“[W]e saw how exhausted she was, barely moving and looking defeated.”
Trapped Kangaroo Rescued From Mud Pit Gets a Second Chance at Life
Late last month, a construction worker near Melbourne Airport in Australia made a startling discovery—a pair of ears barely visible above the surface of a massive mud pit. As he got closer, he realized a kangaroo was trapped, completely stuck with no way out.
Unsure how long she had been there but knowing she needed urgent help, the worker called The Wildlife Rescuers. A team of volunteers, including Chelsea Castaldi, rushed to the scene.
“Upon arrival, we saw how exhausted she was, barely moving and looking defeated,” Castaldi wrote on Facebook.
The circumstances that led to her predicament remain a mystery. She may have mistaken the mud for solid ground or been chased into it by another animal. Regardless, she was in critical condition.
Rescuers worked quickly to dig her out, but once she was free, her dire state became even more evident.
“Once I had her wrapped up in blankets in my arms, carried her over to the car and placed her down, I had fear and doubt creeping in when I touched her gums and felt how cold she was,” Castaldi told The Dodo. “Would she even make it?”
The volunteers immediately set to work cleaning her off. The mud had been so thick it glued her eyes shut, covering every inch of her body. But after a warm bath, her transformation was remarkable.
“It was a feeling of relief seeing her actually look like a beautiful kangaroo again,” Castaldi said.
To help her recover, the team wrapped her in a foil blanket, administered IV fluids, and offered her Nutrigel, which she eagerly ate. Against all odds, she was regaining strength.
“I’m so grateful that we were able to give this sweet little kangaroo her life back,” Castaldi said. “I know she was super close to not being here anymore—we got to her just in time.”
Once stable, she was transferred to Murrindindi Wildlife Shelter, where she continued to recover in the company of other kangaroos.
Now, a month later, she’s made new friends and is fully ready to return to the wild. Thanks to a construction worker’s quick thinking, dedicated wildlife rescuers, and compassionate caregivers, this resilient kangaroo has been given a second chance at life.
“She has and will continue to thrive,” Castaldi said.