Last week, a homeowner in suburban Australia looked out their window to see a large kangaroo in their yard. This was not unusual — the kangaroo and his mob frequently visited the area. But this time, something looked strange.
The homeowner noticed a black electrical wire wrapped around the kangaroo’s foot.
Marsupial Mammas and Pappas Wildlife Care
For a few days, the homeowner monitored the kangaroo and watched the wire grow tighter and tighter.
Concerned for the kangaroo’s well-being, they called a wildlife helpline. A local sanctuary worker arrived to tranquilize the kangaroo so they could remove the wire, but the dart failed. The terrified kangaroo limped back into the forest and disappeared for several days.
Marsupial Mammas and Pappas Wildlife Care
That’s when Rebecca Ingram, chairperson at Marsupial Mammas and Pappas Wildlife Care (MMAP), stepped in.
“I pulled into the driveway, and I could see a kangaroo coming slowly through the bush,” Ingram told The Dodo. “The property owner appeared and indicated that was the kangaroo with the wire around its foot.”
Ingram grabbed her tranquilizer and slowly got out of the car, so as not to scare the animal away.
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“I was excited to know the kangaroo arrived at the same time I did,” Ingram said. “I calmed myself so [my] nervous, excited energy didn’t alert the ‘roo.”
To help the mob and the struggling kangaroo feel more at ease, the homeowner tossed them carrots to chomp on. The snacks worked, and Ingram expertly darted the large animal. This time, it worked.
After the kangaroo lay still on the ground, Ingram examined his foot.
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“The electrical wire was thin, and easily cut with large scissors,” she said. “No treatment was required as the wire had loosened and not caused any injury.”
Within an hour, the kangaroo rejoined his mob.
In a Facebook post about the rescue, MMAP called the kangaroo a “beautiful boy,” who “stood up — steady and strong — then quietly went back to grazing, like nothing had ever happened.”
Marsupial Mammas and Pappas Wildlife Care
The homeowner realized a wire used for a solar panel had been left out on the veranda. They suspect the kangaroo hopped onto the veranda to explore and got caught.
Ingram is just glad she could provide a happy ending for native wildlife.
“I wish that people [would] report injuries without delay,” Ingram said. “If something doesn’t seem right, it usually isn’t.”
If you’d like to support Marsupial Mammas and Pappas Wildlife Care, you can donate to their efforts via their website. 
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