A tiny kangaroo joey on the New South Wales Central Coast is being hailed as a 'Christmas miracle' after surviving a traumatic start to life. The eight-month-old Eastern Grey joey, named Rooster, was thrown from his mother's pouch and left fighting for his life.
A Touch-and-Go Fight for Survival
According to wildlife experts, kangaroo mothers will sometimes eject their joeys when they sense the young are unwell or unlikely to survive. Without immediate intervention, these joeys typically perish. For little Rooster, that intervention came from the dedicated team at the Australian Reptile Park.
The park's operations manager, Brandon Gifford, said Rooster's prognosis was initially uncertain. "It was a little touch-and-go as to whether he was gonna make it or not," Mr Gifford admitted. "But now, he's bounced back, and it's a Christmas miracle." He confirmed that Rooster is now "not only surviving, he's thriving."
Round-the-Clock Care and Cuddles
Rooster's remarkable recovery is thanks to intensive, hands-on care. The joey requires bottle-feeding every five hours, a commitment that sees him accompanying Mr Gifford to work each day and home again each night.
"Rooster is the cutest joey you could ever raise," Mr Gifford said. "He follows me around everywhere I go, loves getting into his pouch and especially loves his smooches and his cuddles." He described the experience of hand-raising the kangaroo as profoundly rewarding, stating, "Hand raising a kangaroo joey is the greatest thing you could ever do. I absolutely cherish every moment I have with Rooster."
A Future with the Mob
The long-term plan for the resilient joey is full reintegration into kangaroo society. Once he is big and strong enough, Rooster will join the park's resident mob of kangaroos. He is set to become one of only a few males within the group, a testament to his survival against the odds.
This heartwarming story of recovery and dedicated care offers a festive highlight for wildlife lovers and underscores the critical work done by wildlife sanctuaries across Australia.
