Nigel the orphaned baby wombat

Speaking of pinkies, meet Nigel.

Nigel the orphaned baby wombat
From koalawrangler's gallery.

Nigel is an orphaned baby wombat. Wombats, for those who don't know, are actually the koala's closest relative. In fact wombats are even a bit smarter than our favourite tree-dwelling, folivorous marsupial (their brains are more convoluted).

I'm told that our intrepid team of relief koalawranglers became quite weak at the knees when they met sweet little Nigel. As regular readers will know, the team recently jetted off on a mercy mission to Victoria - headin to those areas ravaged by bushfires where they could give a hand to local wildlife carers down there after the recent horrific fires.

Amanda and Nigel
From koalawrangler's gallery.

Nigel was not one of the animals they rescued - he resides in the loving hands of Clair, a local woman who has been caring for wombats for 35 years. She has had literally thousands come through her doors.

Clair gives Nigel a bottle
From koalawrangler's gallery.

"What a dude," was all one of the Koala Hospital handlers could say. "All the staff of the koala hospital who were there went to total pieces when they saw him."

Nigel the orphaned baby wombat
From koalawrangler's gallery.

Nigel is doing well under Clair's care. He is moving from the ranks of pinkie to a fully fledged (and soon-to-be fully furred) joey as he is just beginning to get his fur.

Yep, what a dude.

Photos courtesy of Amanda Gordon.