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Rescued joey is a rare gem
The Daily Telegraph, Edition 8 - Central Coast Extra
THU 30 SEP 2004, Page 003
By SHOBA RAO
BRUSH-TAILED rock wallaby joey, named Aussie, was born after his mother was rescued from a remote New Zealand island by Waterfall Springs Sanctuary workers Lloyd Oldfield and Debbie Breen.
Now being raised at the sanctuary in Kulnura, he is one of the few brush-tailed rock wallabies in Australia, and will eventually help boost the rock wallaby population.
Ms Breen said the sanctuary was lucky to have Aussie, and she was expecting up to eight more joeys to be born this spring at the sanctuary.
"Aussie is a real cutie," she said.``He only weighs 470g, but we are already seeing bulges in the other pouches of the wallabies we rescued from our trip to New Zealand."
Ms Breen said she and Mr Oldfield would continue to hand-raise Aussie, and the offspring from their other brush-tailed rock wallabies -- rescued from starvation caused by food shortages in NZ -- who will become part of a breeding program at the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is also involved in a breeding program with Adelaide Zoo to help re-build the yellow-footed rock wallaby population.
It is estimated that there are only 100 yellow-footed and 100 brush-tailed rock wallabies left in Australia.
Ms Breen, who learned how to breed rock wallabies at Adelaide Zoo, has also rescued other endangered animals including a wombat named Maddie and a red-necked paddymelon wallaby.
A non-profit organisation, the sanctuary needs sponsors to help finance the centre.
To sponsor animals at the Waterfall Springs Sanctuary call Ms Breen on 43761066.
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