Sunday, December 24, 2006

Jody the baby wombat

Up close
We think one of the cutest Australian animals is the wombat. So it was tremendously exciting when Jeanine told us that we could go into work with her at the zoo and meet a baby wombat!

Wombats are slow-moving, muscular marsupials. They are herbivores, spending many hours each night grazing on native grasses and roots. They live in burrows, digging extensive systems of tunnels with their powerful claws. Sadly, expanding human settlement is steadily encroaching on their habitat, making accidents with cars more and more common.

Jody is a seven month old baby wombat who was orphaned in one such accident. She is being raised by a colleague of Jeanine's at the zoo, in close contact with humans. When she is older she might participate in programs with kids. Wombats are usually laid back and slow creatures, and Jody spends most of her time napping in the office. When they are comfortable and relaxed, they like to sleep belly up!
Jody in her room
Jody takes a nap





Meghan picked her up, and was in wombat heaven straightaway, cooing over the furry little bundle of joy...

Meghan and Jody

Jody seemed to enjoy being cuddled, although it was hard to tell who was happier, the cuddler or the cuddlee. Even when she was on the ground, we found that she would happily roll over for attention, exposing her soft belly to be stroked. Here she is, being cuddled by Meghan, Shami, Jeanine, and Sean.
Wombat up close
Shami holding the wombat



Meghan and Shami with Jody

Jeanine, Sean, Jody



Just look at her grin!
Wombat grinning

Wombat snuggling Meghan really wanted to smuggle Jody out of the zoo in her bag, but sadly, it was nap time again, and we had to put the sleepy wombat back to bed. Good bye, Jody! Meghan is still bubbling over about the whole experience...

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ok, that was really cute. But I don't know which was cuter, the baby wombat, Dibbie or Shami's narrative. Keep the blog going, it is so great to read.

Love,

Caitlin

Milan said...

Very nice pictures. Thanks

Anonymous said...

hi. just wanted to thank you for posting the cute wombat. my fiance actually calls me a wombat, and having never seen one before i can honestly say i am not insulted! how cute!!!

Anonymous said...

i gotta tell yah. tis is the utest thing i've seen in a very long itme. i respect you a lot for posting this pictures. i hope o come to your site more often. i had a hard day and this made it a lot better.

Anonymous said...

I love'em wombats!!! Thanks for posting these pics!

Greerings from Berlin

Anonymous said...

Well... a online friend told me to check this blog out... She said .. the wombat is so cute.. she loves it!! So she wanted to sleep together with the Wobat.. and now.. she even calls me her old wombat.. hahaha

Anonymous said...

Mortal vombat...

Merry Xmas.

Anonymous said...

Cutest mamminal everrrrr! I think I'm in love...

Anonymous said...

Does a baby wombat have a special name or is it just called a wombat?

Anonymous said...

What is a baby wombat called?

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure what a baby wombat is called, but some sites (like this one) suggest "joey", like a baby kangaroo.

Anonymous said...

i think it is sooooooooo cute! i could fall in love except im only in third grade

Anonymous said...

hi,it is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i could fall in love to except like the one above im only in third grade

Anonymous said...

awwwww......so cute

Anonymous said...

Wombats are great. I wish I can addopt one :)But I know, Wombats are no Pets.. but i would love them 4ever. :) They so cute. One Question: Are Wombats in the free Nature dangerus ?? Can they bite ore attack you when you meet some ?

Anonymous said...

I love Jody!! I want you to know that my friends and I discovered Jody when we were in 7th grade and we are now out of college and still talk about her. I hope she's doing well! :)

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