Problem: two orphaned baby red kangaroos had discolouration of the tip of their tails and the owner was concerned that the tips were going to fall off.

Solution: It's very common for orphaned macropods (kangaroos, wallabies etc) to feel the need to suck. In the pouch, it's dark and early on in life they are permanently attached to the teat. These guys were sucking their tail tips and their grooming claws on the inside of their hind legs. They needed a 'dummy' or 'comforter', much as a child does.

Tufts of grass are the answer. One or two of these inside an artificial pouch will do the trick. Both babies were also on the thin side, so we used a probiotic to re-establish a good gut flora.