AssetID: 53228596
Headline: The Koala Whisperer: Zoo Keeper Hand Raises Joey At Home With Her Family
Caption: A mother-of-three is hand-raising a koala joey at home with her family. Affectionately known as the "koala whisperer," Hayley Shute of Australian Reptile Park took on a special role as the surrogate mother after the joey's mother became seriously unwell whilst pregnant. At the time of rescue, the adorable joey, named Albert, weighed a mere 200g. Now, under Shute's dedicated care, he has made remarkable progress and now tips the scales at a healthy 1kg. Shute provides round-the-clock care for Albert, including bottle feeds of special milk formula throughout the day and night. She explains, "Albert goes with me everywhere I go, including to the shops and to work. 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.” 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.
Keywords: CPS1660372,Koala,mother,joey,family,koala whisperer,Hayley Shute,Australian Reptile Park,surrogate mother,rescue,adorable,Albert,remarkable,progress,newborn,baby,reintroduction,koalas,animals,natural world
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