The population of one of the world's rarest animal species, the northern hairy-nosed wombat, has been boosted by the arrival of a joey - the first recorded in Queensland in five years.

The joey has emerged from its mother's pouch at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge in south-west Queensland to the delight of staff and landowners.

A northern hairy-nosed wombat mother and joey which was born at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge near St George in south-west Queensland. Credit:Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

"The joey was shy at first, preferring to stay close to its mother but it's expected to become a lot more active now that it has stepped out of the pouch," Environment Minister Steven Miles said.

There are only about 250 of the marsupials in the wild.