Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary: Yasha

This beautiful baby was handed over to me by the Shire Ranger of Cranbrook on a cold Sunday morning. Yasha's Mum had been killed in a car accident the night before by a hit and run driver and Yasha had spent the night in her dead mother's pouch. Some kids found the Mum and checked the pouch and found a very cold Yasha. she was gently removed from the pouch by a neighbouring farmer who also respectfully buried her Mum. Yasha was just 295 gram when she came into care and I loved her dearly from the moment I held her in my hands. I knew the chances of keeping her alive were slim, but I was determined to do whatever it took to give her a chance at life. Three hourly feeds around the clock, keeping her little body at a constant temperature using Snuggle Safe pads with a Joey warmer in an Esky. She was a real little fighter, strong as she gripped my finger during bottle time. But her will to live was not enough, and 3 days later she passed away.

My heart was shattered and I was angry. Angry that someone had killed her Mum, angry that they didn't stop, angry that this little one spent a freezing cold night in her dead Mum's pouch, angry that there are drivers who just don't care. 4 pinkies that week, 4 Mum's killed, 4 drivers who didn't care to stop and check, 4 babies alone all night in Mum's pouch, 4 babies that died as a result. (and that is just those that I know about. This is repeated around the country every single night)

I was determined Yasha's death would not be in vain. I contacted the radio stations and newspapers, which resulted in a Radio Interview with the ABC, an article on their website and an article in the local Great Southern Weekender.

Here are the links to several online articles asking drivers to slow down and stop or call for help if they hit a kangaroo

The Weekender

ABC News

I designed a poster that has been shared many times locally with telephone numbers to two rescue groups in the Great Southern, so drivers would know who to call