One paddymelon we have grown to know.

THE HISTORY OF BLOSSOM:

Blossom is a female Tasmanian Pademelon (Thylogale billardierii).

We started caring for her in May 2005 after her mother died when she was still in the pouch. Blossom was approximately 3 months old and weighed 440g, and could curl up in the palm of my hand.

Because she was so young she was on 4 hourly feeds of specific Wallaby milk. As she got older it was reduced to 4 feeds a day. She is now on 3 feeds a day - as much for security as sustenance. She also has ‘goat meal’ (a mix of grains, grasses and molasses) vegetables and fruit such as carrot, lettuce, grapes and watermelon along with fresh grass.

She lives inside as she was so little when she came to us and she torments my dogs who are amazingly tolerant. She has free run of the house but chooses to sleep in her own basket beside the bed and is housetrained. They are naturally nocturnal but thankfully she sleeps at night.

Pademelons are inherently curious and very determined when you try to stop them doing what they want. If she wants to go into a room and you stop her she’ll wait until you lose interest and try again and she’s constantly trying to steal ‘people food’.

She spends some time on fine days in an enclosure outside, secure and protected from foxes and cats. Eventually, when she’s fully weaned and comfortable to be outside full-time, a male and another female will join her to create a colony so she has company and can become a ‘real’ pademelon!

There have been (only a few) episodes of stress when she has reacted badly to something and is unable to say what’s wrong, but generally it has been very easy thanks to previous experience raising orphan kangaroos and a strong support network of experienced Carers.

Pademelons are amazing marsupials and she is a constant joy to be around.

Christina