True blue mates! Orphaned kangaroo and wombat are inseparable friends (they even share the same pouch)

By JILL REILLY

Creature comfort: Anzac the joey and Peggy the wombat have become best friends after sharing a pouch together at the Wildlife Kilmore Rescue Centre in Victoria, Australia

Opposites can attract and Anzac a doe-eyed baby kangaroo has become best friends with Peggy, a tiny squint-eyed wombat.
Their unlikely union developed after the pair - both orphans - shared a pouch at the Wildlife Kilmore Rescue Centre in Victoria, Australia.
At just over five months old, Anzac was brought to the centre after being rescued in the Macedon Ranges.
The joey is in the mother kangaroo's pouch for about eight months, depending on the species, but Anzac was abandoned a few months before he was ready to be free.

Happy pairing: At just over five months old, Anzac was brought to the centre after being rescued in the Macedon Ranges. Missing his mum, Anzac was placed with wombat Peggy and the two now sleep together

Luckily he was placed with Peggy, who was also feeling lonely and the two now sleep together, reducing the amount Anzac misses his mum.
Worker Lisa Milligan explained the unlikely friends are comforted by each others movement and heartbeat.
She said: 'There are lots of baby animals about at the moment, and they are orphaned for a range of reasons.'
One of the reasons the lively duo get on so well is their similar personalities - with Anzac described as very social while Peggy is boisterous and cheeky.
It's unclear if Peggy and Anxac's friendship will continue as they grow - firstly Peggy may not be able to keep up with Anzac.
Wombats walk with a somewhat awkward, shuffling or waddling gait.

Comforting cuddle: Worker Lisa Milligan said the unlikely friends are comforted by each other's movement and heartbeat

Although they appear to be slow and docile, wombats are very alert and can move quickly with great agility when needed.
But in contrast kangaroos can move a lot quicker and hop so efficiently that they can reach great speeds.
Although tiny at the moment as they get older their sizes will also start to differ greatly.

Opposites attract: One of the reasons the lively duo get on so well is their similar personalities - with Anzac described as very social while Peggy is boisterous and cheeky

Peggy will become powerfully built, weighing about 30kg - about the size of a small pig, although wombats are rarely dangerous.
But Anzac will become a lot taller and weigh about anything upwards of 30kg.
Luckily they are both herbivores so they won't be a threat to each other and if their friendship does continue they could spend their days side-by-side looking for luscious blades of green grass and leaves.

source: dailymail

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Morning world: Caddy the Wombat baby greets the world from her home-made pouch

By SARA MALM

Morning: Tiny Caddy the orphaned wombat emerges from her pouch at the shelter in Melbourne

This is the moment a baby wombat emerges from inside her home made pouch which has become her home after her mother was killed by a car.
Caddy is lucky to be alive as she was in her mother's pouch at the time of the accident and has been living in the temporary accommodation at Warrandyte Wildlife Shelter, in Melbourne, ever since.
As well as the care being given to her by a team of experts, the 18-month-old wombat has a pair of cuddly teddy bears that have been used to keep wombats company for the last decade and a half.

Hesitant: Reluctant at first, Caddy peers out from the safety of the pouch made by staff at the shelter

It's too early: Caddy sticks hear head out but does not seem to be pleased about being woken up and seems to 'shoo' away the photographer in an attempt to retreat back to the warm pouch

Maybe: Slowly but surely the little orphaned wombat makes her way out of the pink and blue pouch which is her home

My teddy: Caddy has found comfort in two teddy bears which have been handed down from orphan wombat to orphan wombat at the shelter


Caddy has won the hearts of the Warrandyte Wildlife Shelter in Melbourne - and judging by these pictures that does not come as a surprise

source: dailymail

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TWO super-cute and (super-rare) albino wombats rescued from the Australian outback

By DAMIEN GAYLE

Rare: Albino wombats Icy and Pola were discovered wandering around the south Australian outback

Southern Hairy Nosed Wombats - also known as 'Bulldozers of the bush' - are often found in savannahs and grass plains in central and southern Australia.
The animals, which live in a maze complex underground tunnels, can grow up to a length of around 40 inches long and 14 inches high.
A fully grown adult can weigh to 32kg or 68lbs - feeding on long grass and weeds - and are usually yellowish or sandy, to brown or black, to grey.
So wildlife rescuers were astonished to scoop up these two rare albino wombats wandering around the south Australian outback.

Rescued: They were found tired and hungry in fields near Ceduna, Australia

Feeling better: Rescue Centre manager Val Salmon with the Wombats she has nursed back to health

The pair of white Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat cubs - named Icy and Pola by their handlers - were found tired and hungry in fields near Ceduna, Australia.
They were taken to Ceduna Fauna Rescue Centre, where manager Val Salmon and her team nursed them back to health.
The cuddly duo are only the second and third white wombats to be seen at the sanctuary in more than 30 years.

source: dailymail

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Shrek the orphaned wombat tries to keep warm without fur

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

In the pink: Shrek the orphaned Wombat keeps warm at Kilmore Wildlife rescue centre near Melbourne, Australia

Britain may be sweltering under summer heat but down under it's winter time. So spare a thought for poor furless wombat Shrek, who has to rely on cosy blankets to keep warm.

The youngster is currently being cared for by staff at the Kilmore Wildlife rescue service near Melbourne in Victoria.

Recently the centre has been inundated with young injured animals as shorter winter days mean cars and critters are often on the road at the same time.


Cuddled up: With no fur, Shrek enoys being wrapped in a blanket


Shrek is just one of 11 young animals to be rescued in recent weeks after her mother was killed by a car.

She will now be brought up by wildlife volunteers for two years until she can be released.

But she can take heart from the story of another hairless wombat also called Shrek, who lost most of his hair from stress after being orphaned.

That Shrek was cared for by staff at the Maryknoll Wildlife Shelter in Melbourne and was quickly put on the road to recovery.


Fur enough: A common wombat dressed as nature intended


The follically-challenged young wombat had lost most of his hair from stress after being orphaned.

Vets in Healesville, Australia, gave him the nickname after noticing a green hue to his skin after he had been brought in for medical attention.

Shrek's hair loss and odd colour were put down to a fungal condition brought about by poor diet and stress from losing his mother.

source: dailymail

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Otto, a Tasmanian wombat, waddles around the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo

Otto, a Tasmanian wombat, waddles around the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo's newest exhibit in Albuquerque, N.M. , on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. The zoo is now home to the only Tasmanian wombats in North America. Otto and two other adult wombats arrived at the zoo last week.




Androo Kelly of the Trowunna Wildlife Park in Australia holds Otto, a Tasmanian wombat, at the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo's newest exhibit in Albuquerque, N.M. , on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. The zoo is now home to the only Tasmanian wombats in North America. Otto and two other adult wombats arrived at the zoo last week.



Otto, a Tasmanian wombat, waddles around the zoo's newest exhibit in Albuquerque, N.M. , on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. The zoo is now home to the only Tasmanian wombats in North America. Otto and two other adult wombats arrived at the zoo last week.



Albuquerque BioPark employee Bricker Thietten pets Otto, a Tasmanian wombat, in the zoo's newest exhibit in Albuquerque, N.M. , on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. The zoo is now home to the only Tasmanian wombats in North America. Otto and two other adult wombats arrived at the zoo last week.



Otto, a Tasmanian wombat, plays with his stuffed teddy bear toy in the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo's newest exhibit in Albuquerque, N.M. , on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. The zoo is now home to the only Tasmanian wombats in North America. Otto and two other adult wombats arrived at the zoo last week.




Androo Kelly of the Trowunna Wildlife Park in Australia holds Otto, a Tasmanian wombat, before the animal is released into a new zoo exhibit in Albuquerque, N.M. , on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. The Albuquerque BioPark is now home to the only Tasmanian wombats in North America. Otto and two other adult wombats arrived at the zoo last week.

source: Daylife
photo: AP photo

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On the mend: 'Shrek' the stressed-out orphan baby wombat who lost all his fur

By Mail Foreign Service

Stressed out: The baby wombat may have lost its fur after being abandonned by its mother


Spare a thought for follically-challenged Shrek, the young wombat who has lost most of his hair from stress after being orphaned.


He was found by some kind-hearted animal lovers; but when he lost half his body weight and his hair they decided to seek professional help


You may think he got his nickname from those sticky-out ears, but in fact it was given to him by vets in Healesville, Australia, when they noticed a green hue to his skin after he had been brought in for medical attention.

Shrek's hair loss and odd colour has been put down to a fungal condition brought about by poor diet and stress from losing his mother.

He was originally found and reared by some kind-hearted animal lovers; but when he lost half his body weight and his hair they decided to seek out professional help.

Now however, Shrek is making a full recovery and his carers at the Maryknoll Wildlife Shelter hope he grows as big and strong as his namesake.


source: dailymail

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