![\"This](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4JPGY87_this_kangaroo_avif.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nBy Lucy Thackray, ABC News<\/p>\n
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\nThis kangaroo became trapped in swampy mud in a dry dam in Narromine.
\nPhoto: Supplied \/ Scott Richardson\n<\/p>\n
A farmer has pulled a bogged kangaroo from a dry dam as landholders and wildlife carers sound the alarm over drought conditions in western New South Wales.<\/p>\n
Photos capture the kangaroo moments before he was rescued from the dam near Narromine in the state’s Central West.<\/p>\n
The animal became bogged in the sticky black silt while searching for water in an increasingly barren landscape.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4JPGY87_the_land_avif.jpeg\")
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\nThe land is dry and water is scarce in Central West NSW.
\nPhoto: Supplied \/ Scott Richardson\n<\/p>\n
The farmer who found the animal said conditions had deteriorated rapidly.<\/p>\n
“We’re in a big rain deficit at the moment. We haven’t had any substantial rain since September,” farmer Scott Richardson said.<\/p>\n
“The dams are dry. They didn’t catch any water in that event, and they’ve certainly caught nothing since.<\/p>\n
“Things are rather perilous.”<\/p>\n
Rescue’s happy ending<\/p>\n
The Narromine grazier said he was relieved his kangaroo encounter had a happy ending.<\/p>\n
“When I drove past and saw him stuck in the dam I thought there’d only be one option: to humanely euthanise him,” Richardson said.<\/p>\n
“Then, I saw he still had some strength left and had put up a fight. He’d crawled a good 15 metres through the thick, swampy mud.<\/p>\n
![\"Scott](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4JPGY87_relieved_avif.jpeg\")
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\nScott Richardson is relieved his kangaroo rescue ended happily.
\nPhoto: Supplied \/ Scott Richardson\n<\/p>\n
“His face had dropped down into the mud. I managed to get him out in time because he’d probably been in the dam for a good day or so. He was relatively light.<\/p>\n
“I thought I was going to get towelled up a bit trying to help, but he was as happy to hop away as I was to see it.”<\/p>\n
The farmer said it was important for everyone to “show some humility” during this tough period.<\/p>\n
“When wildlife and birds are doing it tough, trying to find water to drink, a little bit of compassion is always good to have,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Farmers are the stewards of the land. We do give a toss, and we do care.”<\/p>\n
Volunteer Tanya O’Donohue, from Warrumbungle Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation, said dry conditions had escalated at an alarming pace.<\/p>\n
“This drought went from zero to 100 in the last six to eight weeks,” she said.<\/p>\n
“In the [later stages] of the last drought, I noticed animals becoming skeletal. But I’m already seeing that now.<\/p>\n
“Animals are really struggling. They’re terribly emaciated.<\/p>\n
“It’s overwhelming because you can’t save them all.”<\/p>\n
![\"Tanya](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4JPGY87_Tanya_O_Donohue_avif.jpeg\")
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\nTanya O’Donohue is retiring after dedicating more than 30 years to saving injured animals.
\nPhoto: Supplied\n<\/p>\n
O’Donohue said she was already overwhelmed with rescues and requests to humanely euthanase injured wildlife.<\/p>\n
“Everything is drought-affected. When I drive around, I’m seeing nocturnal animals out during daylight hours looking for food, kangaroos in paddocks that are devoid of feed or taking risks coming into towns and up next to roads,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Even spring-fed dams around my area are starting to dry up.”<\/p>\n
For volunteer carers, the emotional and financial toll is relentless, with O’Donohue travelling hundreds of kilometres across the Central West for rescues.<\/p>\n
“I have to fill up a diesel vehicle to travel hundreds of kilometres to do a rescue. Even for a euthanasia, I’m looking at over 100 kilometres,” O’Donohue said.<\/p>\n
She recently announced her retirement from her all-consuming carer role due to health reasons.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been doing this for 33 years. I’m tired. I do a lot of rescues,” O’Donohue said.<\/p>\n
“My retirement couldn’t come at a worse time, but I know I can’t do another drought physically.”<\/p>\n
She said she was “praying” others would step up.<\/p>\n
“I’m hoping it gives other carers an opportunity to take the reins. I’ll help in other ways,” she said.<\/p>\n
![\"This](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4JPGY87_skinny_kangaroo_avif.jpeg\")
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\nThis skinny kangaroo had a lucky escape from the dry dam.
\nPhoto: Supplied \/ Scott Richardson\n<\/p>\n
Droughts damage the species<\/p>\n
O’Donohue said breeding had largely halted; a natural response during dry times that highlighted the harsh conditions.<\/p>\n
“The female kangaroos I’m pulling off the road have no pouch young, which tells me how bad it is – it’s extreme,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I believe we’re having a kangaroo population crash. Another year and there’ll be millions of animals dead through New South Wales alone.”<\/p>\n
The animal rescuer said more compassion was needed for an animal that was often treated like a pest.<\/p>\n
“Kangaroos are the most misunderstood species,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Koalas were a common species once, and the same thing will happen to kangaroos eventually. Humans put them under so much pressure with shooting and loss of habitat.”<\/p>\n
“We’ve got to learn to co-exist with our wildlife, otherwise there’ll be nothing left.”<\/p>\n