Orphaned koala joeys gets human foster parents
<p>Two zookeepers at Symbio Wildlife Park have become foster parents to a pair of koala joeys after one of their mothers died from cancer. Little joey, Harry, was 22 weeks old when his mother passed away, meaning he was not receiving the vital pap – partly digested eucalyptus leaves excreted by mother koalas – to survive.</p>
<p>The decision was made to hand-rear fellow joey, Imogen, who is a month older than Harry, so her mother, Kelly, could act as a surrogate for Harry. The fostering job was a success with mother Kelly adopting Harry as her own.</p>
<p>Symbio curator Kylie Elliot and general manager Matt Radnidge took on the roles of human parents to both baby koala, and have been sharing their journey on social media.</p>
<p>“Hand raising Imogen has been the most challenging and rewarding thing we have ever achieved,” Ms Elliot told Daily Mail Australia.</p>
<p>“It hasn't been an easy journey raising a joey with nocturnal habits and sharp claws - I definitely have a new respect for Koala mothers. Imogen has become such a huge part of our lives, and we are so blessed to have had the opportunity to play a part in her rearing.”<strong><br /></strong></p>
<p><img width="476" height="317" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/09/11/04/2C2B338300000578-3230174-image-a-34_1441941078981.jpg" alt="Joeys Imogen (pictured) and Harry were born at the Helensburgh park, south of Sydney, earlier this year, but sadly Harry's mother died of leukaemia when he was just 22 weeks old without receiving the vital pap baby koalas need to survive." class="blkBorder img-share" id="i-1297f840de2942a7"/></p>
<p><img width="477" height="645" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/09/11/05/2C2B33B000000578-3230174-image-m-66_1441946412444.jpg" alt="Imogen enjoys life at home with Ms Elliot and Mr Radnidge. The fostering job was a success, with Kelly instantly taking over the role of nurturing mother and adopting Harry as her own." class="blkBorder img-share" id="i-e73882b8fe82f55"/></p>
<p><img width="474" height="474" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/09/11/04/2C2B33A800000578-3230174-image-a-35_1441941096983.jpg" alt="After consulting with industry specialists, the decision was made to hand-rear Imogen (pictured with Kylie Elliot and Matt Radnidge) who was a month older than Harry, and use her mother, Kelly, as a surrogate for Harry " class="blkBorder img-share" id="i-4e6b099bad405bfe"/></p>
<p><img width="468" height="334" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/09/11/04/2C2B337E00000578-3230174-image-a-38_1441941120197.jpg" alt="Symbio curator Kylie Elliot (pictured) and general manager Matt Radnidge took on the challenge of being fast tracked into an 'parenthood'. Ms Elliot has to carry Imogen around in a pouch all day similar to a koala mother" class="blkBorder img-share" id="i-e98164f69be4793e"/></p>
<p><img width="470" height="689" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/09/11/05/2C2B337500000578-3230174-The_couple_have_shared_their_journey_on_social_media_posting_upd-a-67_1441946451226.jpg" alt="The couple have shared their journey on social media posting updates and videos of their growing koala. The latest video shows Ms Elliot carrying Imogen in a make-shift pouch during the day for her to sleep in and shots of the threesome playing happily at home" class="blkBorder img-share" id="i-585cfb5adcf1da6f"/></p>
<p><img width="470" height="313" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/09/11/04/2C2B339300000578-3230174-image-a-44_1441941154951.jpg" alt="'Hand raising Imogen has been the most challenging and rewarding thing we have ever achieved,' Ms Elliot told Daily Mail Australia" class="blkBorder img-share" id="i-1770cd45de73b3fd"/></p>
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