A quick-thinking Victorian woman has become an unlikely wildlife rescuer after a dramatic incident involving a swamp wallaby and its joey on a suburban street.
A Shocking Suburban Sighting
Tracy McKendry, a local resident of Warrnambool in Victoria, was surprised to see a swamp wallaby bounding through her neighbourhood. She immediately took out her phone to record the unusual sight. However, the footage captured a far more distressing event than she anticipated.
As the camera rolled, the joey was suddenly flung from its mother's pouch while the adult wallaby rushed away, leaving the infant alone on the street. Realising the mother was not returning, McKendry knew she had to act.
Wildlife Experts Explain the Separation
McKendry contacted Mosswood Wildlife for assistance. Colleen Edwards, the administration and volunteer coordinator at the centre, provided crucial insight into the situation.
"It is not uncommon to have wallabies in these sorts of areas," Edwards said, noting they often live near bush reserves. "Unlike kangaroos, they don't live in big groups or 'mobs'."
She explained that the ideal response is to give the mother and joey space, as the mother may return if she feels safe. "Once the joey is flung from the pouch, in some situations, the mum will stop, the person can back off and they will rejoin each other," Edwards stated. "But, unfortunately, in this case the mum just kept going."
Edwards was keen to dispel a common myth, emphasising that kangaroos and wallabies are not "bad mums" who intentionally abandon their young. "When something originally scared this mum wallaby, she went into flight mode," she clarified. "This is where the pouch muscles will involuntarily contract which can result in their joey falling out. This very sad involuntary action is what left the pair separated."
Katina's Recovery and a Warning to the Public
The rescued joey, affectionately named Katina (meaning 'pure'), was brought to the Mosswood Wildlife centre. She is now in the care of an experienced wildlife carer. "She is fully settled in now and eating and drinking well," Edwards reported.
Volunteers have monitored the area since the incident, but the mother has not been sighted again. "Lucky for this little girl she is now in very good hands," Edwards added.
Edwards issued an important reminder to the public about what to do if they find a joey:
- Pick it up and keep it warm and safe.
- Take it to a registered wildlife carer or vet immediately.
"It is illegal to keep and try to raise wildlife without a permit," she warned. "Even if well intentioned it's the animal who will suffer."
Katina is expected to make a full recovery and will remain with her carer until she is old enough to be safely relocated back into the wild.
