Roos and Wallabies!

Every wildlife park I have been to in Australia has an area with kangaroos and/or wallabies tame enough to walk among and hand feed and Monday was my rotation with the Macropod group at Lone Pine.  

I forgot to ask how many roos live at the sanctuary but there has to be at least 75.  Most of these animals have spent their life at the Sanctuary and are very used to people.  When you are the first person in the paddock in the morning, they all charge toward you, fully expecting breakfast to be served immediately.

There are four different kinds of macropods in the reserve:  Red kangaroo, Easter Grey kangaroo, Red-necked wallaby and the Swamp wallaby.  I think my favorites are the little swamp wallabies because they have a cute little mask on their face - much like a raccoon.  Unfortunately, they are the most skittish and very few will allow you near them.  The big reds and greys come right up looking for handouts and some of them like their neck, ears and chest scratched just like a dog.

We also have three emus (who are very tall with VERY pointy beaks) that live in the reserve with the roos.  While sweeping old hay and putting out fresh, the emus have no problems coming over to the wheel barrow and helping themselves to the pile.  They make the biggest mess.  One of the emus is pretty forward and I had to push him away multiple times.  But, just like a small child, I wear out before they do in an argument.  They don't understand "because I said so".  He got some hay and I had to pick up stuff twice.

As a bonus, a huge flock of corellas (60-70) flew over while we were out working.   Of course, they weren't headed to the sanctuary and I didn't get any pictures of them.

I had the opportunity to feed the Laughing Kookaburras.  (I did ask why the Kookaburras were in the Macropod group...just worked out that way.)  They get whole mice (which is better than feeding the Tawny Frogmouths mice pieces).  It was GREAT.  You toss them a mouse and they beat it against the branch as if it was a fresh catch in the wild.  (It's also fun to watch the tourists during feeding times.  Some really don't appreciate the show.)

The best of the day was this little guy.  His mother wasn't producing enough milk and she abandon him several weeks ago.  The keeper decided to try bottle feeding and the little one has done fantastic.  Being hand raised, he came over and was nosing my hand when I first walked in...he knew it was time for a bottle!  He gets 2 a day and will for another two-ish weeks.  Then it will be down to one a day...

However, the VERY BEST of the day was having the opportunity to go into the animal hospital and seeing the really tiny little roo that is still on milk only.  He gets a little bottle every 4 1/2 hours and goes home with the keeper at night. (Yes, he has an insulated lunch bag for traveling.)  His mother had to be put down and they are trying to keep him going. They have quite a contraption built up to simulate hanging in a mother's pouch when he is not being carried around.  We weighed him and he was up to 999 grams...almost two pounds.  He is putting on about 75 grams a week and has another 600 grams to go before starting solid food.

What a great way to spend a Monday!