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[feline groovy]

one of my favorite species 

Extremely rare GOLDEN wombat is born at Australian wildlife park - and zoo keepers have given her a VERY cute name

• Adorable baby wombat has stolen keepers hearts with unique golden colour  
• 'Honey Bun' lives at the Ballarat Wildlife Park in Victoria with her mum Nulai
• The blonde wombat has shocked zoo keepers and experts across the country 
• Southern hairy-nosed wombat has a rare gene hardly ever seen in the wild

Daily Mail Australia

PUBLISHED: 00:49 EDT, 22 March 2021 | UPDATED: 03:39 EDT, 22 March 2021

An adorable baby wombat born with a rare gene has shocked visitors and zoo keepers with her unique golden colouring. 

The southern hairy-nosed wombat, named 'Honey Bun' in honour of her caramel complexion, is the newest addition to the Ballarat Wildlife Park located in Victoria.

Curator of the wildlife park, Julia Leonard, said she and fellow keepers were thrilled when the 'golden wombat' emerged from her mother's pouch. 

'We were really surprised. There was a joke that the tree kangaroo had visited her mother overnight because he's a bright blonde colour', she said. 

It is extremely rare for a southern hairy-nosed wombat to be born with a golden coat. 

'She's got heaps of attention since her mum started taking her out for exercise, all the keepers are buzzing around her and it's very exciting', Ms Leonard said.

Ms Leonard said keepers from Melbourne Zoo and the Wombat Awareness Organisation had been amazed by Honey Bun's unique colouring. 

'They had never seen a wombat so blonde, she's really special', she said.

Keepers at the wildlife park had to wait six long months before they could meet the baby wombat, who only left the pouch of her mother 'Nulai' two months ago. 

Honey Bun's enclosure will soon be swarmed by visitors wanting to catch a glimpse of the rare marsupial, with Ms Leonard predicting busy weekends ahead. 

The park is currently home to four southern-nosed wombats and six bear-nosed wombats, including Honey Bun's older brother 'Piggy Wom'.   

FACTS ABOUT SOUTHERN HAIRY-NOSED WOMBATS 

*The species have soft grey fur, large square noses and long ears

*The southern hairy-nosed wombats are the smallest specie of wombat

*They can grow 800-900mm long and weigh 20-32 kg and are strong diggers 

*They prefer to live in extensive underground burrow systems in pairs

*The wombat can live up to 15 years in the wild

*The species are near threatened in SA and endangered in NSW 

bonus squee:

[sophiesofers]

Honey Bun is adorable!  

[chickenbutt]

Oh my goodness!  So cute.   I'm like Bindi Irwin - I just love the wombat and the babies are even more cute.  This one is very special and I hope he has the best home possible.

[on the bay]

They are both so adorable! I love the sweet mother-just want to hug her and I'm sure she is so proud of her beautiful baby!

Welcome to the world sweet Honey Bun!

Thank you @feline groovy 

[colliemom4]

How sweet! Thanks for the smiles.

[Oznell]

Everything about the that mother and baby is impossibly cute, @feline groovy !

[qvcfreak]

Mama is beautiful and Honey Bun is too cute

[January121]

Awww ... how beautiful🥰❤️ 

[KaySD]

Adorable. Even saying the word "wombat" is adorable.

[spiderw]

Such uplifting news and how cute is Mama and her baby!!!!  I love animals, all kinds of animals.  I am glad these wombats are in a safe place and will be cared for.  Nature does give us so many wonderful gifts.