Rare White Wallabie in Georgia

Photo by Shoot It Photography

No need to travel to Tasmania to catch a glimpse of the rare baby white kangaroo. Just wait until March when the North Georgia Zoo opens and you can see a mother white Wallaby and a still-in-the-pouch baby Joey.

The new zoo albino kangaroo baby, a rare site in any zoo, is approximately five months old and is just beginning to peek out of his mommy's pouch. When he reaches about seven or eight months, the zoo personnel will start bottle feeding him. Joey's arrival was announced officially last week by Access North Georgia. 

" 'We suspected there was a baby in there, but because it was cold, we didn't want to check. It was really when we saw the pouch move around. It was just within the last two weeks when the baby started sticking its head out,' " said zoo co-director Hope Bennett in an interview with Access North Georgia.

How rare are white kangaroos? Co-Director Tom Bennett reports that less than 50 albino kangaroos can be found nationwide...and the Georgia zoo has two of them! Sometimes referred to as giant rabbits, the albino 'roos are a common sight in Tasmania with a small population found at South Bruny National Park.

Closed now for winter, the zoo will open at 10 a.m., March 2 for a special two day event to show off their 'bouncing babies', including baby Joey. Through March, the zoo is open just on Saturdays but will open weekdays after Easter. North Georgia Zoo is located between Dahlonega and Cleveland, Ga. at 2912 Paradise Valley Road in White County.

Looking for something to do Saturday?

Come to Dahlonega if you're looking for something to do Saturday, Sept. 17. The weather is going to be fabulously fall-like and there's plenty of activities for you, such as:

• Shop at the Farmers & Artists Market, Hancock Park, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Homemade jams, jellies, pickles and more are available as well as handmade jewelry, pottery, and other handicraft.
• Listen to Appalachian music on the Square, 2 to 5 p.m. - You'll hear acoustic bluegrass and old time string music at Saturday's 2011 Dahlonega Appalachian Jam. Bring a chair so you can sit on the Gold Museum's lawn or even an instrument and play along with the music makers.
• Want more music? - If you are on the square, stop by Shenanigan's Pub and listen to the sounds of Stoned Sandwich. (And be sure to order one of Shenanigan's famous pub burgers.) You can also hear Tom Talton, who toured with Gregg Allman,  at the Crimson Moon; and the Remember When Band at the Sidewinder Grill at Hwy. 19/129.
• Walk the Scarecrow Trail at the North Georgia Zoo - Of course, take a tour of the zoo too.
• Stay for the Rita Graham Jazz and Blues Concert at the Holly Theater, 8 p.m. - Tickets are $20 - You'll love this refurbished theater, its old time concession stand, and, of course, the great jazz and blues.
• Feast on fall food featured at the Yahoola Creek Grill. Choose between chicken and dumplings, roasted vegetable lasagna, and my favorite, barbecue brie ribeye (oh yum.)

If this isn't enough for ya'll, go wine tasting, rent a kayak, hike up to a water fall or stop at Connie's Sandwich Shop for a double dip ice cream cone. Now I don't want to hear anyone say that coming to Dahlonega is BORING.