As many readers will know from my novel, Silver Wattle, and my social media, I am passionate about Australian wildlife. I was a rescuer and carer with WIRES for over a decade, so when I recently read Night Rescue by Jill Gilbert of Australia’s Kangaroos, I related deeply to the emotions she so beautifully expressed. She’s kindly given me permission to share this moving story with you.

A NIGHT RESCUE

By Jill Gilbert

I attended a rescue last night that again reinforced how much intelligence and emotion our kangaroo families have. After receiving the call, I travelled alone to where this poor animal lay by the roadside. Although it was dark, the night sky was huge and clear, and the air was so very cold.

I could see the horrific injuries even from a distance. I approached, walking slowly, talking calmly and reassuringly. But there was no response, only dark brown eyes that watched as I got nearer. I gently laid a blanket over this poor broken body and knew it wouldn't be long before their journey would end. I carefully checked and discovered this was a young female who also had a little life wriggling in her pouch.

This mumma couldn't move. She didn't, and couldn't struggle, she just lay there and looked at me, her eyes speaking the words she could not say. There were no noises. Only the sound of her shallow breathing cutting into the night air. The look in her eyes said it all. She knew she was very badly injured. It was so bad I don't think she had much feeling left. Or it was so overwhelming it numbed her senses. Her eyes looked at me with sadness and confusion. She couldn't understand what had happened but she knew I was there to help. She bravely laid there while her joey was delicately removed from her pouch. Only then did she lift her head to look. I quickly wrapped the little one and then held it near to the mumma so she could see.

In that heart breaking moment she kept her head raised to smell and to kiss her child one last time. She knew this was the final precious moments she would know her baby in this lifetime. And she kept looking at me. With thanks, with gratitude and acceptance. It broke my heart and my tears flowed.

My job is to promise to love and care for her baby, to keep her little one safe. I could barely speak but I whispered those words to her as she laid her head back down and I tucked her baby inside my shirt close to my own heart.

I gave her pain relief and as the drugs started to make her sleepy she was moved to under a big beautiful gum tree with the moon shining down on her. I sat with her, stroking her face and ears. I wanted to comfort this beautiful girl while she went to sleep forever. We talked a short while how everything was going to be OK and I reassured her of the love I would give to her baby, and that I would do my very best to raise her joey and to provide the life that they were meant to have together.

Then it became very still, her eyes were closed and her breathing was no longer audible. The angels were here to take her with them. I checked her heartbeat and it had stopped. I knew she had joined so many others that had crossed the rainbow bridge.

I said my thanks to heaven and held her baby close. I picked a bottle brush flower from nearby and laid it between her paws. The moonlight laid a silvery blanket over her. She was beautiful and now at peace. Death had come and I was relieved she had been quickly freed from her suffering.

I walked back to the car, still with tears in my eyes and caressing the precious life now warmed against my chest. My heart breaks every time I attend a rescue, especially ones like this. But this is my choice, my compulsion, my need to make a difference, to protect, and to save. I know no other way to be. And I don't ever want to change.

These animals, our kangaroos, know so much more than society gives them credit for. They are intelligent, feeling and loving beings. They know danger, they know fear and they experience loss. They love their kin, their families and especially their young.

We must do everything we can to protect them.

4 July 2021

To find out more about how you can help our precious kangaroos:

• Australia's Kangaroos Facebook Group

• Animal Justice Party

PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRIVE MINDFULLY IN BUSHLAND AND LEAFY SUBURBAN AREAS, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. IF YOU SHOULD HIT AN ANIMAL, ALWAYS GO BACK TO CHECK IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. IT IS CRUEL TO LEAVE AN ANIMAL TO SUFFER AND THERE MAY BE VIABLE POUCH YOUNG THAT CAN BE SAVED. CALL YOUR STATE WILDLIFE RESCUE SERVICE FOR FURTHER ADVICE.

Like this post? 📌 Pin it for later and share it with others!