Kangaroo Rescue in Melbourne Suburb of Ivanhoe - Jenna
It was a sunny October morning at about 8.30 in the morning, happily sleeping! Ring ring goes the phone. I had a feeling I knew who it was. Right, I was off to a kangaroo rescue in Ivanhoe.
All sorts of things go through my head when I am out on rescues. I had a feeling this one was going to be a quick one. As I pulled up near the house a woman ran over to me and asked “Are you the kangaroo girl”? I replied “Yes I am” with a laugh.
This lady explained to me she had been stuck outside her house for at least an hour as this kangaroo was in her front yard. She didn’t want to disturb it while trying to get inside.
As I got off the phone with Laurelle I realised I didn’t have much time before he was on the go. He wasn’t a big fella - about 3 foot. He was stressed and licking his paws. I could see his nails were bleeding. I thought to myself that there was no time to be nervous so I grabbed my roo net** out and with the lady’s help we put it across the driveway.
As soon as he saw us he was on the move. I said to the lady “I just need you to hold the net up and hold the net over him when he hits it and I'll do the rest”. The lady agreed to help out! In seconds of having the net, up he went straight to it but then turned and did a lap of the yard afterwhich, he headed for the net.
Bang. Into the net he went and the lady flicked the net over the top of him and held it there. I launched myself over him and held him down. It happened all so fast.
He was exhausted. I checked him out and found his nails were a little bit worn down but they weren’t too bad. With a sigh of relief I realized I had caught him just in time and all on my own!! I was so proud of myself.
Taking him to the vet nearby he was given an injection to help him stay calm and was given the all clear. I then took him to a carer where he could rest and build up his energy. Not long after, he was rested and ready to go and he released back to his home.
**roo nets are similar to a tennis court net - about 16 metres in length with the bottom strand weighted to keep it in place.
