thats one snuggly baby...

bagnshoofetish

bagnshoofetish

Oh. Gee.
O.G.
Feb 12, 2006
33,558
3,108
#1
heres another overdose of cuteness. its our baby wallaby. this photo was actually taken about a week ago. he's growing fast!
(and for those of you who don't know - I am an animal keeper - I do not own this animal...)

wallaby.jpg
 
#2
Well give us some stats! How much does this one weigh, and what will the adult weight be? What is the gestation period for wallabys?
Too cute.
 
#3
Irishgal said:
Well give us some stats! How much does this one weigh, and what will the adult weight be? What is the gestation period for wallabys?
Too cute.
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glad you asked. he is a yellow footed rock wallaby. he's approximately 8 months old. he's probably around a pound or two. he will be around 15-20 lbs when mature. gestation is 1 month, whereas the peanut sized joey will climb into the pouch, attach itself to a teat, and remain there for the next 8 months. our wallaby's mommy died while he was still in the pouch hence the reason we are hand raising him. oh, and he likes quiet dinners and walks in the park.
 
#5
heres another fun fact: wallaby's have what you call delayed implantation. in other words, a fertilized egg will remain in the females body and not implant itself in the uterus until the current joey has left the pouch. amazing no?
 
#7
Irishgal said:
So, normally, he would have been in the pouch for a full 8 months? How old was he when his mom died?
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we estimated he was about 3 -4 months old.
also, though the joeys remain in moms pouch for 8 months, at about 6 months they begin to venture out to scrounge around and jump right back in when they are done. its like "the thing that wouldn't leave...."
 
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#9
Irishgal said:
Poor little guy, losing his mom. Do animals feel sad when they lose their mom?
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I think they feel vulnerable. I think sadness is felt by the more intelligent animals like the apes, chimps, etc. This joey only knows that we are his surrogate moms. I think its merciful that they don't hold that kind of sentiment. They only have a will to survive at any cost.
 
#10
bagnshoofetish said:
I think they feel vulnerable. I think sadness is felt by the more intelligent animals like the apes, chimps, etc. This joey only knows that we are his surrogate moms. I think its merciful that they don't hold that kind of sentiment. They only have a will to survive at any cost.
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Interesting. So do most animals lack the part of the brain that apes and chimps have? Or is it just not developed?
 
#11
Irishgal said:
Interesting. So do most animals lack the part of the brain that apes and chimps have? Or is it just not developed?
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good question. I don't know. whatever the element is that gives a creature intelligence, I think that part is what can be dormant or highly developed. It would be a great thing to research. case in point, one of our tamarins just lost his mate (she was ancient) and he seems to be a little down. but in every other case this has happened, as soon as we place another partner in with a solitary one, they perk up and go back to normal. so I have to ask, is it a sentimental thing where they are missing that specific individual or is it a survival thing where they feel vulnerable being alone? the whole safety in numbers thing and such...
 
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