Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/wombat-human-mom/
Wild animals are often involved in road accidents — leaving their babies orphaned and defenseless in the wild. It’s saddening that babies are left unaware of what their parents went through. They won’t be reunited again, as warmth has left the body of their loved ones. Complications start to occur after the road accident — the most concerning of all is that the baby’s survival is at risk. Aside from becoming easy targets for predators, no one will provide them with their daily needs. Without parental care, their health will worsen — leaving them weak for the wild.
The baby is fortunate if it is found by rescue teams, sanctuaries, and rehabilitation centers. These groups and organizations are willing to provide a second chance in life. They offer temporary homes, medication, food, water, affection, and survival training. Once strong and healthy enough to survive independently, those animals are released back into the wild. Although caretakers and foster parents are completely aware of the temporary setup, it’s difficult not to get attached. Fostering an animal is like nurturing your very own child. What’s more beautiful is that they’ll acknowledge humans are their parents.
Lindy from ACT Wildlife is an exemplary foster mom, and she’s a wombat coordinator. As part of their rehabilitation mission, Lindy has taken a baby wombat under her care. “Tonka’s mom was hit by a car and somebody stopped and checked the body and took him from her pouch,” Lindy shared. “I’ve had him now about three and a half months. He was only 700 grams, about one and a half pounds when he was rescued,” she explained. Everything essential for Tonka’s growth was given to her. Lindy showed amazing dedication to ensuring the wombat’s survival. Their bond grew into something beautiful — the caretaker became an instant parent.
The two have already established a routine at home. Lindy strictly follows a feeding schedule — four bottles between 6:30 in the morning and 10:30 at night. She can easily understand his needs and is always ready to attend to them. “He still stays very close to me. He doesn’t go away from my side. If he had his mum, he’d still be in her pouch and at her feet all the time,” Lindy shared. For this reason, she ensures that Tonka is snuggled up and tucked into blankets close to her. He’s evidently comfortable and happily snuggled up with his human mom. More importantly, physical contact is good for a baby wombat’s emotional health. “They need to have body contact, the same as they would have from their mum,” she explained.
Tonka has learned how to walk, but Lindy hasn’t brought him out yet. She’s waiting for Tonka to grow more before she allows him to roam outdoors. Lindy is preparing for that day, but for now, Tonka must stay close to mom. Bit by bit, Tonka is beginning to show his personality and behavior as a young wombat. He’s becoming active and pushy and even bites his mom sometimes. Lindy has shared a lot about wombat parenting and their growth process. She’s enjoying Tonka’s stay while there’s still time. Her love for the young wombat will continue even after he’s released to the wild. Their relationship won’t surely be forgotten, and she’ll forever be his mum — whose dedication you’ll admire in the video below.
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Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
