As you most likely know, I live in Australia. Like every place on this earth, we have creatures of all shapes and sizes. There are some that are not found elsewhere, except for in zoos and wildlife parks elsewhere in the world. I am reminded every day when I drive that there are kangaroos and koalas in the area and that I should slow down in case one has wandered onto the roadway. This is especially so when it comes to koalas, as they are somewhat slower than a kangaroo.
When I was a kid, I had the lovely experience of raising a joey kangaroo (baby) — my dad found it’s mother along the roadway; she had been hit by a car, and dad stopped to see if there was a joey in the pouch — which there was. So “Skippy” came to live with us for a few years, until he got too large for us to look after him any longer. As sad as it was, we had to give him to a wildlife park which would take good care of him. That would have been about 50 years ago, when I was 10. I often think of those years, of bottle feeding him until he could feed himself; of going with my dad out to a dam where there was a lot of tall grass, and bringing bags and bags of it back, so that we had enough for a growing kangaroo to eat.
The video below just melts my heart every time I see it. It is from an Australian wildlife park, and Imogen is the star of many videos. She’s been raised there from very young times, and this video shows the loving care that she and all the other residents receive on a daily basis.
Enjoy!
I am so thankful that you took good care of Skippy. One of my favourite childhood TV programmes was about Skippy the bush kangaroo. I can still remember the theme tune…
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Yes, that was a favourite show as I was growing up…so it seemed appropriate to call our kangaroo that. 🙂
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Oh my goodness! Absolutely adorable. And that must have been an amazing experience to raise a joey. 🙂
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Yes it was and it remains a much loved memory.
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Aw, so very cute Kim. I can relate to the bottle feeding bit having raised a little orphan lamb. In fact we just said goodbye to her today. They’re precious memories to have aren’t they?
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Hi Miriam. Sorry you had to say goodbye to her. They certainly have an impact.
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They absolutely do. But it was time for her to go.
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Shared in my posts of note today Kim. 🙂
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Awww thanks Nikki. I’ll go have a read. x
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Raising a joey is a lovely memory to have Kim. Now that is one uber-cute koala 🙂
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Thanks Gail — yes, one of my most treasured childhood memories.
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Our wildlife is wonderful, isn’t it? Even if some is quite dangerous. Just last night we rescued a gorgeous baby possum which will be in the hands of a wildlife carer this morning. Such a cutie.
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That’s great about the possum…I found one last year, and thankfully got it taken care before the cats in the street found it. Yes, our wildlife is wonderful. 🙂
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If you get your hands on some Koalas that need a home, I’ll take 14 of them.
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OK, I’ll keep you in mind. You’ll need a lot of gum trees, as they will only eat certain leaves. Better start planting a eucalyptus forest. https://www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/diet-habitat
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I wonder if I can get them to adapt to a pecan diet. We have plenty of those trees around here.
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LOL
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Oh my gosh. Vivi was totally jealous with all the ooohing and awwwwing going on while watching that! 🙂
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Oh I’m sure Vivi was…I know Lily was trying to be extra cute when I watched it…as if our pups would ever be upstaged by a cute koala!?!?!? 🙂
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No way! 😉
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Koala’s have the cutest expressions that you cannot help but love.
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They sure do — here in Brisbane there is a much loved koala sanctuary called Lone Pine. It’s on the banks of the Brisbane River and has been there as long as I can remember. As a kid my parents would treat us with a visit (we lived in Toowoomba, about 80 miles west of Brisbane) each year. I’m sure kids these days are still loving the experience.
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Wonderful video. Did you ever go visit Skippy at the wildlife park or was it easier not to?
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No we didn’t. Was hard enough to let him go, so I guess my parents thought it best to have that closure. I do remember the letting go part especially — we drove him down to the wildlife park, and had some interesting looks from other road users. Not something you see every day. 🙂
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They are so cute.
Leslie
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They sure are. The international students and tourists that come usually make a beeline for a park to get to hold one. 🙂
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