Wallabies Hop to Life at Brookfield Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: July 16, 2021 10:45 pm

Maggie Chardell, a lead animal care specialist for the Chicago Zoological Society, feeds Whitney, a Bennett’s wallaby born at Brookfield Zoo on November 12, 2020. The wallaby is being hand-reared by animal care staff because her mom required medical treatment.

Photo Credit: Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo

A trio of Bennett’s wallaby joeys have hopped in to life at the Brookfield Zoo in the USA. Three mothers, Becky, Marion and Talia all gave birth to joeys during late 2020.

Due to the unique way in which wallaby joeys are born it is difficult to determine their exact date of birth. Wallaby joeys are the size of a jellybean at birth and climb to their mothers pouch unnoticed where they remain for the next 280 days.

A Bennett’s wallaby joey born approximately on October 31, 2020, and its mom, Becky. The two can be seen at Brookfield Zoo’s Hamill Family Wild Encounters.

Photo Credit: Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo

At present the oldest Joey at Brookfield Zoo, estimated to have been born on October 31st 2020 is already spending much of its time outside of the pouch. The youngest born on December 1st 2020 has recently begun to emerge from the pouch.

The middle joey named Whitney by keepers has had a rough start to life since her birth on November 12th 2020. Mother Marion required medical treatment while caring for her joey and out of an abundance of caution veterinary staff decided it was in the best interest of all individuals to remove the joey from the pouch.

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Currently Whitney is being bottle fed by keepers. Once she is weaned and independent she will be reunited with mom at the Hamill Family Wild Encounters Exhibit. Until this is possible keepers are taking her outside for exercise and sunshine. When not exercising she is carried in a pouch by keepers giving her a chance to watch the activity going out outside.

Bennett’s wallabies are native to Australia. Here they live in coastal areas, woodlands and grasslands.

In warm temperatures these wallabies will lick their arms and hands with the saliva left behind then evaporating and helping to cool them off.