The Central Goldfields Shire in the Australian state of Victoria can look back on a glorious past.
In the 19th century, Australia’s most productive goldfields were located here. Even today, numerous mine shafts bear witness to the great times.
One day, Simon passes one of these shafts in a forest on his bike.
In the trap
Simon gets off his bike and looks around the area. Then his eyes fall on the shaft and he peers inside.
Is that real? A kangaroo is actually looking at him from the depths.
The poor animal must have fallen into the shaft and now has no chance of getting out on its own.
Simon sees no way of helping the kangaroo immediately. How could he do that?
So he informs his wife and together they contact the animal rescue organization Central Goldfields Wildlife Rescue.
„The kangaroo was very lucky that Simon was there looking around. What a fateful encounter“,
says an employee of the organization later. Indeed it was. Without Simon, the kangaroo would have been lost.
Surprise at dusk
The sun is already disappearing on the horizon and it is beginning to get dark when the rescue operation begins. First, the kangaroo is tranquilized.
There is no other option. Then a long ladder is lowered into the shaft and the animal rescuers descend. Now a big surprise awaits them.
The kangaroo is not alone. It has a joey in its pouch. That’s what Australians call the kangaroo’s offspring.
Hopped away at midnight
Now, with all due care, mom and joey are brought up from the deep pit to the forest floor.
A quick health check provides an encouraging result. Both are uninjured. It is already midnight when mom finally wakes up.
At first she is a little disoriented and wobbly on her feet, but she soon regains her senses. Joey is there too, all right.
Wasn’t she just in a pit? Well, never mind. She gets up and hops away with a powerful leap.
Source: The Dodo
