Internet falls in love with rare white koala born in Queensland’s Australia Zoo

This uncommon koala is the first white koala joey to be born at the zoo in Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

According to Queensland's Australia Zoo, the koala's fair coat isn't because of albinism but probably caused by a recessive gene it acquired from its mom.

Seeing a koala born with white fur and brown black skin is more unusual than seeing an albino joey, Dr Rosie Booth, director of the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital said.

"In veterinary science it's often referred to as the 'silvering gene', where animals are born with white or very pale fur and, just like baby teeth, they eventually shed their baby fur and the regular adult colouration comes through," Dr Rosie said.

Central Queensland University ecologist Dr Alistair Melzer said he had not seen a white koala in over 20 years of observing the creatures in nature.

"It is something that would be selected against in the wild," he told the BBC, saying koalas had predators, for example, eagles and owls.

Koalas have a tendency to differ in size and colouration depending on their environment, the zoo said, with southern koalas observed to be darker and bigger than those in Queensland and South Wales.

Tourism Australia posted: “Welcome to the world little one! We love you 'cause you're different!”