Disney’s Animal Kingdom has introduced Quartz, an albino wallaby joey, at Jumping Junction, the kangaroo and wallaby walk-through at Conservation Station, Blog Mickey reports.
Quartz has snow-white fur, pink eyes and a pink nose, while the rest of the kangaroos and wallabies have red, grey or brown coats. Disney’s photos show her peeking out of an adult wallaby’s pouch and exploring the sand and ferns on her own.
Why Quartz Is White
Albinism means the body makes little or no melanin, the pigment that gives fur, skin and eyes their color. It is a recessive trait, so a joey has to inherit the mutation from both parents to be born with it, which means both of Quartz’s parents carry it.
Disney says Quartz receives dedicated care from the animal care team and continues to be a happy, healthy joey. She follows another recent arrival, Timu the eastern black rhino, who joined Kilimanjaro Safaris.
How To See Her
Jumping Junction replaced the Affection Section at Conservation Station this spring, alongside the Bluey’s Wild World takeover that nods to the show’s Australian roots. Guests follow a paved path while red kangaroos, western grey kangaroos and red-necked wallabies, also called Bennett’s wallabies, move freely around them. To get there, ride the Wildlife Express Train from Harambe Station in Africa. WKMG News 6 toured the habitat this summer:
Jumping Junction began a soft opening in June, with animal care Cast Members leading small groups along the path. At the time, the park’s zoological manager said the team was acclimating the kangaroos and wallabies to guests very slowly and letting the animals show when they were ready.
In red-necked wallabies, a joey first starts leaving the pouch at around seven months and spends roughly nine months in it overall, according to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Young wallabies keep nursing for months after that.
A sighting is not guaranteed, since Quartz may be tucked in the pouch when guests walk through. When she is out of the pouch, her white coat is easy to spot against the rest of the group.
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