RED-NECKED WALLABY FOUND ALONE
November 2007
Many juvenile animals are found alone, as was the case with this little wallaby. We can guess as to why they may have lost their mother, car accidents, mum has been shot and it is an at foot joey too young to fend for itself, this is unfortunately often what happens in areas where"culling" takes place, or in areas where kangaroos are shot for the meat market, be that for human consumption or the pet food market. Please do not support this industry, it is slowly destroying our native kangaroo population.
When I received this little female, I was astounded that she was still alive, she was literally a skeleton with fur, yet her 
eyes were so bright, and she had a zest for life that could not be ignored. The carer that had received her at first had removed in excess of 50 ticks, she had been found laying in a paddock, not able to stand.
How long she had been alone is anyone's guess, but it would have been some time, as she had lost over half of her body weight, no mother was found nearby, considering a joey will stay with it's mothers body I guess there is good reason to assume Mum had been shot some time ago, and the joey left as is usual if the joey is out of the pouch. Unfortunately they rarely survive and death is imminent, as they slowly starve to death. 
After having been in care for a week she was able to stand on her own, although she would favor one leg, but I was unable to see why this may be. I took her out of the pouch after each feed to let her gain a bit of strength, and do her business, which she preferred rather than being treated like a baby.
She has now been in care for 2 weeks, and unfortunately we have discovered the reason why she favored one leg, she has a nasty infection in the left leg. Off to the vet, and she is now being treated with antibiotics for this condition. She was x-rayed by Jill at Lismore Veterinary clinic, x-rays showed there was no damage to the bone.
Only time will tell if she can recover fully from her ordeal, but I must say that I have not come across an animal so 
debilitated, and yet with so much will power to stay alive no matter what.
She will be given every chance possible.
6 December 2007
Good news.
Our little "Bag of Bones" is doing well. She was on antibiotics for 3 weeks, and the infection in her leg did not create any bone damage.
She is now able to hop quite well, and finally gaining weight.
At no time during the past 4 weeks did she show any sign of giving up, even when she was very ill her will power to live and make it through astounded me.
January 2008
Our little wallaby is improving day by day, she is seen here mid January, now fully recovered from her 
ordeal, she is able to run at full speed through the pen, very proud of herself.
It is always rewarding when an animal does well in care, but somehow it is even more so when an animal such as this makes it through considering how she arrived, literally at deaths door.
It is not just a matter of caring for such an animal, they have to WANT to live, 
have what it takes to hang on, and keep going. This little lady had what it takes, amazing will power, and it has paid off for her, now a thriving little female, growing and enjoying life, getting ready for a life back in the wild, when she grows a bit bigger.
March 2008
Our little wallaby was successfully released back to the wild early in March 2008
June 9, 2008