Hunter Valley Zoo running free encounters with baby animals during September 2016 School holidays

People who visit are invited to engage in free encounters with some adorable baby animals who are fresh to the zoo.

Skipper the wallaroo, Mini the swamp wallaby and Reggie the ringtail possum were handed in to the zoo after being orphaned.

They will be hand raised by zoo staff, but wildlife keeper Siobhan Oxley said they loved human contact.

“They do crave that attention,” she said.

Visitors can also meet the baby twin tiger quolls, who weigh just a combined 700 grams.

Baby Cape Barron geese Cuddles and Donald will also be free to pat.

“We are celebrating spring and having so many births at the zoo, we want the public to have close encounters with as many animals as they can,” Ms Oxley said.

Ms Oxley said along with a great experience for the kids, the encounters were also a way to educate parents about what to do about injured wildlife.

While kangaroos breed all year round, Ms Oxley said there was more food around at this time of year, which led to an increase in breeding.

The zoo has had it’s own baby boom recently, with young meerkats, marmosets, monkeys and a koala all birthed at the zoo recently.

“Almost every exhibit has a baby at the moment,” she said.

The free encounters only apply to the wallaby, wallaoo, tiger quolls, ring tail possum and the geese. The encounters are on daily from 1pm during the school holidays.