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Matschie’s tree kangaroo joey “Samala” now has a name.Lincoln Children’s Zoo announced Tuesday, that its rare female Matschie’s tree kangaroo, born in 2025, was named Samala.The name came after the zoo invited the community to vote. Samala was chosen over Rosenke, Tarawe and Yautoka.Samala was named after a village birth attendant in the YUS Conservation Area of Papua New Guinea, where Matschie’s tree kangaroos live in the wild. Village birth attendants are local midwives who help women through pregnancy and childbirth in remote areas with limited access to medical care.According to the zoo, Samala has been part of the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program’s health project since 2005. She studied to become a midwife and took part in workshops through the program.The zoo said the name highlights how conservation and community support are closely connected. Efforts in Papua New Guinea help protect both people and the cloud forest habitat that endangered Matschie’s tree kangaroos depend on.Lincoln Children’s Zoo supports the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program and is a partner in Tree Kangaroo of Papua New Guinea SAFE, a program focused on saving the species from extinction.Samala and her mother, Judie, are in the Matschie’s tree kangaroo habitat inside the Animal Kingdom Building.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Matschie’s tree kangaroo joey “Samala” now has a name.
Lincoln Children’s Zoo announced Tuesday, that its rare female Matschie’s tree kangaroo, born in 2025, was named Samala.
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The name came after the zoo invited the community to vote. Samala was chosen over Rosenke, Tarawe and Yautoka.
Samala was named after a village birth attendant in the YUS Conservation Area of Papua New Guinea, where Matschie’s tree kangaroos live in the wild. Village birth attendants are local midwives who help women through pregnancy and childbirth in remote areas with limited access to medical care.
According to the zoo, Samala has been part of the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program’s health project since 2005. She studied to become a midwife and took part in workshops through the program.
The zoo said the name highlights how conservation and community support are closely connected. Efforts in Papua New Guinea help protect both people and the cloud forest habitat that endangered Matschie’s tree kangaroos depend on.
Lincoln Children’s Zoo supports the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program and is a partner in Tree Kangaroo of Papua New Guinea SAFE, a program focused on saving the species from extinction.
Samala and her mother, Judie, are in the Matschie’s tree kangaroo habitat inside the Animal Kingdom Building.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
