The Territory Wildlife Park is in the midst of an unprecedented baby boom with zookeepers swamped by 11 baby animals.

The animals include four baby wallabies, a baby possum, two baby barking owls, two baby red flying foxes, a black-footed tree rat and one baby curlew. 

Territory Wildlife Park Director, Shael Martin, said the orphans had been rescued by members of the public or the Park’s rangers. 

“This is the most babies I’ve ever seen at one time here at the Territory Wildlife Park,” said Ms Martin.  

“We’ve been inundated with orphans over the past few weeks and unfortunately the main reason for the wallaby joeys coming into care is because their mothers have been hit by cars and killed.” 

Ms Martin said the Top End’s low rainfall could be behind the baby boom with the mothers forced to travel to higher populated areas in their search for food and water. 

“With the dry weather the babies’ mothers are struggling in the wild and so wallabies especially seek out the greener grass on road verges and so they are crossing roads and unfortunately getting hit by cars,” she said. 

The majority of the animals are being hand reared by the TWP’s zookeepers until they’re strong enough to survive alone. They’ll then be released into the enclosures within the Park where they will live safe and long lives. 

For 23 year old Zookeeper, Nicolas Pond, that means around the clock attention and many sleepless nights as he looks after a four week old baby wallaby. 

“It’s pretty taxing I’ve been looking after her 24/7 and taking her home with me,” he said. 

“I have to feed her every two hours so it’s like raising a little baby myself but it’s really rewarding when you see them grow up healthy and they’re able to live their own life.” 

If members of the public come across orphan baby animals they should call the TWP on 8988 7200 or Wildcare NT on 0408 885 341. 

Media Contact: Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture Media Manager 0401 115 634