Red-Legged Pademelon

May 2007

It is not often we receive a Red-Legged Pademelon in to care, they are simply not that common any more. They are a beautiful little wallaby, very similar to the Red-Necked Pademelon.

Due to habitat destruction and unfortunately predators such as dogs they are seen only rarely these days. They are now listed as a vulnerable species.

This little fellow came into care after having been brought to school by some local children, lucky for the wallaby a wildlife carer is a teacher at that school, and she retrieved the joey from the school bag. How or why he ended up in the children's possession we shall probably never know, the main thing is that he was brought in to care, where he can be released back in to the wild when he is ready, and help save his species from extinction, which is sadly where they are now heading much too fast.

He was extremely stressed when he arrived in to care, but his general condition was good, he was given medication for possible Myopathy, and he has settled well in to care at this stage. Now interacting with several other joey's in the nursery pen he is relaxed, growing well and on his way back to the wild when he is old enough to fend for himself.

 

 

UPDATE August 2007

 

Our little Red Legged Pademelon has done well in care, he no longer needs his pouch, he still gets one bottle at night of formula, but now eats mainly native food. He is well on his way back to the wild.

 

 

 

When receiving a joey in to care, we can be fairly certain how long a member of the public may have had the joey, as the feaces tell its own story. Many people will be reluctant to say that they may have had a joey for some time, as it is illegal in NSW to keep native wildlife unless you are a registered wildlife carer and trained in their special needs and care. Other states of Australia have different laws. Unfortunately this can be a very sad story for the animal concerned, as we receive many animals that have been raised inappropriately, given the wrong food and housed incorrectly. Native Australian animals are unique to this country, we are loosing them rapidly due to habitat destruction, and human impact in general, let us all ensure that what is left is raised in the best way possible, and get them back out in the wild. Having them as pets is just not acceptable in my opinion.

 

 

 

To see more images of these magnificent animals, please click here

 

March 2005

I

I received a phone call late one evening that a domestic dog had killed one of these delightful animals, and there was a joey in the pouch. The joey was good size and seemed unharmed.

After a dog attack the time of recovery is a lot longer, and in this case it was no different. I tried after 6 days to put him outside in his pouch, but as he would have spent most the time out of pouch, he hopped straight out. Normally a joey that has come in recently, will stay in the pouch for a while before venturing out and meeting the other wallabies in care. They will stick their head out first, making friends before trying that first very scary exit from the security of their now new home, the substitute pouch.

This little one went straight for freedom, it was not to be found, as the nursery pen is secure, so I spent quite some time talking and calming the animal down, before finally being able to put him back in his pouch. He is now back inside, untill I am certain he knows he is safe, and have no need for escape quite so soon. He will be in care for about 5 months before he will be ready for release.

He is seen here 2 months after coming in to care, now settled and interacting well with all the other wallabies in care.

In this image you can clearly see the difference between the 2 species of Pademelon's, the Red leg being at the back of image.

The Pademelon has done extremely well in care and he is almost ready for release. Normally we soft release animals such as this, which means they are taken to a large enclosure of 1 acre, they are given time to adapt to life in the wild before making that final step of freedom.

He will be taken back to where he was originally found, although not on the same property, in close proximity we have located a safe property where the owners are happy to keep an eye on his progress. They regularly watch this specie feeding on their lawn at night.

This Pademelon has been reared with as little human interaction as possible , in the hope that he will adapt to life in the wild without the procedures we would normally undertake before release.

It has been a privilege to have the opportunity to care for this animal.