When the WILVOS 5441 6200 Hotline gets a call about a kangaroo joey, it’s a long time till release day. A joey will often be in care for almost twelve months.
Rehabilitating kangaroos in the earlier stages is definitely the easier time. Though there are sleepless nights, the joeys have bonded and are in a controlled situation. Once they are furred and start adventuring outside it is the time to watch them carefully for any changes in behaviour. Kangaroos can die from stress so a quiet relaxing environment is necessary. Stress may come from a change of carer or just a sudden noise. Yes, they can be quite neurotic animals, but totally loveable!
Release day is stressful for the carers involved, as it is imperative that everything moves quickly and calmly. Fellow-WILVO, Sylvia, and I have transported scores of macropods to pre-release sites but we are always ready for any eventuality. This time the animals were held up with the extreme weather events and impassable roads, and they were growing fast!
The weather settled, and thanks to wonderful community effort, the roads became useable again. Leslie in Nambour had sewn perfect big inside pouches and adjusted my car carry bags to the size needed.
It only took twenty minutes to get all five kangaroos loaded into the car. It works like an assembly line. The animals all know Sylvia so she bags each one individually, Bob carries them to the car and I tie them to the headrests and make sure they are comfortable. Though not being in hanging pouches for many months, they all immediately settle into their pouch environment.
On arrival at their beautiful release site all emerged from their bags in a happy relaxed state. A couple of weeks in their release paddock and they will be ready to go out and join the mob that will definitely be checking them out.
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 Sunshine Coast Mail Centre Q 4560 PH 5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au