Zoo keepers hand rear joey
The Serengeti-Park in Hodenhagen, Germany, has had an unexpected new arrival requiring special care and attention by the zoo’s keepers.
Tiny ‘Sabrina’ was discovered lying in the grass in the kangaroo enclosure at the zoo. Keepers were unaware her mother ‘Urmel’ had even been pregnant.
It is believed the appearance of Sabrina came just a few days after Urmel attempted to escape from her enclosure. The keepers have put the tiny joey’s premature appearance down to the stress caused by her escape attempt which triggered her to abandon her baby out of the pouch.
It is thought that she emerged from her mother’s pouch three months early therefore she requires constant care, ensuring she is kept warm by keeping her close to the body or wrapped in a blanket. The cute 9.8inch tall critter, who weighs just half a pound, is also being fed with special milk five times a day.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
