Angel is a pure white eastern grey baby kangaroo born at Little Urchins Wildlife Shelter in ReedyCreek Victoria. Angel’s mother was called Granny. Granny was on death row at a wildlife fauna park before she was rescued along with the rest of her mob, and taken to Little Urchins wildlife shelter four years ago.
Granny’s mob was about to be shot at a fauna park when the Australian Society for Kangaroos intervened and convinced them to spare their lives and allow them to be relocated to a sanctuary. So four years ago 100+ kangaroos and their babies were rescued and taken to their new homes. According to Kat and Eddie who run Little Urchins Wildlife Shelter, some of them had horrific injuries and some were in a very poor state. Some had to be euthanased, but most of them were well enough to be saved and were darted, sedated and transported to Little Urchins Wildlife Sanctuary. When they arrived Kat and Eddie lay them on mattresses in the field with pillows and blankets and stood close by as they woke up in their new home. Many were emaciated and needed electric blankets and others were treated for parasites and infections. All of them survived the relocation and live on to this day.
Granny was of those rescued from the fauna park, four years ago. She was the oldest kangaroo in the mob and was thin, partially blind and deaf. Kat believes she was 20+ years old which is very old for a kangaroo. Due to her old age she was pampered by Kat and Eddie and eventually settled in and had a happy and healthy life in her new home. She became an icon at the shelter and was known by everyone. All the little joeys that were relocated with her adored her and would follow her around everywhere. That’s how she got her name Granny, because she looked after the little joeys.
But sadly a few months ago, Granny got very sick and died. Before she died, and for the first time ever, Granny reached out to Kat and sniffed and licked her hand and put her face up to Kat’s. Granny was never a tactile kangaroo and kept her distance from humans but Kat thought this was Granny’s way of saying thank you, thank you for saving her and looking after her.
When Kat was examining her afterwards, they were shocked to find a little baby in her pouch. Granny never had a joey of her own at the shelter, but had blessed Kat and Eddie with this beautiful baby after she passed. She was tiny, her eyes were still closed and Kat and Eddie didn’t think she’d make it, so gave her to Julie and Francois at JABS who specialise in pinkies (furless joeys) to give her the best chance at life. To everyone’s delight she survived, but then shocked everyone again by growing into a rare white eastern grey kangaroo joey. Her name is Angel, she is a pure white baby kangaroo, and now she is stronger and bigger she has gone back to her home with Kat and Eddie.
Angel is Granny’s legacy, reminding us that every kangaroo has a story, and every kangaroo deserves another chance at life. Angel lives on to tell her mum’s story of survival. She lives on to show us that every face in the mob has a personality and a soul that brings joy and life to others, and that every kangaroo deserves another chance if their home is destroyed or they aren’t welcome there anymore.
Angel lives on to show us that kangaroo relocations do work, and that even when a kangaroo is old and thin, relocations can be safe and successful. RIP Granny.
Little Urchins Wildlife Shelter is run by Kat and Eddie in Reedy Creek Victoria. They are incredibly dedicated to Australia’s native animals and work around the clock to give them another chance at life. They currently have 11 orphan joeys in care, including twin wallabies joeys, 5 kangaroos receiving medical treatment, 30 kangaroos in the pens, plus many more. They are currently raising money to build a wildlife hospital and have a Go Fund Me page where people can make donations. Click on the image below to donate:
