animal has recovered and is now

A heart-warming image of an orphaned kangaroo named Doodlebug cuddling a golden teddy bear has taken social media by storm.

Tim Beshara, an adviser to Greens senator for Tasmania Peter Whish-Wilson, tweeted the photo of the eastern-grey kangaroo on Wednesday, explaining his wildlife caretaker mother took it from her home in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.

After the image was shared around the world, Beshara told Daily Mail Australia he was surprised it proved so popular.

'I figured it would be shared in Australia but I've been shocked to see the image reaching as far as Brazil and Russia. I've even had American morning shows using it on air.'

An image of an orphaned kangaroo cuddling up to a teddy bear on a piece of string has taken social media by storm

Doodlebug the eastern-grey kangaroo was pictured on the property of a wildlife caretaker in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales

Beshara's mother Gillian discovered the orphaned animals responded well to teddy bears that she hung around the yard.

'They seem to respond to the toys much in the same way as a toddler. They treat it as a companion.'

Beshara said his mother later corrected him on the species of the animal, which he had originally listed as a wallaby, but was in fact a kangaroo.

'It was pretty embarrassing given my background in science.'

Beshara said his mother Gillian assumed care of Doodlebug when he was abandoned as a new born.

'He may have fallen out of his mother's pouch or his mother may have died. He was a couple of months old when he was passed onto my mother's wildlife company WIRES.'

Despite being in poor health when Gillian took the animal in, he has fully recovered and is now roaming the wild.

'She has since nursed it back to health and it is now hopping around the forest and coming back for the occasional feeding or cuddle, as the image shows.'

Beshara said his mother Gillian assumed care of Doodlebug when he was abandoned as a new born

Beshara said his mother later corrected him on the species of the animal, which he had originally listed as a wallaby, but was in fact a kangaroo

Beshara's mother Gillian discovered the orphaned animals responded well to teddy bears that she hung around the yard