Drivers urged to check roos’ pouches for joeys

Drivers are being urged to check the pouches of kangaroos killed on roads after two newborn joeys were recently rescued.

Mandy English, who runs Uralla Wildlife Sanctuary near Mt Barker with husband John, said most western grey kangaroos would be carrying joeys at this time of year.

Mrs English said the volunteer-run not-for-profit organisation’s busiest period for orphaned joeys was from June until September.

Mr and Mrs English and seven volunteers feed more than 40 joeys each day, ranging from tiny newborns to those who had survived being orphaned last season.

Mrs English said that figure was on par with the number of joeys at the sanctuary this time last year.

Two tiny joeys nicknamed Simba and Nala are Uralla’s latest additions.

Mrs English discovered Simba in a dead doe’s pouch on Muir Highway near Mt Barker 10 days ago, while Nala was found in a dead doe’s pouch on Great Southern Highway near Tambellup last month.

The pair share an incubator and are hand-fed every three hours around the clock.

“They still have a long way to go and their survival certainly isn’t assured at this stage,” Mrs English said.

She urged drivers to check kangaroos killed on the roads for young and contact her on 98561065.