Brought to the Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs when he was still too young to leave his mother's pouch, an adorable little joey named Bradley is finally learning to hop on his own. Sadly, Bradley's mother couldn't be around to witness the milestone, because he was tragically orphaned after she was hit by a car.
The Kangaroo Sanctuary
Located in Australia's Northern Territory, the 188-acre sanctuary rescues and raises orphaned baby kangaroos whose mums have met similar fates. Bradley managed to survive because he was snugly hidden in his pouch. While he still spends much of his time burrowed in a pillow case to simulate his old home, at six months old he's starting to venture out.
Orphaned Animals
According to the sanctuary's Tahnee Passmore-Barns, "quite a few" baby roos are taken in each year to be cared for and raised by the staff. Like any orphaned wild animal, they need to be schooled in all the things their mommas would have taught them had they lived. Bradley has just taken his first tentative hops, and the results were captured on video for all to see.
Wildlife Conservation
Through conservation efforts, we are gradually saving species and improving the lives of countless animals. But there's still so much to be done. One of the things you can do is volunteer your time at an animal rescue, shelter or sanctuary. Passmore-Barns recommends helping out at your own local wildlife shelter or animal shelter," if you can't afford to donate or would rather get involved at a more hands-on level.
Making a Difference
Bradley "is doing really well and is very alert and such a cute little character," Passmore-Barns added. As long as we support groups and programs like the Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs, we can continue to turn the lives around — and hopefully save them in the process — of animals like Bradley.
