AssetID: 53226150
Headline: RAW VIDEO: The Koala Whisperer: Zoo Keeper Hand Raises Joey At Home With Her Family
Caption: A koala joey is being hand-raised after its mother became unwell after giving birth. Three months ago, Hayley Shute, the Life Sciences Manager at the Australian Reptile Park and affectionately known as the "koala whisperer," took on a special role as the surrogate mother for the tiniest koala joey ever hand-raised at the park. At the time of rescue, the adorable joey, named Albert, weighed a mere 200g. However, under Shute's dedicated care, he has made remarkable progress and now tips the scales at a healthy 1kg. Being a mother of three, Shute provided round-the-clock care for Albert, including bottle feeds of special milk formula throughout the day and night. She explains, "My life has never been busier. Albert goes with me everywhere I go, including to the shops and to work. Right after work, I’m coming home to my beautiful family, getting dinner started, helping the kids with their homework, and then I’m preparing bottles and feeding Albert.' "It’s definitely like having a newborn baby all over again. Thankfully, I have a few extra hands to help me this time – the kids just love having a koala in the house." Despite the challenges, Shute's unwavering commitment to Albert's well-being has paid off. She said, "It’s so worth it because Albert is going from strength to strength. In the three months that I’ve been caring for him, he’s put on a healthy amount of weight, has started eating eucalyptus leaves, and now he’s even learning how to climb trees." Albert came under Shute’s care when the park's team noticed that Elsa, one of the most famous koalas at the park, had fallen ill while carrying a small, vulnerable joey. Quick action was taken to intervene and remove the joey from Elsa, giving both mother and joey a second chance at life. Albert will remain under Shute's care for the next few months. He will undergo a gradual reintroduction to the other koalas at the Australian Reptile Park and, in due course, will be reunited with his mother, Elsa. Koalas, as an endangered species, require urgent assistance, as they are at risk of becoming extinct by 2050. The Australian Reptile Park continues its efforts to breed koalas in a bid to boost population numbers and educate Australians about these beloved marsupials.
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