Here's how it works:
* Birth and the pouch: Koalas are born tiny and blind. They immediately crawl into their mother's pouch and attach to a teat for milk.
* Growth and development: The joey stays in the pouch for about six months, growing and developing.
* Emergence and weaning: Around six months old, the joey starts venturing outside the pouch for short periods. They eventually start eating eucalyptus leaves and are weaned off milk around a year old.
* Independence: After a year, the joey is independent and leaves its mother to find its own territory.
While the father koala doesn't actively raise the young, he plays a role in protecting the mother and joey during this vulnerable time.