LONDON - A koala scaled new heights this week after flying by passenger plane from Germany to Scotland to become Edinburgh Zoo's newest resident. Tanami, a 19-month-old male Queensland koala, had his own seat on Friday's Eurowings flight from Dusseldorf to the Scottish capital, as sensitive animals cannot be placed in the hold on aircraft. The upwardly-mobile marsupial, who remained in a cage for the one hour, 45 minute ride through the skies, left Duisburg Zoo to join Scotland's only koalas in a conservation breeding program. He will trade places with Toorie, a young male koala already in Edinburgh who is set to make the 700-mile reverse journey next week. "Koalas are very sensitive animals, so special care needs to be taken when transporting them," said Darren McGarry, head of living collections at the British zoo. "They travel in the plane's cabin and not in the hold so keepers can easily make sure everything's okay during the flight." He added Tanami had generated plenty of excitement but public viewings of the new arrival would be restricted this weekend as he adapted to his new home. - AFP