The World’s Only Baby Kangaroo Sanctuary Is in the Heart of Australia
Meet Chris “Brolga” Barns, who looks just like a regular cowboy. He strides through the heart of Australia with his dusty hiking boots and his tattered safari shirt. But the animals he takes care of are far smaller than cows. And, let’s face it, they’re much cuter. Brolga runs the world’s only baby kangaroo sanctuary. Read everything there is to know about them.
How a Dream Becomes a Top Kangaroo Sightseeing Destination
Located in Alice Springs, the bohemian town in the heart of Australia, the kangaroo sanctuary takes care of orphaned youngsters. Also known as joeys, the small animals live on a 188-acre private land. Brolga, whose nickname comes from a long-limbed crane, hand-rears and heals them until they’re ready to go back to the bush. Commonly, the animals stay in the sanctuary until they reach 14 months.
What started as a man’s humble dream has grown into Alice Springs’ most popular tourist destination in just 15 years. What makes the place so special is that visitors can feed, cuddle, and even take care of the animals alongside the former zookeeper himself.
How Animals Live in the Sanctuary
Typically, kangaroos living in this private sanctuary are brought here after their mothers are hit by traffic. But their sad fate is overturned once they get here. The joeys live in specialized cots and have their own pacifiers. Most babies are bottle-fed more than four times a day. They also receive plenty of chances to exercise out in the yard. That’s where they learn how to bounce.
As Brolga puts it, the kangaroo is an incredibly sociable creature, which is why sometimes they’re raised in couples. That way, he explains, it’s easier to replicate the warmth and closeness they’re used to while living in their mothers’ pouches. It turns out that this method is successful, too.
Kangaroo Post-Sanctuary Adaptation
The pairing method used by the carers leads to the animals’ remaining close for the rest of their lives. Brolga calls each pair by name, handles them treats, and more. Brolga believes about 99% of all marsupials he’s looked after over the past 15 years are successfully returned to the wild. Still, the remaining 1% accounts for more than 60 kangaroos.
Brolga explains that kangaroos are common throughout Australia. Here in the Red Centre, however, they’re really prevalent. That’s why he decided to build the sanctuary precisely here. He believes it’s located right where it’s needed and strives to contribute to keeping the region’s nature intact however best he can.