs.

Their future in other parts of Australia is uncertain, as wombats have been persecuted as “pests” for competing with sheep and cattle for food.

How to Support the Zoo

Donor support helps secure a brighter future for species like Clover. Gifts to the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy, the Zoo’s fundraising partner, support its conservation science efforts and the well-being of all animals in its care. Visit the Toronto Zoo website for details.