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COLUMBIA (WACH, AP) -- It is an appearance seven months in the making, but the day has finally arrived. The latest addition to Riverbanks Zoo's koala exhibit is leaving its mothers pouch and saying hello, and you could have the opportunity to name it.

According to the zoo the baby koala was born last October to parents Jimmie and Lottie. After playing peek-a-boo for a few weeks the joey is venturing out but will remain very close with mom for several more months.

“Koala joeys start out about the size of a jelly bean and will on average spend six to seven months nursing and developing in their mother’s pouch before they are ready to begin exploring the outside world – typically one limb at a time or by poking their head out on occasion,” said John Davis, curator of mammals at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

In the videos above Tyler Ryan got a sneak peek at the koala joey during Good Day Columbia's Wild Wednesday last month.

This birth marks the fourth offspring for Jimmie and the sixth for Lottie. Jimmie came to Riverbanks from the Los Angeles Zoo in 2008. Lottie came to Riverbanks from Australia in 2003.

The joey is still nameless because guests attending the Zoo’s annual fundraiser will have an opportunity to bid on naming the koala joey as part of a silent auction during the event on Friday, September 28. Additional details will be available at www.riverbanks.org.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)