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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — <\/span>A zoo in Florida has two reasons to celebrate \u2014 the first birth of a koala and a newly renovated habitat for the cuddly creatures is opening to the public on Saturday. <\/p>\n \u201cFor the zoo and for us here, it\u2019s the very big deal,\u201d said Amarylis Celestina, who oversees carnivores and koalas at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society in West Palm Beach, Florida. “We are trying the best that we can to help with a lot of the genetic diversity within the population that we have here in the United States. So that\u2019s why it\u2019s important that we do have a joey and that we were successful this year.\u201d<\/p>\n The joey, born to Ellin and Sydney last fall, remains in its mother’s pouch and has just recently started to become visible to zoo officials.<\/p>\n They continue to monitor Ellin’s weight, and are providing extra food as she cares for the baby.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the koala population is enjoying a renovated habitat, which include more greenery, new perching for exercising, and solar tubes to bring in more natural light. The changes bring a bit of the Australian outback to the zoo for koalas, which are an endangered species. They are able to move between their climate-controlled indoor exhibit and the expanded outdoor area.<\/p>\n \u201cThis new habitat is a milestone for our koalas,\u201d Margo McKnight, the zoo’s CEO and president said in a news release. \u201cThe deliberate design supports the voluntary, cooperative care our zoologists and koalas have developed together.\u201d<\/p>\n Koalas in the U.S. are on loan from the Australian federal government to help with conservation practices. <\/p>\n Koalas are generally peaceful, have a calm nature and enjoy a \u201cslow\u201d lifestyle. They like to climb and hop between the trees in the habitat. The renovations are designed to help koalas express their natural behaviors, zoo officials said.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n