Signs of spring at North Devon zoo as baby wallaby sees the world for the first time

A wallaby joey at Exmoor Zoo has popped its head out of mum’s pouch for the first time as it prepares to meet the big wide world.

It is possible Easter holiday visitors to the zoo near Bratton Fleming will also see a slightly older wallaby joey taking their first tentative hops too, but for now their more recent sibling is happy just to survey the world from the safety of mum’s pocket.

A mother wallaby is known as a ‘Jill’ and the zoo’s trainee keeper Riley is also thrilled to become a ‘surrogate Jill’ to the newest arrival, after caring for the species since he began working at the zoo in September.

Above: Trainee keeper Riley has been looking after the wallabies at Exmoor Zoo since he started work there in September. Credit: Exmoor Zoo 

He said: “Spotting the joeys is great, we have one which is further along in age as it has more fur on its head and one that is pinkie brown, so it’s a bit younger than the other one.” 

The zoo’s red-necked wallabies, also known as Bennett’s wallabies, have a very short gestation period of around 28 to 30 days. The tiny bean sized joey will then disappear into the pouch for up to nine months as it grows.

At this stage for the joey pictured here, just the head is likely to be seen as they start to grow bigger until eventually they are ‘afoot’ - a term described by keepers when the joeys won’t stay in the pouch but occasionally put their head in for milk.

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Zoo director Danny Reynolds said: “It can get quite hot in those pouches so from time to time, keepers see tails and feet also sticking out to cool down.

“Like most marsupials they are dependent on the milk mum produces for up to a year, but as they get older and venture out the pouch they start to eat more solids and drink less milk.

“Hopefully, the older joey will hop out for Easter ready for our visitors to see them. But in the meantime, Riley is excited to be a ‘Jill’ for the first time - a wallaby mummy!”

Watch below: The joey has begin to peer out carefully from his cosy pocket. Credit: Exmoor Zoo