This Adorable Wallaby Is Being Hand-Reared at the Australian Reptile Park

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: August 31, 2020 3:15 pm

Alinta the yellow-footed rock wallaby being hand-raised

Photo Credit: The Australian Reptile Park

A rescued wallaby has been given a second chance at life after keepers at the Australian Reptile Park in New South Wales, Australia noticed she had become ill.

Alinta was four months old and living in moms pouch when keepers noticed that she had developed severe dermatitis and a fungal infection. Without treatment these conditions may have proven deadly.

Luckily keepers were watching over the joey and noticed the condition early in its development. When they realized she was not improving they retrieved her and she was seen by a vet.

Alinta the yellow-footed rock wallaby being hand-raised

Photo Credit: The Australian Reptile Park

Australian Reptile Park Director Tim Faulkner adds, “It comes down to both luck and passion that our staff were able to see something was off and rescue little Alinta. We’re very lucky to have some of the best zookeepers in the business here! Australia sadly has the worst mammal extinction rate on the planet, so the joeys are especially important in preserving this incredible species!”

To ensure she remains healthy Alinta is now being hand-reared by keeper Brooke Barton. She is currently six months old and has become a happy, healthy joey. At the time of her rescue she weighed just 388g (13.7oz) but she has since grown to a healthy 812g (28.6oz).

Alinta will spend the next few months being raised by new mom Brooke before she is ready to return to the yellow-footed rock wallaby exhibit with the rest of her family.

Alinta the yellow-footed rock wallaby being hand-raised

Photo Credit: The Australian Reptile Park

— AD —

Brooke says of being a new mother, “It’s incredible to see how far Alinta has come. There was a time when we really didn’t know if she would recover from her ailments and it took about four medications until the right one worked and we saw improvement. Now, she is thriving!”

Keeper Brooke continued, “Alinta already has so much personality, I love every second I spend with her. It’s the most rewarding thing in the world to nurse a joey and watch them become independent, happy and healthy!”

Raising a marsupial joey is not an easy task. Brooke needs to feed Alinta every 5 hours including one at 2am. She receives a specially formulated milk mix. In between feeds Alinta rests in a knitted pouch which mimics the one her mother had.

Recently Alinta has been emerging from the pouch for the first time and starting to practice her hopping skills.

Video of Alinta the yellow-footed rock wallaby being hand-raised

Video Credit: Courtesy Australian Reptile Park

Alinta will become part of the breeding program for the endangered yellow-footed rock wallaby at the Australian Reptile Park. These animals were once found across Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. Unfortunately they are now extinct in Queensland and New South Wales with just 5,000 remaining in South Australia.

Learn more about the yellow-footed rock wallaby – Yellow-footed rock wallaby fact file | The Animal Facts

Learn more about the Australian Reptile Park on their website – Australian Reptile Park