Fallen from his mother’s pocket, a baby wallaby from the Upie zoo, near Valence (Drôme), was saved by the park’s trainers, reports The Dauphine Libere. For nearly a month, Julie, an accountant at the zoo, has acted as a surrogate mother by carrying him in a cloth bag, permanently. The animal must indeed be kept warm because, without hair, it is unable to regulate its body temperature on its own.
Zoo keepers had waited to see if the baby’s mother came to pick him up. It was not the case. hence this original solution. “The wallaby was dehydrated, in full hypothermia. They took out the hot water bottle, the bottle, ”says Julie to the Dauphine Libere.
“It’s like a newborn! »
“It’s like a newborn! “, continues the accountant Julie, who gives the animal the bottle every four hours. His family gives him a helping hand. “My husband takes care of it while I’m in the shower. My 14 year old daughter is thrilled. The dogs are curious, but right now the baby doesn’t have much immunity, so I don’t let them get too close to him. »
This unusual story is not over yet: the accountant will have to keep the baby wallaby close to her for another two months.