Whats it like to raise a joey or a baby kangaroo(i know there the same thing some people might not)?

Question

and how old are they when you let them free or do you not let them free? just curious!

Answer 1

We are not allowed to keep kangaroos or any of our other native wildlife as pets. To raise a baby kangaroo, you need to be a registered wildlife carer.

Having said that, raising a baby kangaroo is very hard but rewarding work. Remember that as marsupials, the babies are virtually embryos when they are first born. If you are caring for a very young joey (a pink i.e. no fur), it needs to be fed 3 or 4 hourly on a special formula. They don't eat solids until around 9 months of age.  Carers generally carry them with them at all times in a pouch sort of thing and there is a lot of cleaning up to do (of both the pouch and the baby) as it is very important that baby and pouch are kept very clean. The carer must also substitute for the mother in stimulating evacuation, so there is a lot more to it than simply looking after a cute little animal.

Once the youngsters are old enough to get out of the pouch, they are very funny and adorable and it's really difficult not to get too fond of them - you know they will have to be set free at some stage.

Depending on the species and the individual's development, most will be set free some time during their 2nd year.

Answer 2

I helped raise them as a child  and from what I can remember as I child I thought it was amazing.  Once they were able to walk around we just let them in the back yard and eventually they would roam further and further away.

We lived where there were no wildlife rescues so when my Dad found them down the drilling holes he would bring them home for us to raise.  We did a great job with most of them some did die and that was sad.

Oh and to add Kangaroos do roam around some streets and koalas as well. There is a dead kangaroo at the bottom of my street that has been hit by a car and I saved a Koala a few years ago.  It was sitting in a tree with really bad chlamydia.  I rang the Koala sanctuary and they came and took it away.  A couple of months later they rang me back to inform me she was great and was still able to reproduce.  They had released her in the bush were I live and named her after me. (That was pretty cool)

Oh and I live only 45min from Brisbane City.

Answer 3

Believe it or not koalas kangaroos and tasmanian devils don't wander the streets of Australia.

Injured or sick wildlife is protected by law - you can't raise them at home only in wildlife sancutuaries.

Contact Taronga Zoo in Syndney Australia for more general information.

Answer 4

I had two Joey's to raise after their mother was killed and found them to be more loyal than a dog. They followed you everywhere and when it came for them to go to bed, you would get a pillow case and open it up and they would immediately jump in, then you just hung the pillow case on the back of a chair. Their names where Pixie and Dixie. An experience I will never forget.

Answer 5

My wife & I are long-time members of native animal care groups, and 'shaun's answer is very good.

Many people come into care groups all starry-eyed thinking they'll have their own little living fluffy toy (whether it be kangaroo/wallaby, possum, glider or whatever). They're surprised to find that it can be pretty hard going, and sometimes expensive (volunteer) work.

When raised properly, for reward, carers have the joy of seeing a healthy animal released to the wild. Can NOT be kept as 'pets'. That is cruel on the animal and is only beneficial to the person's ego.

Cheers.