Orphaned tree kangaroo finds a new mum in a wallaby

This is Makaia. He is an Australian tree kangaroo — yep, a kangaroo that lives in a tree — that lost his mother at just five weeks old.

With fears of Makaia not surviving alone, the staff at Adelaide Zoo decided to undertake a world first experiment. The zoo found a yellow-footed rock-wallaby to become his surrogate mum — never before attempted with a different species — using a technique known as “cross-fostering.” This means the baby kangaroo was popped into the wallaby’s pouch.

Luckily, Makaia took well to his new mum and bonded like the little legend he is. Now, he is getting stronger and learning to climb trees, play with toilet paper rolls and generally be a menace.