- Video captures a wildlife carer in Australia rescuing a baby wombat
- The joey was found inside of the pouch of its dead mother
- Baby Pepper is now being cared for at Sleepy Burrows Wombat Sanctuary
A baby wombat has been rescued and is being nursed to health after nearly being abandoned in its dead mother’s pouch.
The joey was discovered and rescued by wildlife carer Donna Stepan, when its dead mother was brought into Sleepy Burrows Wombat Sanctuary in New South Wales, Australia.
Ms Stepan, who is an expert in wombats, located the tiny creature and removed it from its mother to care for it.
A video shows Ms Stepan reach into the wombat’s pouch to retrieve the joey, which had been nestling into its mother and attempting to feed.
The animal had to be reluctantly detached from its mother and wrapped in a fleecy sack to remain warm.
The joey, which weighed just 270g, was named Pepper and is continuing to be cared for by Sleepy Burrows Wombat Sanctuary.
It is not known how Pepper’s mother died.
Video footage captures the moment a wildlife carer rescued a baby wombat from its dead mother’s pouch
The baby was retrieved by Donna Stepan, an expert in wombats and other marsupials
Ms Stepans had to separate the baby, which had still been trying to nurse from its mother
The joey, named Pepper, was quickly moved into a fabric wrap to recreate the pouch environment