Baby wallaby adopted by Thirsk farmers after losing mum

A baby wallaby whose mother died shortly after its birth has been adopted by two farmers who are now bringing it up as their own.

‘Roo’ was born on Monk Park Farm near Thirsk in September, but his mum had to be euthanised earlier this month when she became seriously ill.

Now, Mark Navin and Lauren Owen, who run the farm together, have brought the joey indoors and are caring for him full-time.

The couple joked that friends and family thought they were “nuts” for adopting the mini marsupial, but that they “loved” taking care of him.

Mr Navin said: “If you’d said to me a year ago we’d be raising a baby joey, I’d have thought that was absolutely ludicrous.

“But we’ve raised piglets and lambs, so I suppose it’s the next step.

“I just hope we can do our best and get this little guy through it.”

Crucial to caring for Roo was the creation of a makeshift pouch to mimic that of a mother wallaby, which Ms Owen did by using scarves.

She carries Roo in the pouch underneath layered clothing when she’s out and about, and joked that strangers thought she was expecting a baby.

“Obviously I’ve got a bit of a belly on me when walking round and he’s in there,” she said.

“People I don’t know look at my belly and I think they think I’m pregnant!”

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