Aussie Ark transitions care of ‘famous’ Brush-tailed Rock wallaby between keepers

Aussie Ark's famous Brush-tailed Rock wallaby Rocket who is now 10 months old and has been hand-raised since April by Operations Manager Dean Reid is being prepared for the next step in a journey towards independence.

Aussie Ark is relocating the joey to the Barrington Tops ecology with care transitioned to on-site wildlife ranger Adam Mowbray.

Until now Rocket has gone everywhere with Dean Reid including overnight at Reid’s house at Moonan Flat approximately one hour’s drive from the Ark.  But Rocket has now outgrown this lifestyle, literally.

Reid advised “Rocket is too big for his playpen and way too big to be jumping around my house. He also needs to acclimatise to the cooler, higher altitude conditions of the Barrington Tops where he will live in the future. So we’re transitioning him up the mountain, closer to the Ark.”

To facilitate this transition Reid has handed over care of the joey to Mowbray who lives on site while working his contract.  

Mowbray enthused “It’s exciting! This is my first experience hand-raising a little endangered marsupial. To be able to build this bond, this connection, is an absolute privilege.”

Mowbray is learning the ropes from Reid, who has years of experience hand-raising animals. Rocket now requires just two bottle-feeds per day, and Reid watched on as Mowbray fed Rocket for the very first time. It marked the end of Reid’s care of the joey, which was emotional.

“It’s a sad moment for me but also an amazing moment for Rocket,” Reid said. “It’s his next step towards independence and he’s doing really well. I’m super proud of him and I’m super proud of myself.”  

Over the next month Rocket will be weaned off both milk and human contact as he prepares to enter Aussie Ark’s breeding program. This will involve a triumphant release into one of the facility’s new state-of-the-art enclosures…and his first girlfriend!  

To help Rocket on this journey, and also help Aussie Ark continue its vital conservation work breeding and rewilding the endangered Brush-tailed Rock wallaby, please donate now at aussieark.org.au.  

Image: Dean Reid and Adam Mowbray with hand-raised Brush-tailed Rock wallaby joey Rocket. Credit: Auusie Ark