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Zoo News
Hey Joey, Hop Off!
24 June 2010 - A new addition to the swamp wallabies can now be seen at Edinburgh Zoo. Born in September last year and the first to be born of this species at the Zoo, the baby wallaby or joey was hidden in his mother’s pouch for eight to nine months before emerging.
Now seen out of the pouch quite regularly, keepers this week were able to sex the infant and the female has since been named Allora – Aboriginal for living in swamps.
Sue Gaffing, Head Keeper for the Hoofstock at Edinburgh Zoo said: “Allora has now reached an age where she would normally be encouraged by her mother to spend more time out of the pooch. For mum, carrying round a sizeable infant becomes quite difficult so it is important for Allora to venture out more and more each day. However in times of danger, it is common for the youngster to take refuge in the pouch.”
The Edinburgh Zoo wallaby population consists of a total of four wallabies (two females and two males) and Allora was born to the female known as Darri. Wallabies are members of the kangaroo family found primarily in Australia. The Swamp Wallaby becomes reproductively viable from 15-18 months of age, and can breed throughout the year. Gestation is from 33-38 days, leading to a single joey. The young is carried in the pouch from 8-9 months, but will continue to suckle until about 15 months.
For more information, contact:
Clara Govier, Communications Officer 0131 314 0312
Editor’s Notes
• Swamp wallabies are one of the many animals available as part of our animal adoption
programme which offers a unique way of supporting our animal conservation work. For more
information visit
www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/support/adoption/why-adopt.html
• Edinburgh Zoo is owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, a registered
charity, charity no SC004064. For further information on all our conservation projects and events,
please visit our website –
www.edinburghzoo.org.uk
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