Kangaroo Rescue
There are kangaroo rescuers all over the country doing their best to save adult kangaroos and joeys from the worst of human cruelty. As one rescuer said “It takes 9 or more months of 24-7 care to raise an orphaned joey or rehabilitate an adult kangaroo; it takes one second for a shooter to kill them.”
This, the ‘Rescue’ page, contains information on the work Kangaroos Alive is doing to help save populations, mobs and individual kangaroos.
The Rescue Page has information about Greg and Diane’s Sanctuary & hospital west of Sydney and includes a description of the aims and specific projects that the Rescue section of Kangaroos Alive has established to increase safe areas for for release of kangaroos and to improve the chances of survival of rescued and rehabilitated kangaroos.
Kangaroo Rescue and Sanctuary
Greg and Diane of Kangaroos Alive have a kangaroo sanctuary, kangaroo care and rescue facility including a kangaroo hospital west of the Blue Mountains outside Sydney.
Diane at the sanctuary
This is their story…
"Our introduction to the plight of kangaroos began as wildlife carers in the western region of the Sydney Basin in 2000. We quickly became aware that the 4 species that exist in this bio-region, (eastern grey kangaroo, wallaroo, swamp wallaby and red neck wallaby) were seriously affected by urban sprawl, and the associated land clearing of huge developments that encompassed the Sydney Basin extending to the foot of the Blue Mountains.
Realising that there was little consideration by government and developers when opening up new areas of established bush land for urban development and infrastructure, and little consideration of the retention of wildlife corridors or viable remnant bush land, we both decided in desperation that we need to establish a facility not far from Sydney where we could achieve better outcomes for these species through research and conservation.
The property was assessed prior to purchase for its significant features of conservation significance, and it held distinct family groups of eastern grey kangaroos displaying clear family connections and hierarchy. The property also supported healthy populations of wallaroo, swamp wallaby and red neck wallaby in proportional numbers.
Our aim was to co-exist with these and all species and to enhance the conservation value of the property whilst operating as a not for profit organisation providing education on kangaroos and conducting and attracting research into these beautiful integral players in the biodiversity of the property.
The property was a significant investment that required ongoing investor support to achieve desired positive outcomes. Arrangements were put in place for investor support to allow the property to operate as a wildlife care, education and research retreat without profit, and for a high level conservation covenant to protect the property's primary use into perpetuity.
These goals have not yet been realised, and there has not been any positive environmental outcome; as a result of the shooting of kangaroos locally for recreation, for non commercial reasons and commercial profit. We lost all financial supporters due to …
the debilitating effect that the killing had on visitors
the risk presented from firearms use.
We suffered and continue to suffer financial losses as a result of the decisions of Government to legitimise the killing of kangaroos for off-set and profit. Our right to enjoy the repose of our property was withdrawn. Our dream of establishing the eco tourism, education and research centre ended and our daily lives became a nightmare.
We found ourselves being targeted for wanting to conserve and protect kangaroos, and there was some focus of intimidation by way of frequent recreational shooting of kangaroos on and near to our property as well as other forms of anti social and threatening behaviour. We made reports to local Police. Most reports to Police yielded little result, but ensured we became less popular locally.
The relentless Commercial and Non Commercial massacre continued into 2014 then 2015, all the while we gathered data and evidence, requested information and assistance, transparency and justice. We asked for help from Police, OEH, RSPCA, Members of Parliament, State Government Ministers, Non Government Legal and Environmental agencies, Solicitors. We made rational, reasonable requests for consideration, we respectfully challenged the senselessness of replies from Government agencies and the glaring contradictions. We repeatedly asked for consideration in the process highlighting the devastating impact the kangaroo killing was having not only on our Kangaroos but also on us. We asked for mercy. We respectfully waited. We waited too long.
Along with all of the licenced events, there was and still is, frequent illegal shooting of kangaroos; commercial, non commercial and recreational, on these properties as well as in neighbouring State Forest area which we share a 4km boundary with to the west. We have been confronted with the realities of the harming of kangaroos in all its forms while witnessing, first hand and dangerously close, well over 600 shooting events during the past 15 years.
We know this ridiculously inhumane, unjustified killing inside out. We see what motivates it and how cultural perceptions fuel and drive it. We see how incorrect these perceptions actually are, that kangaroos do not damage fences or compete with farmed animals for pasture or water, that, with some small considerations, co-existence with Kangaroos would not only be possible but actually beneficial to agriculturalists. “
Our work with Kangaroos Alive is to highlight the cruelty and suffering. If people really knew what goes on out there in the dark they would be horrified.
Diane is licenced carer who has raised many orphaned joeys until they can look after themselves. Greg is a licenced kangaroo/wildlife rescuer and carer with more than 20 years experience. He is one of many volunteers who respond to wildlife in crisis in New South Wales.
Living with Kangaroos
This video features Greg and Diane, of Kangaroos Alive, talking about “Living with Kangaroos” at their Sanctuary west of Sydney with Kate McClere.
To see some orphaned joeys, raised by Diane & Greg, go to the
Joey Care Page
The Aims of KA Rescue
Greg and Diane with injured kangaroo
KA Rescue is working on three separate levels to save our Kangaroos.
We aim to do everything we can to …
Save Kangaroo Populations
political lobbying to obtain legally binding protection for all kangaroos
build safe sanctuaries and hospitals for kangaroos all over the country
have knowledge base on kangaroo care with access to wildlife vets and experienced carers
develop ways of protecting kangaroos from predators
to acquire (as a protected trust) connected sections of protected land along kangaroo migratory pathways all across the state and eventually the country
record stories of those people exposed to and traumatised by witnessing the slaughter and/or torture of kangaroos to give them back their outrage and their voice
Save Kangaroo Mobs
make sure there is protected land where rehabilitated kangaroos can be safely released
gather information on mob structures and on how a healthy mobs work
determine how rescued and rehabilitated kangaroos can be integrated into a healthy mob
Save Individual Kangaroos
develop a support network for all kangaroos carers around the country
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As well as political lobbying to obtain legally binding protection for all kangaroos, KA Rescue has three projects that are designed to protect and promote healthy populations of kangaroos all over Australia.
The first KA Rescue project is to build safe sanctuaries and hospitals for kangaroos all over the country with wildlife vets and experienced carers who can build up a publicly accessible knowledge base on kangaroos including how to care for and rehabilitate kangaroos. The first of these sanctuaries/hospitals is currently being run by Greg and Diane west of the Blue Mountains.
The second KA Rescue project is to develop ways of protecting kangaroos from predators especially humans. Until kangaroos have some rights in terms of insurmountable legal protection this is difficult to do. When Greg and Diane’s protected Kangaroos on their property were being shot at through the fence, Greg and Diane got a light to shine back at the shooters. The police arrived and told Greg and Diane to take the light down because they were getting in the way of the shooters/farmers doing their job (i.e. eradicating kangaroos).
The third KA project is acquire (as a protected trust) connected sections of land along kangaroo migratory pathways all across the state and eventually the country. This again relies on Kangaroos having true legal protection by law and hence that kangaroos can travel safely along these pathways, freely and protected and that native bush can be regenerated on that land. Bequests and donations will fund this project.
The fourth KA project aims to give a voice to the people who witness the unspeakable and inhumane cruelty directed towards kangaroos
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Because of the colonial attitude of the population to kangaroos, very little research has been done into these unique iconic creatures. The kangaroo mob is an intricate social structure that has been decimated over the last decades by the commercial industry, farmers, hunters and excessive development.
KA Rescue wants to make sure that injured and rescued kangaroos have a safe place to be released. KA Rescue also wants to be able to get released kangaroos accepted into a healthy mob so they can be safe and protected.
An Example - “As the larger males (and females) have been the first kangaroos to be eradicated from the mobs in the commercial slaughter of kangaroos; only the young and small kangaroos remain. These adolescent kangaroos have not been taught how to act in a mob. If two or more male kangaroos try to simultaneously mate with a female kangaroo, she can be hurt in that process. If she is badly hurt, she may not be able to look after her in-pouch joey so is forced to abandon it while she recovers”.
The fifth KA Rescue Project is gain and gather information on mob structures, on how healthy mobs work and on how rescued and rehabilitated kangaroos can be integrated into a healthy mob. KA Rescue is wanting to work with wildlife zoologists and animal psychologists (in private and at the universities) to help with this research so that a knowledge base can be established.
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KA’s own Rescue facility is run by Diane and Greg and is located west of Sydney. They have been wildlife carers and rescuers for over 20 years.
The most important issues for carers and rescuers of kangaroos to increase the survival rates of injured macropods and orphaned joeys.
24-hr on-call professional wildlife specialist veterinary support
resources and supplies provided
ongoing training opportunities and information share networks
sustainable and coordinated intake and release support programs
guaranteed safe soft release properties
some reimbursement of ongoing costs – travel, laundry, amenities
Opportunity for priority access to relevant University courses after 2 years
Volunteers working on kangaroo care recognised as equivalent full time volunteer work with Centrelink enabling them to receive payment and being exempt from job seeking obligations
that they have financial support from government as caring for injured kangaroos and joeys is a full time job
that they have a sponsored support network to acquire, tend to and rehabilitate kangaroos
that they have a safe location to release rehabilitated kangaroos
The sixth KA Rescue Project is to develop a support network for all kangaroos carers around the country and to establish safe habitats to release rehabilitated kangaroos to maximise their chances of survival.
