BY DARCY MCGAVIN
Hunter wildlife conservationists have been shocked by the surprise birth of a Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, whose development had been 'paused' since last October.
The process is known as Embryonic Diapause, which temporarily freezes the development of the embryo.
It helps to ensure survival of fetuses less than 4 weeks old, which are incredibly vulnerable if not given an ideal environment to be raised in.
The pregnancy is believed to have been held due to the mother already carrying another joey.
Aussie Ark, a conservation not-for-profit project, has been working to protect the wallabies since 2018, which are currently endangered, and have been put at additional risk after the 2019-20 bushfires that threatened habitats and food sources.
The mother will be monitored remotely at the Barrington Tops site while it is carrying the joey, and will have little staff interference until the joey is able to move independently, where it will be given a health checkup.
When the joey has stopped feeding from its mother and has become independent, it will be moved to a new breeding yard.
