George the Wombat Begins New Life in the Wild
February 8, 2017 - It’s moving day for George, celebrity wombat in Australia. Until now, George has been living at Australian Reptile Park, a hands-on zoo, ever since his mother died after she was hit by a car in 2016. In the wild, wombat joeys stay with their mothers for around a year. So, the zoo staff hand-reared him and gave him plenty of hugs and belly rubs. George became a sensation, after videos on his Facebook page went viral.
George will live in a large enclosure at Cedar Creek Wombat Sanctuary where he’ll get acclimated to the local environment until he’s ready to roam and live among other wombats.
Transcript
It’s moving day for George, the loveable, celebrity wombat.
His new home will be Cedar Creek Wombat Sanctuary, where he will live in the wild. Until now, George has been living at Australian Reptile Park, a hands-on zoo … ever since his mother died after she was hit by a car in 2016. He was just four months old and still in his mother’s pouch, when a passerby rescued him. In the wild, wombat joeys stay with their mothers for around a year. So, the zoo staff kept George warm in a “pouch” … fed him from a bottle … and gave him plenty of hugs and belly rubs. George became a sensation, after videos on his Facebook page went viral. Parting is bittersweet for the Australian Reptile Park … but this gentle wombat ambassador is ready for his new home. George will live in a large enclosure at Cedar Creek Wombat Sanctuary. He’ll make burrows, and get used to the local grass and animals … until he’s ready to roam and live among other wombats.
