Orphaned baby wombat melts hearts in Australia

ByMichael King WPVI logo
Friday, October 10, 2014
Orphaned baby wombat
A zookeeper at a zoo in Australia has become the surrogate mother for an orphaned baby wombat

SYDNEY, Australia -- An orphaned baby wombat has found a new surrogate mom: A zookeeper at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia.

Chloe was found hours after her mother had been struck and killed by a car. The six-month-old wombat joey was still alive inside her mother's pouch.

Now zookeeper Evelyn Weston has taken over. She carries Chloe around with her in a pouch she made out of a pillow case and bottle feeds her every five hours.

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When Chloe isn't eating or sleeping, she spends her free time "melting hearts among the Zoo's keepers."

"My biggest problem is getting her back," joked Weston. "She's very affectionate and also a bit naughty. She loves chewing on shoes and if you walk away from her she chases after you like a rocket."

Chloe will remain in Evelyn's care for at least another two months. Zookeepers hope she'll be strong enough to return to the wild in about 18 months.