This sweet animal story demonstrates that home is where the heart is! An orphaned wallaby returned to the woman who raised her to share her joy of welcoming her baby joey into the world.
Reddit user Retaboop shared the happy news by posting a photo of the mother and son with the caption “Two years ago I raised an orphaned wallaby. Now she brings her own joey home to visit me.”
Reddit user Retaboop helps rehabilitate wildlife and has raised several orphaned wallabies. One of the wallabies was a female she named Mirabooka (“Bookie” for short). Her mom was struck and killed when she was only 5 months old.
Retaboop raised Mirabooka along with some other young ones until they were old enough to go back into the wild. Although the males tend not to come back, but the girls stay closer to home.
Retaboop is affiliated with a wildlife rescue and has helped rehabilitate many wallabies over the years, and always releases them back into the wild once they’re old enough. “We do what is called a soft release. Basically, they are just released from their pen (which is attached to the house),” Retaboop commented. “They are free to come back to the pen, and most of them will only go out for short adventures the first few days while they build confidence.”
Bookie visits often and even knocks on Retaboop’s door to announce she’s home for a visit. She came over with a boyfriend and soon after was pregnant. Retaboop knew the wallaby was expecting when the marsupial kept on checking her pouch.
“It’s been pretty special watching him grow from a tiny pink thing to what he is now. She’s a good mum,” Retaboop said on Reddit. The joey is named Rookie.
Bookie is often visiting with Rookie at Retaboop’s property. “She spent a lot of time here when her joey was first starting to learn to hop especially,” Retaboop commented. “I think she wanted him to be in a safe place when he was learning.”
How sweet is that? Here are some more pictures of Retaboop’s wallaby fosters over the years.
The lineup at breakfast time.
They like cuddles.
They are curious like every youngster!
Just chillin’
The joeys are so adorable!
Share this touching story of motherhood with your family and friends!
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