Safari springs to action to save joey

The Ramat Gan Safari’s keepers sprang into action to rescue a kangaroo joey that leaped out of its mother’s marsupium, putting its life at risk.

Keepers at the zoo found the joey on the ground Wednesday morning after the four-month-old infant inexplicably exited its mother’s pouch prematurely, Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

Kangaroo joeys typically remain in their mothers’ pouches for at least four months before leaving and becoming semi-independent.

Zoo workers leapt to the rescue, bringing the beleaguered joey to the infirmary and giving it an emergency feeding. They then sedated the jill and returned the joey to her pouch, reattaching the baby to the nourishing teat.

After ascertaining that the joey was nursing once again, veterinarian Dr. Ariella Rosenzweig strapped the baby in with masking tape. The joey will remain under a watchful eye to ensure it doesn’t try to leave the pouch again, after which time the tape will be removed, the report said.