Sunny was found alive in his mother’s pouch after a fatal road strike and is now being hand-raised by Australian Reptile Park keepers.

Despite a tragic start to life, orphaned wombat Sunny has brought nothing but joy to his new home at the Australian Reptile Park, which explains the cheery name bestowed upon him. Sunny’s mother was hit and killed by a car. He was found alive inside her pouch and taken in by the park, where keepers are now hand-raising him.

Sunny is bottle-fed every four hours and goes home with his keepers every night. Taking him home means Sunny gets the constant attention he would ordinarily get from his mum, and raising the energetic baby has become a team effort. This has meant the keepers have developed a tight bond with Sunny, with his affectionate nature helping him steal quite a few hearts.

“Looking after a joey is a full-time job, with around-the-clock feeds and constantly trying to wear the little fella out. We’ve definitely got our hands full," Australian Reptile Park operations manager Brandon Gifford said.

Sunny has reached the age when young wombats would naturally begin to venture further from their mothers, so he’s growing increasingly curious about his surroundings. While he remains enthusiastic about bottle time and needs his cuddles, he’s starting to investigate anything within reach.

From 26 September to 11 October, you can see Sunny and hear from the keepers raising him about what his care involves. The park is at Somersby on the NSW Central Coast, and is open daily from 9am to 5pm with free parking.

What to do if you find a wombat on the road

While Sunny’s story and connection to his keepers is a heartwarming one, it’s important to remember the devastating toll of vehicle strikes on native wildlife. An estimated 10 million animals are killed on Australian roads each year, making vigilance particularly important when driving through bushland and regional areas.

The park hopes Sunny will become an ambassador for his species, raising awareness of wildlife road strikes and encouraging drivers to watch for animals, and slow down at dusk and dawn, when many mammals are most active and often feed beside the road.

If you hit an animal or see one that appears to have been hit, stop where it’s safe and check on it. Look for lumps or movement around the pouch, then call WIRES on 1300 094 737 or your local wildlife rescue service. Joeys can be thrown clear on impact, so check the surrounding area too.