Late last month, near Melbourne Airport in Australia, a construction worker was making his rounds when something unusual caught his eye. Two pointed ears were sticking out of a massive mud pit — and they weren’t moving.
He took a closer look. It was a kangaroo, completely submerged in thick, sticky muck, her body trapped with no way out.
No one knew how long she’d been there, but it was clear she was exhausted, cold, and on the verge of giving up. The worker quickly called The Wildlife Rescuers, and within minutes, a team of volunteers was racing to the scene.
“Upon arrival, we saw how exhausted she was, barely moving and looking defeated,” volunteer Chelsea Castaldi later shared on Facebook.
Rescuers suspect the kangaroo may have mistaken the mud for solid ground — or perhaps she’d been spooked by another animal and bolted straight into danger.
The volunteers wasted no time digging her free. But when they finally lifted her out, the seriousness of her condition hit them.
“Once I had her wrapped up in blankets and placed her in the car, I felt fear and doubt creeping in when I touched her gums and realized how cold she was,” Castaldi told The Dodo. “Would she even make it?”
The next step was a gentle but thorough cleanup. She was so caked in sludge that her eyes were sealed shut, and every inch of her fur was matted with mud. Warm baths washed away the grime, slowly revealing the beautiful kangaroo underneath.
“It was such a relief seeing her actually look like a kangaroo again,” Castaldi said.
Wrapped in a foil blanket, given IV fluids, and warmed from the inside out, the roo’s strength began to return. Before long, she was nibbling on Nutrigel — a promising sign she was ready to fight for her life.
“I’m so grateful we were able to give this sweet little kangaroo her life back,” Castaldi said. “We got to her just in time.”
Once stable, she was transferred to Murrindindi Wildlife Shelter, where she could recover among other kangaroos. A month later, she’s made friends, regained her strength, and is nearly ready to hop back into the wild where she belongs.
Thanks to a construction worker’s sharp eyes, a dedicated rescue team, and weeks of care, one little kangaroo has a second chance — and she’s making the most of it.
To support other animals like this kangaroo, you can make a donation to The Wildlife Rescuers here and to Murrindindi Wildlife Shelter here.
