Bennett’s wallabies are usually brown, but on Bruny Island in Tasmania there is a small population of white ones that live amongst the darker members of the troupe (that’s what you call a group of wallabies, a troupe… or a mob… or a court). In fact a white mother will commonly give birth to a brown joey. In this photo, the joey appears to be looking up at mom, considering all that white fur, wondering if he crawled into the wrong pouch and saying, “wait a minute, you’re my Mom?” Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second
Sweet picture. But as a “white mom,” myself, of beautiful brown babies, I like to think that Joey isn’t thinking “you’re my mom?” But “I love my beautiful mom.” Or “How comfy cozy I am to be snuggled up in your pouch!” Isn’t just like the human kind to put such a spin on something so natural and beautiful.
Thanks for the comment Lix. Didn’t mean to offend. Was just a joke about the baby’s expression. Of course, as Rachel points out, one can never presume anything that an animal might actually be thinking — this guy probably just wanted to get out and eat some grass. And the nice thing on Bruny Island is that there is no apparent discrimination (unlike some other species where an individual with an albino mutation might be exiled from the herd). The Bruny white wallabies have just as much success finding a mate (brown or white) as the brown wallabies. Unfortunately, in other areas of Australia, the white genetic mutation of a Bennett’s wallaby might not have as good a chance of survival due to being sun sensitive, prone to cancer and having vision problems. A lack of predators on Bruny makes for a healthy environment for them to thrive.
To quote Sue, …this ‘image is beyond darling!’ I think all humans are guilty of putting human emotions into cute animal photos. We tend to assume what animals are thinking, when we really don’t know. Maybe they’re not thinking but just feeling. This joey could well be thinking ‘when can I get out and play?’ or ‘it’s getting crowded in here!’. 🙂
—– Lost on the way to tea
—– A Beatrix Potter mum
—– Reassures her joe
—– Though the path ahead
—– Seems fraught
—– They must trust the guidance
—– Of their love.
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Bennett’s wallabies are usually brown, but on Bruny Island in Tasmania there is a small population of white ones that live amongst the darker members of the troupe (that’s what you call a group of wallabies, a troupe… or a mob… or a court). In fact a white mother will commonly give birth to a brown joey. In this photo, the joey appears to be looking up at mom, considering all that white fur, wondering if he crawled into the wrong pouch and saying, “wait a minute, you’re my Mom?”
Sweet picture. But as a “white mom,” myself, of beautiful brown babies, I like to think that Joey isn’t thinking “you’re my mom?” But “I love my beautiful mom.” Or “How comfy cozy I am to be snuggled up in your pouch!” Isn’t just like the human kind to put such a spin on something so natural and beautiful.
Thanks for the comment Lix. Didn’t mean to offend. Was just a joke about the baby’s expression. Of course, as Rachel points out, one can never presume anything that an animal might actually be thinking — this guy probably just wanted to get out and eat some grass. And the nice thing on Bruny Island is that there is no apparent discrimination (unlike some other species where an individual with an albino mutation might be exiled from the herd). The Bruny white wallabies have just as much success finding a mate (brown or white) as the brown wallabies. Unfortunately, in other areas of Australia, the white genetic mutation of a Bennett’s wallaby might not have as good a chance of survival due to being sun sensitive, prone to cancer and having vision problems. A lack of predators on Bruny makes for a healthy environment for them to thrive.
Love it.
That image is beyond darling!
To quote Sue, …this ‘image is beyond darling!’ I think all humans are guilty of putting human emotions into cute animal photos. We tend to assume what animals are thinking, when we really don’t know. Maybe they’re not thinking but just feeling. This joey could well be thinking ‘when can I get out and play?’ or ‘it’s getting crowded in here!’. 🙂
You KNOW I love this!! 🙂
—– Lost on the way to tea
—– A Beatrix Potter mum
—– Reassures her joe
—– Though the path ahead
—– Seems fraught
—– They must trust the guidance
—– Of their love.
It doest matter the color we are, ) , we love them black, white , brown, or pink ect. ) this cute pic. of the wallabee. )