Turner Elementary students get to name the kangaroo - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Turner Elementary students get to name the kangaroo

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The six kangaroos on display at Chehaw Park. The six kangaroos on display at Chehaw Park.
The baby joey.  She's about 10 months old and will be named next Friday. The baby joey. She's about 10 months old and will be named next Friday.
Students from Lee County Middle school look at the emu and kangaroo exhibit at Chehaw Park. Students from Lee County Middle school look at the emu and kangaroo exhibit at Chehaw Park.
The joey with one of the adult kangaroos. The joey with one of the adult kangaroos.
Ben Roberts, the Manager of Animal Programs at Chehaw Park. Ben Roberts, the Manager of Animal Programs at Chehaw Park.
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ALBANY, GA (WALB) -

There's a new animal at Chehaw, and some Dougherty County elementary school students will get to name the new addition.

This baby kangaroo was born about 10 months ago but just recently emerged from its mother's pouch.

It's the first kangaroo born at the park, and Chehaw is allowing students at Turner Elementary to submit names for the joey.

The winning name will be announced next Friday.

The reason the baby is being named now is due to the unique way that mother kangaroos take care of their newborns.

Ben Roberts, the Manager of Animal Programs said, "at about seven months, they'll kind of start poking their head out. First the tail comes out, then a foot, then a head. Then they start coming out all the way, they'll spend a little bit more time, a little bit more time and then mom says 'OK, you can't come back anymore.'"

Two of the park's emus were named recently in a contest on their Facebook page.

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