Rescue, Rehabilitate and Release

Pouched joey rescues are common after motor vehicle collisions and for shooting victims. The joey can stay alive in the deceased mother’s pouch for many days before dehydration, birds or foxes kill them.

Kangaroo culls are surreal with bodies lying everywhere, an eerie feeling of emptiness and sadness. Many joeys still alive in the shot mother’s pouches and traumatised at foot joeys standing alone by their deceased mothers.

Searching for missing wombat joeys hiding in a burrow is a challenge. We use a modified toy truck with a camera and flexible extension rods pushed into the burrow while viewing a screen from the outside of the burrow.

We raise orphans from furless joeys right through to release. Each species require a tailored pathway for a successful life as adults and be able to blend in with the local wild population. It can take up to two years for some species such as kangaroos and wombats. Macropods are raised with others of similar age and species and released as a mob. Wombats are often buddied up with one or two of similar age and soft released together.

Stress is always a major factor with orphaned wildlife and we believe they need to adjust slowly to all new stages. Wombats have access to underground tunnels, dirt and grasses early if healthy. Macropods have a system of larger and larger enclosures as they grow with access to huts and hanging pouches until they no longer use it. All animals have regular health checks including faecal flotations and are treated promptly.