Squiggle

As Mother took off towards the juicy green grass, 

Erica, Sophie and Claire

Wallabies Wallabies (scientifically named Macropodidae) belong to a small group called macropods. Wallabies are marsupials and are related to kangaroos. The name wallaby is derived from the Eora aboriginal people of coastal NSW. They have discovered 30 species of wallaby in Papa New Guinea and Australia. Wallabies are native to Australia.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Habitat Most wallabies live in Mainland Australia, Pa Pa New Guinea, or Tasmania. It depends what species the wallaby is to find out what type of land they live on. A rock Wallaby normally lives on rocky places like boulders, rocky hills and sandstone outcrops, while red necked wallabies like Squiggle live in Eucalypt forests with moderate shrub cover.&nbsp;

Appearance The wallaby is a mammal which its weight can vary between 4 and 53 pounds. The wallaby’s size can range from 30cm – 104cm and their tail can differ from 25cm – 73cm. Most macropods have hind legs larger than their forelimbs, large hind feet, and muscular tails which they use for balance, self-defense, springing up from a sitting position and to prop themselves up. The word macropod means 'big foot'. Kangaroos and wallabies (and possums) have forward-opening pouches. A common species is the red neck wallabies with reddish nape and shoulders, which inhabits brushlands of southeastern Australia and Tasmania; this species is regularly seen in zoos. To put this into perspective wallabies are just smaller kangaroos.

Diet Wallabies are herbivores. Their diet contains of certain grasses, flowering plants, fruits, ferns and herbs. Often wallabies like to graze in groups, but most species are typically solitary.

Bushfires Why are Wallabies are affected by bushfires? In a bushfire, normally they can quickly jump away. But their home is badly affected. The fire burns down their home and all the plants there, meaning they can die of starvation.

With the fire approaching, Squiggle was alone.

Squiggle tried to hide in the burrow like Mrs. Wombat.

Squiggle felt hopeless. He didn't know what to do.

He tried to climb the tall tree like  Mr. Koala

Among the other fire orphans Squiggle made a new family.

Although a door had closed, a new one had opened.

Every day Squiggle grew stronger and stronger.

The fire left the land blackened and burnt.

Curious Squiggle peaked out to see what was happening. He moved closer...

Forcing Mother to stumble back onto a tree stump!

Outside it was burnt, dangerous and lifeless,

"I'm hungry Squiggle!" said Mother wallaby, "Let's go eat the juicy green grass near Mr. Koala's tree."

At almost six months old, soon he would be ready to leave his mother's pouch.

Suddenly, two rubber-like hands picked Squiggle up.

Name

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