Wales family names kangaroo joey

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children have named a new kangaroo joey at Australia Zoo.

The Wales family has named a new eastern grey kangaroo joey housed at Queensland’s Australia Zoo.

The family chose a Welsh name for the new animal, and Robert Irwin (son of legendary Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin) revealed the new name in a video.

The new joey is called Cwtch, which means “cuddle” in Welsh. It is pronounced, “kutch.”

Photo: Australia Zoo

Irwin said of the name and collaboration, “I absolutely love the name ‘Cwtch’ – it couldn’t be more perfect for this little joey. I am so thankful to have received special assistance from Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with the naming. Cwtch is already stealing hearts, and I hope she inspires people to fall in love with wildlife and want to help protect it.”

Irwin, who recently won the Mirrorball Trophy on the American Dancing with the Stars, works closely with the Prince and Princess of Wales as an ambassador for William’s Earthshot Prize.

The zoo also explained more about the grey species, “Eastern grey kangaroos are an iconic Australian species that help maintain healthy ecosystems. However, like many native animals, they face threats from habitat loss, climate change, and human activity. The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, one of the world’s largest and busiest of its kind, regularly treats eastern grey kangaroos and other macropods, highlighting the challenges they face and the importance of protecting their wild counterparts.”

Australia Zoo continues to support conservation, and each person’s visit helps to continue that work.

Australia Zoo was originally opened in 1970 as Beerwah Reptile and Fauna Park by Bob and Lyn Irwin, Robert’s grandparents. After Steve Irwin’s 2006 death from a stingray injury, the Irwin family has continued to operate the zoo.