There's a new face at the Toronto Zoo, though you may have to squint to see it. The zoo has introduced its latest southern hairy-nosed wombat joey, currently going by the hashtag #TZPouchPotato — a nod to the fact that, like all wombat babies, she's spending her early days mostly inside her mother's pouch.
The zoo announced the arrival on Instagram and is asking the public to help pick her permanent name. Working with input from the Australian Consulate in Toronto, the zoo has shortlisted four options: Nellie, Melba, Matilda and Clover. Anyone can cast a vote on the zoo's official page, with one entry allowed per email. Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Wombat fans hoping for a glimpse won't have to wait too long. The zoo says lucky visitors might catch "tiny peeks" of the joey in the coming weeks as she grows bolder and starts poking her head out of the pouch. Full emergence — the moment she'll be properly out and about — is expected later this fall.
Southern hairy-nosed wombats are one of three wombat species native to Australia, stocky burrowing marsupials known more for their cube-shaped droppings and tank-like build than for cuteness — though this joey is doing her best to change that reputation. Having a healthy joey at the Toronto Zoo is a win for the species' visibility in North America and gives Canadian animal-lovers a rare chance to watch a marsupial grow up in person.
If you're planning a visit, timing matters. Until the joey fully emerges, sightings are hit-and-miss — a brief ear or paw at best. Visiting a few weeks from now, once she's exploring her enclosure, gives you a much better shot at seeing her properly, and the fall is a pleasant time to wander the zoo's sprawling grounds in Scarborough anyway. While you're there, the zoo's Australia section features kangaroos and other Down Under residents, so the wombat fits right in.
As for the naming contest itself, there's a strong case for each option: Matilda has obvious Australian energy (waltzing, of course), Melba nods to the legendary opera singer Dame Nellie Melba — which makes Nellie a double-dip on the same reference — and Clover is the wildcard. The source's writers make a decent pitch for extending the potato theme (Mash, Tot, Tater), but the zoo's shortlist is what counts here, so pick your favourite and vote before the deadline. One entry per email, and that's it.
Why should a traveller care? Partly because a baby wombat is a genuinely charming reason to visit one of Canada's biggest zoos this season — and partly because being able to say you voted for a joey's name before she became famous is a small, delightful souvenir. Keep an eye on the zoo's social feeds for pouch-cam updates in the meantime.
