“Bound by Heart: The Love Story of Ellie and Elsie in the Sanctuary of Hope & Promise” 🦘💖

 

In the serene haven of Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary, there live two kangaroos named Ellie and Elsie. Their story is one of resilience, companionship, and the gentle care of those who gave them a home.

Ellie, the first to arrive at the sanctuary, was a survivor of a hit-and-run, a too-common fate for wildlife. She was timid, her eyes reflecting the trauma of her ordeal. The sanctuary became her refuge, a place where she could heal not just in body but in spirit.

Then came Elsie, another victim of human carelessness. When she arrived, Ellie saw a reflection of her own past self in Elsie’s frightened gaze. It was as if fate had brought them together, two souls needing each other to mend

I watched as Ellie took Elsie under her wing. They shared a special bond, one that went beyond mere survival. Ellie, once the scared newcomer, became the protector, the guide. She showed Elsie the ropes of their new home, from the best grazing spots to the coziest nooks for rest.

Their bond grew stronger with each passing day. They were often seen sharing meals, grooming each other, or simply resting side by side. I even noticed how they seemed to communicate in their own way, a language of soft grunts and tender nuzzles.

One day, a special friend of the sanctuary sent beautiful bags for Ellie and Elsie. It was a simple gesture, but for the kangaroo sisters, it was a treasure. They hopped around with joy, their movements a dance of gratitude. The bags weren’t just gifts; they were symbols of the love and care that surrounded them.

Ellie and Elsie’s story is more than a tale of two joeys. It’s a narrative of healing, of finding friendship in unexpected places, and of the profound impact kindness can have on the heart. It’s a reminder that every creature, no matter how small or hurt, can find love and a new beginning.

Their love story is heartfelt not because of grand gestures, but because of the quiet moments of understanding and the shared journey towards healing. In the safety of Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary, Ellie and Elsie found more than a home; they found each other, and that made all the difference. 🦘💚

Donations can be made to Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary

BSB 633000 Account 172206732
or
PayPal.me/AmarisWildlife

 

 

“Ellie’s Midnight Munch - Her Brush with Danger”

 

Tuesday morning, (30 April, 2024) just like any morning I walked into the joey shack with bottles for Ellie, Elsie and Elijah.  The generally fall over each other trying to get to their morning bottle.  This morning though Ellie was not interested and started doing some very interesting kind of  'wobbles' for lack of a better word.  I managed to get a video (below)

We were not sure what was going on …  was it neurological? It seemed too controlled ??  maybe gastrointestinal?  She refused her bottle and stopped eating.  I brought all 3 back inside as we tried to figure out what was wrong with Ellie. We treated her for both possibilities and though the wobbles didn't come back she was stretching her neck out a lot.   We considered the possibility of an injured neck. Ellie was put on to pain relief and Meloxicam. Still not eating and bottles were being forced into her to ensure she was staying hydrated. By Friday (weekend coming up) I took her to our local vet and she was subcut with 40 mls of fluids, but vet was unable to make a diagnosis.

During the weekend she started nibbling on some wooly bush, but still didn't want her bottles or grain.  I was still keeping her indoors as I didn't know what I was dealing with. (She had short stints in the pen and seemed happy enough)  On Monday I took her Dr Shey at Nullakai Vet and after seeing the video she said Ellie was choking.  It seems during the night she got some grain stuck in her throat.  When she got up she was trying to dislodge the grain which ended up scarring her esophagus and throat.  Eating and drinking was painful. I was so relieved and happily took her back home again and back to normal life in the joey pen again.    It took a few more days before she was eating and drinking normally again.  She is now first in line for her bottles.

Outcome: (Dr Shey's advice) No more grain in bowls at night time, the way they lie in bed and without easy access to water this could be dangerous.  Now they get a heap of fresh browse every night and grain is for when they are up and about .

Donations can be made to Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary

BSB 633000 Account 172206732
or
PayPal.me/AmarisWildlife

On our way home from Dr Shey with some soft fresh browse to nibble on

I feel better now

“Kangaroo Cough Chronicles: Battling Bordetella bronchiseptica”

Bordetella bronchiseptica

- is a cause of respiratory infections in a wide range of mammals, it may cause a severe pneumonia, which may be fatal.

Recent reports have suggested that this organism may be considered

a zoonosis, even if it occurs rarely. (Sciencedirect.com)

 

My case study (24 October 2022) –

 

Approx 12 weeks ago Caree (30kg) was waiting outside the pen to see if anything was left in the pen bottles. As she was drinking, she starting coughing violently. I thought she had aspirated. After talking to my mentor, she said that was more than likely not the case and to keep an eye on her. 

I did for several days but the coughing was relentless. I started her on Bisolven which is a Chesty Forte Cough Liquid (the first of many bottles and tablets). It relieves productive chesty coughs, which can occur due to a variety of causes, by breaking down and clearing mucus in the chest. (In the meantime lots of the other others started with the same symptoms) At first it was easy, Caree would take it in a banana but after a few days her nasal cavities became swollen, and she could no longer smell. Her chest starting rattling and she was having difficulty breathing. After consultation with the vet, it was decided to put her on antibiotics and treat as a secondary infection of pneumonia. I needed to administer 1.5 tabs (Enrofloxacin) per day (at $10 per day) but once she started refusing bananas it got tricky. Hours following her with corn, weetbix, muesli bars and lots of different things to tempt her. After about 2 weeks her at foot, Zaley,  started coughing as well. I tried to keep her within the confines of the property but she got restless, so I had to let her go. She had no appetite and became very thin. I would spend hours looking for her. One time she was at the neighbours and I snuck over to try and get some meds into her. Eventually managed to coax her and her baby home. After a week I knew we weren’t getting anywhere with administering the tablets so decided to do the injectable (Tulathromycin). I was warned I needed someone to help me but knew Caree would bolt. I was so desperate to get my girl better I managed on my own even though she took off with needle stuck in her butt (I checked her later and needle was gone). It took about 4 weeks before she was feeling better (I still hear her coughing from time to time) She is now the picture of health, baby in pouch, her at foot healthy again. She follows me everywhere and has become very attached to me again.

 

Jade, Jonti, Mia, Kyah, Cherish, Coco, Bindi, Caree, Maxx and all 6 of my pen kids (Jaffa, Jedda, Jaycee, Emma, Elliott and Rossie all between 12 – 20kg) got sick to varying degrees.

 

5 of the pen kids, Cherish and Coco all had an injection of Tulathromycin (Jedda and Jaffa both had 2 rounds 7 days apart)

 

When I realised how contagious this was – whatever it was I decided to hand over my two 1.5 kg boys to a good carer friend. I could not run the risk of them getting sick. I also needed all my energy to take care of the sick mob esp Jedda and Rossie at that stage.

 

I knew we were dealing with something more than just of a case of roo flu. I had been adding extra vitamins and minerals, molasses for energy to their water, bought some high energy alpaca mix but they just kept getting sick. I wandered for hours with Bisolven tablets and bananas twice a day (some of the sick ones are wild babies of Mums I raised, so even though not scared of me I have never touched them)

 

When all the 6 pen kids got sick I needed to know what we were dealing with. I did nasal swabs and had them sent to the Ag Dept for culture. It came back as Bordetella bronchiseptica. At least I had a name and was able to source correct antibiotics. (Trimidine) I had 4 swabs done, one came back negative but she had been on antibiotics so was told that would have interfered with the culture results.

Jaffa lost a lot of weight but I was able to support care her with bed rest, extra bottles, fresh browse and loads of extra love. She is still convalescing…. she loves her bed and rolls into her hanging bag any chance she gets.

Jedda was the sickest of all. Several times I thought I would lose her. Her sinus became ulcerated, she could barely breathe. I kept her inside (air con on 24/7) for 5 days. (Rossie joined her for about 3 days and was nebulizer as well) I had her on the nebulizer 5 times daily, 5 bottles daily, Critical care and critticare in bottles, nutripet a high energy vitamin concentrate. Picking fresh browse every day and ensuring access to grain. She went from a healthy 16kg to 12 kg. She was so weak she could barely walk or stand so I needed to carry her everywhere. Jedda is now off antibiotics but still on additional bottles, nutrients and vitamins so she can gain back her strength and weight. I am also still pouching her at night under a heat lamp. (I shudder at the thought of my next power bill – I can keep them warm in pure wool pouches and fur lined hanging bags but need to keep the air they are breathing warm to help heal their lungs)

Coco is still struggling to breathe and only breathing through her mouth. She currently has males trying to mate her which doesn’t help. She runs to the house and I put her in the pen so she can relax. She tires very easily and has also lost a lot of weight. It was a happy day when she came in for grain to the feed trays.

7 days ago Millie (approx. 25kg bub in pouch) the one in the video started coughing. She has a rattly chest, but I am unable to get her take meds. She is doing ok…still coming in for grain and hasn’t lost a lot of weight (If she gets worse, we will have to inject her somehow) Also an adult wild male was coughing (Only heard him the one time)

I have called vet today and will pick up swabs to use if needed.

Jedda, Jaffa, Coco, Mia are still coughing but it’s not consistent or very severe.

 

This report was done on 24^th October, 2022

As of today 27 May 2024 everyone recovered.  Jaffa now has a bub in her pouch and still loves her bottles and still comes into the pen most nights (she knows where the bottles are)  I managed to keep her safe from the boys for 12 months so she was able to gain back all the weight she lost.

Millie’s baby Miki got very sick, but she was still in Mums pouch, and she recovered without any intervention.  Mia has since had a bub and another one in her pouch.

Rossie came home last year with a severe respiratory infection because of a weakened immune system after the virus. He came home and fell over he was so weak, it happened so quickly and suddenly. He went back on anti-biotics, was pouched every night through the winter months, back on bottles, nutripet, and additional supplements.  Jaffa became his carer.  Once he was free to go during the day, she made sure he came home and into the pen every night. 

 A HUGE Thank you to:

Peggy for taking the 2 babies (Bandit and Benson) so they wouldn't get the virus and to give me the time to focus of the sick ones.

Thank you Marg and Claire for your care, guidance, support, advice over the past weeks.

Thank you Leonie for babysitting duties and support here so I could get to the chiropractor

Thank you to everyone who checked in and offered emotional support

Thank you Dr Shey Nullakai Vet Service for your support and providing appropriate meds after diagnosis

Thank you Dr Bronwyn and Katie Mt Barker Veterinary Hospital WA for your support and care.

Thank you to all who offered financial support and sent money for Bananas...Think I need shares in banana plantation.

Above all thank you Lord for answered prayers. For the strength to keep going, for my amazing friends and network of carers and for restoring health to my precious babies.

Donations can be made to Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary

BSB 633000 Account 172206732
or
PayPal.me/AmarisWildlife

 

Rossie on the mend after his respiratory infection

Millie and Miki (in pouch) both sick

Jedda finally improving

On the nebulizer up to 5 x a time

First Grevillea flower goes to Jedda

So so Sick

Here is the link to the video of Miki coughing
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1382384138835656

Mumma’s Mia: A Tale of Resilience and New Beginnings

In the rugged expanse of the Australian bush, where the sun kisses the earth and the wind whispers ancient secrets, Mumma’s Mia emerged—a survivor against all odds. Her story, etched in the red soil, is one of resilience, love, and the miraculous dance of life. Mumma’s Mia wasn’t meant to survive. A victim of a hit-and-run, her body bore the bruises of a violent encounter. But God had other plans. Beneath the eucalyptus canopy, volunteers at Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary cradled her fragile form, their hands gentle, their hearts heavy with hope. They whispered words of encouragement, willing life back into her battered frame. Days turned into weeks, and Mumma’s Mia defied expectations. Her amber eyes held a fire—a determination to heal, to reclaim her place in the wild. The other kangaroos watched, their tails twitching in curiosity. They sensed her strength—the quiet force that bound them all. And then, a miracle unfolded. Mumma’s Mia’s bruises were gone. She grazed on tender grass, her joey pouch empty but her heart full. The sanctuary buzzed with whispers: “She’ll make it.” “She’s a fighter.” And so she was—a beacon of hope for every injured soul that crossed their path. But Mumma’s Mia’s journey wasn’t solitary. Love blossomed—a fragile bud in the harsh landscape. Mardi, her own joey, nestled against her, seeking warmth and nourishment. Together, they hopped through sunrises and sunsets, their tails brushing—a dance of generations. Mardi’s eyes mirrored her mother’s—the same amber pools, the same hunger for life. And now, a new chapter begins. Mumma’s Mia carries another secret—a tiny life nestled within her pouch. A new joey, cocooned in warmth, unaware of the world beyond. The volunteers watch, their hearts swelling. They’ve seen this cycle—the ebb and flow of existence—the passing of resilience from one generation to the next. So here’s to you, Mumma’s Mia—a survivor, a mother, a keeper of stories. May your pouch cradle new beginnings, your hops echo through time. And when the moon rises, silver and serene, know that you are part of a tapestry—a living testament to the wild heart of Australia. And to Mardi—the legacy you carried (who now carries her own legacy), the promise you embody—may your steps be sure, your spirit unyielding. For in your eyes, we glimpse a lineage of love, stitched across the vast canvas of the outback. 🌟🦘❤️

Mia loves her Mummy's coffee and food :-)

“Remembering Our Littlest Ones: Neonate Joeys Who Touched Our Hearts”

 Remembering Yasha, Jarli, Ariyah, Georgie, Gracie

In the quiet corners of Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary, where eucalyptus leaves rustle in the breeze, there lies a tender ache—a whisper of loss that echoes through the gum trees. Here, in this refuge of compassion, we honour the neonate kangaroo joeys whose lives were cut short, their tiny hearts beating only briefly against the vast canvas of the Australian wilderness.

They arrived, fragile and wide-eyed, some with eyes still closed, cradled in the arms of tragedy. Their mothers—guardians of pouches and protectors of innocence—had fallen victim to fate’s cruel hand. Perhaps it was a speeding car on a moonless night or the relentless encroachment of civilisation that silenced their maternal song. Whatever the cause, their absence left a void—a chasm of grief that stretched across the red earth.

And so, these joeys, barely the size of a human palm, found themselves orphaned. Imagine touching the petal of a delicate flower. A pinkie joey’s skin is similarly soft, almost translucent. Their skin feels like the promise of tomorrow—a promise that, with care, they might grow into the bounding kangaroos of the outback.

Or if furred, soft as the morning mist, cling to hope as they nestled into makeshift pouches, seeking solace in the scent of their surrogate Mummy’s

Beneath my fingertips, this pinkie joey radiates warmth. Their bodies seeking the heat they once found nestled against their mother’s belly.

When you hold a pinkie joey, you become their surrogate pouch. Your palms cradle their tiny form, offering protection.

Their eyes remain closed, their ears mere folds. They rely on touch and smell to navigate their world—a world that suddenly lacks the heartbeat they knew.

The sanctuary became their haven—a place where compassion stitched together the frayed edges of their disrupted lives.

My heart shatters, as I imagine their vulnerability—their eyes searching for a mother’s gaze that would never return. I wonder if they dreamt of hopping through sun-dappled grass, of nibbling on tender shoots, or of the rhythmic thump of a kangaroo’s heartbeat. Did they long for the warmth of a pouch, the gentle sway as their surrogate carried them through the day?

But life is fleeting, and sometimes fate weaves a bittersweet tapestry. The neonate joeys, too small to comprehend loss, left their earthly haven.

Yet their memory lingers—a constellation of love stitched into the fabric of time. We honour them, these tiny souls who touched our lives, and we pledge to protect their kin.

Questions swirl like a tempest in my mind. Why? Why must such innocence suffer? Why does nature’s balance sometimes tip toward cruelty? Yet, even as despair threatens to engulf me, I remember: I can’t give up. There are more out there—more joeys, more souls yearning for a second chance.

Amaris—the name itself whispers hope. It means “promised by God”  or “promise of hope,” a promise that darkness will yield to dawn. And so, we press on. We cradle these tiny lives, bottle-feeding them with love, tending to their fragile bodies, and murmuring lullabies under the Southern Cross. We become their moonlight, their constancy—the warmth they seek in the chill of abandonment.

In the quiet hours, when the sanctuary sleeps, I imagine their spirits dancing among the stars. Perhaps they find solace there, reunited with their mothers in a giant embrace. And I, too, find solace—in the resilience of these neonate joeys, in the tireless dedication of volunteers who carry them forward.

For every life cut short, there is a legacy—a ripple that extends beyond the confines of mortality. So, dear joeys, know this: Your brief existence mattered. You were not lost in vain. Your absence fuels our determination to protect those who still bound across the red earth, their tails like exclamation marks against the sky.

And as the sun rises over Amaris, casting golden hues upon the eucalyptus leaves, we pledge to be your voice. We’ll fight for the warmth and comfort you deserved - a home etched not only in the sanctuary’s walls but in the collective heartbeat of all who care.

Rest well, little ones. Your legacy leaps onward, carried by the wind, whispered by the stars. 🌿🌏🦘

Gracie

Ariyah

Georgie

Yasha


Remember, these little ones need our help. If you ever encounter a pinkie joey, please reach out to experienced wildlife carers. They can provide the warmth, nourishment, and care these fragile beings require to thrive. 🦘💕