Visitors to Longleat this Mother’s Day were treated to a delightful surprise, as a red-necked wallaby joey made its first public appearance. The new arrival, born to experienced mum Lara, is the result of a fascinating reproductive phenomenon known as embryonic diapause.
This natural process allows female wallabies to pause embryo development until conditions are ideal. As wallabies can conceive soon after giving birth and have a short 30-day gestation period, the ability to delay development ensures the mother can fully support a new joey.
In Lara’s case, her newest little one remained safely tucked away in her pouch for the first few months of its life, only emerging on 14th February – a Valentine’s Day treat for keepers.
Emily Sage, an Animal Adventure keeper at Longleat, shared her excitement: “It’s always a special time of year when new babies start to arrive, but this was an unexpected surprise as we weren’t anticipating any new wallaby joeys following the departure of our male, Dodger. Lara is an incredible mum, and it has been a privilege to see all of her joeys grow up. She’s one of my favourites, so it’s amazing to meet another of her babies.”
The young joey is yet to be sexed and named but is doing well under Lara’s care. Visitors can spot the pair in the Family Farmyard area at Longleat, where they will be on show throughout Mother’s Day and the upcoming Easter holidays.
Factfile
- Species: Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
- Native To: Eastern Australia and Tasmania
- Longleat Population: 10 red-necked wallabies
- Lifespan: Up to 15 years in both the wild and human care
- Diet: Herbivore – primarily grasses, roots, leaves, and weeds
