Orphaned Aussie tree kangaroo gets a new home (and mate) in Singapore
SINGAPORE -- Makaia, a Goodfellow's tree kangaroo from Australia's Adelaide Zoo, has joined the Singapore Zoo as its newest resident.
Makaia first made headlines in Australia in 2014 when his mother suddenly passed away when he was only 7 weeks old. Zookeepers were amazed when a yellow-footed wallaby stepped in as the orphan's surrogate and they both got on like a house on fire.
In the early days, Makaia would live in the wallaby's pouch until he grew too big and was taken in by a caretaker.
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According to Wildlife Reserves Singapore's Facebook page, Makaia has gone through the necessary health checks and seems to be in good spirits.
At the Singapore Zoo, Makaia will be paired up with a female Goodfellow's tree kangaroo named Nupela. Like Makaia, Nupela joins him from Sydney's Taronga Zoo. Although both these Goodfellow's tree kangaroos arrive from Australian zoos, the species are native to rainforests of Papua New Guinea.
Both Makaia and Nupela will be ready to meet the Singaporean public in early August.
Goodfellow's tree kangaroos are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conversation of Nature and Natural Resources. In just half a century, the species' population has declined by half.
[h/t: Coconuts Singapore]
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