
20/01/2025
And this is assuming they survive long enough to grow up. Sadly many joeys kept by inexperienced people die due to incorrect diet & care.
The aren’t cute and cuddly forever!
With the recent uptick in people finding wildlife and keeping them as pets or to share with people on social media it’s important to remember that the animal you find, if it survives the young orphan stage, will grow up. When it does the results are catastrophic for the creature. Here is a description of what happens for kangaroos kept by themselves as pets written by the team at Rocky Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary
“We at Rocky Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary , through years of experience and hundreds of rescues know that hand - raised (Western Grey specifically) kangaroos WILL NOT survive if:-
1 . They are released on their own. They need a mob to survive . For social structure, for security and comfort, for protection, for tick grooming amoung lots of other reasons. Even relocation of adult wild kangaroos is not successful if they are not released in a mob . They are social animals that need each other for survival.
2. If they are released under 12-15 kgs . At this size they are not fox proof and will soon be picked off. (This is like sending a 12 yr old human child off on an overseas trip unaccompanied. You would’nt do that.)
3. They are not de-humanised!! They will seek human company. They are in danger from ruthless humans, hunting, dogs etc if they do not fear humans.
They (males) become dangerous around humans when they challenge humans . Normally a wild kangaroo will stay away from humans, whereas a handraised roo will not be afraid, and will “challenge” for mob dominance, and see the human as part of that mob. This is a “disaster waiting to happen “ scenario !!
You cannot release a handraised male kangaroo that is not de-humanised , into an environment where they can be a danger to humans . This is stupidity and irresponsible , and cannot have a good ending , for the roo or for the humans.
Please if you find an orphaned joey do NOT attempt to keep it. Please contact your local wildlife group to surrender it for both your sake and the long term survival of the macropod. It ends in heartbreak otherwise.