AssetID: 55635055
Headline: Baby ‘pygmy wombat’ who was rejected by mum now thriving after being hand-raised
Caption: A tiny abandoned “pygmy wombat” no bigger than a golf ball is now thriving after being rejected by his mum at just two weeks old. Preston – a rare Broad-Toothed Rat – would have died without intervention, but is now winning over hearts after being hand-raised in a world-first effort. The youngster, who weighed just 27 grams when he was rescued, has since grown to a healthy 104 grams and is well on track to reach full size. He’s being cared for by conservation group Aussie Ark, where Chief Conservation Officer Hayley Shute stepped in as his surrogate ‘mum’. Preston was born as part of a breeding and rewilding programme at a conservation facility in New South Wales. But for unknown reasons, his mother rejected him shortly after birth – leaving him with little chance of survival in the wild. At just two weeks old, he was taken into intensive care, with Ms Shute feeding him by syringe, monitoring his weight daily and keeping him warm around the clock. Despite having hand-raised dozens of endangered animals before, she says Preston stands out. “Preston is totally in love with me, and I am with him!” Ms Shute said. Now three months old, Preston is full of energy and developing a cheeky personality. He spends his days snacking on wildflowers and vegetables, playing hide and seek, and even dozing off in his carer’s hands. “It’s amazing to be so bonded to a little rodent, and really get to know his species. Because he’s hand-raised, Preston won’t join Aussie Ark’s insurance population. He instead has a very important role as ‘ambassador’ for his kind, helping educate Australians and inspire conservation.” Despite his adorable appearance, Preston represents a species on the brink. Broad-Toothed Rats are now found only in small, fragmented populations in sub-alpine swamp habitats, including the Barrington Tops region. Threats such as habitat destruction and feral predators have pushed them close to extinction in the wild. Aussie Ark’s breeding programme is helping to secure the species’ future, with 15 pups born so far – a significant conservation milestone.
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