An adorable and surprising friendship has formed at the Australian Reptile Park between two of its newest residents.
Despite being from different species, Honey the koala joey and Bucky the wombat joey have become inseparable companions, enjoying meals, naps and snuggles under the loving care of their surrogate mothers, Zookeepers Seleena de Gelder and Ellesha Veness.
The bond between Honey and Bucky began when the keepers synchronised their feeding schedules to care for both joeys.
The result was a delightful routine where the furry friends share bottle feeds side by side like true besties.
After feeding, Bucky often bursts into energetic “zoomies”, while Honey prefers to unwind by nibbling on eucalyptus leaves.
Their sweet connection continues as they fall asleep cuddled up together.
“I adore these two cuddle buddies,” de Gelder said.
“When Ellesha and I started feeding them at the same time, we noticed how curious they were about each other.
“They’ve been inseparable ever since!”
Both joeys had a challenging start to life before finding their forever care at the Park.
Honey came under care three months ago after her mother showed signs of illness, prompting de Gelder to step in and raise the tiny koala to ensure both animals’ health.
Meanwhile, Bucky’s journey to the Park began when a kind passerby discovered his mother, a wombat tragically struck by a car.
To their surprise, the rescuer found a tiny joey alive in her pouch and brought him to the Park, where Veness took on the role of his surrogate mother.
“Even though they’ve faced hardships early on, it’s heartwarming to see how much joy and comfort they bring each other,” de Gelder said.
“It’s not every day you see a koala and wombat become best friends!”
For now, Bucky remains under Veness’s care, accompanying her to the Park daily.
Visitors can meet the playful wombat up close during special encounters at 10am and 1pm, where they can learn more about his antics.
Honey will eventually transition to the Park’s “koala preschool” once she’s strong enough, joining other young koalas in this season’s cohort.
Is there any reason these guys won’t be released back into the wild?