Adopt Romain

Species: Red-necked Wallaby

Romain’s life began in misfortune. His mother was killed in a motor vehicle accident, leaving him alone and vulnerable in her pouch. Miraculously, he survived without injury. A well-meaning member of the public found him and took him home, believing they were helping.

But what seemed like a rescue quickly became a frightening experience for Romain. The person caring for him wasn’t trained or licensed to look after macropods. They didn’t know his special dietary needs, how to handle him gently, or what safe housing required. He was fed incorrectly and treated like a toy for a young child and a dog, a terrifying ordeal for a fragile, grieving joey. Many Kangaroos and Wallabies wouldn’t survive such stress.

Though Romain had a remarkable will to live, even he couldn’t endure it forever. After weeks of improper care, he fell seriously ill. Eventually, the carer realised they were in over their head and surrendered him.

When he arrived with us, he was in rough shape, trembling and fearful, with diarrhoea, a broken tail, and a swollen hand. But the fear in his eyes showed the deeper trauma he’d suffered. With time, care, and patience, we healed his injuries and calmed his fears. In a safe, quiet environment with proper food and other rescued joeys for company, he slowly learned to be a wild wallaby again, free, alert, and unafraid.

Romain’s story is an important reminder: wild animals need trained, licensed carers who understand their needs. Only then can they recover fully and return to the wild where they truly belong.