The Value of a Hug

This is Doodlebug, a young eastern grey kangaroo taken in by Gillian Abbott, who cares for orphaned wildlife at her home in New South Wales. She’s raised joeys and wallabies for seven years, and has successfully released 35 of them into the wild. Abbott has several teddy bears and other toys hanging from trees to provide enrichment for the animals. She took a picture of Doodlebug hugging a teddy bear and sent it to her son, who Tweeted it. The image became a viral sensation.  

"He was found abandoned and he actually walked up to a member of the public, put his arms up and asked to be picked up," she said.

The joey has been with the wildlife carer ever since and is now classified as "soft release".

"As you can see the gates are open, he can go through the bush, stay out as long as he likes but he can come home and have a feed if he's hungry," Ms Abbott said.

Abbott says she only sent the picture to make her grandchildren happy, but is glad it is also making strangers on the internet happy. -via reddit

(Image credit: Gillian Abbott)


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