Meet Kane

🐾 Farewell, Sweet Kane: From Heartbreak to Hope 🐾

Some rescues leave a quiet, lasting ache in your heart—the kind that’s mixed with pride, gratitude, and the bittersweet joy of watching a little life find its way. Kane’s story is one of those.

It began on a cold Monday evening when our neighbour, by pure chance, was driving past a quiet stretch of road just 500 metres from Amaris. There, he spotted a tiny joey—cold, motionless, and completely alone. At only 1.5kg, Kane was far too young to survive without his mum. There was no sign of her, and we feared the worst: that she had been startled or chased and, in panic, ejected her joey to save herself. Whether it was a dog, gunshots from nearby rabbit shooting, or a desperate escape from a mating chase, we’ll never truly know.

Wrapped in warmth and love, Kane was safe—but our hearts remained heavy as we searched for his mum. For days, I walked and watched, hoping to find a mother without a joey in her pouch, or any sign of an injured kangaroo nearby.

Then, a truth unfolded that brought everything full circle.

Kane’s mum was Shadow, a beautiful kangaroo who had once been hand-raised by the very same neighbour who found Kane that night. After losing her companion in a tragic road accident, Shadow had started visiting the Amaris mob. She found comfort and safety here—running into the pen when chased by wild males and sharing grain trays with the rest of the mob. While she remained close by, it was clear she could no longer care for Kane. Maybe he had outgrown her pouch. Maybe something else had gone wrong. But she had let him go.

And so, Kane stayed with us—joining our growing mob of joeys and quickly forming a close bond with Kenny. The two became inseparable, and wherever they went, Karli and Katie weren’t far behind. Life was suddenly bustling with four energetic joeys, but they brought such sweetness and light with them.

Kane, especially, carved a unique place in our hearts. He was endlessly gentle, calm, and affectionate. Every time I stepped into the pen, he was the first to come bounding over—arms outstretched, ready for a hug. Despite everything he’d been through, he never showed a single issue. Just a soft, loving spirit who thrived in care and radiated trust.

Now, it’s time for Kane to take the next step in his journey.

Kane is heading off to Karlup Animal Sanctuary alongside his brothers Kenny and Jarew, where they’ll continue to grow strong and wild together. There, they’ll eventually be released into the bush to live the life they were always meant to—a life in the wild, where they belong.

Yes, it breaks my heart to say goodbye after all this time. But this is why we do what we do. It’s not about us—it’s about them. About giving these precious lives the second chance they deserve.

Kane’s story is one of connection and compassion—a reminder that the work we do doesn’t just save lives, it restores the fragile balance between humans and the wild. He may not have had the future we first hoped for with his mum, but he was given something just as powerful: safety, love, friendship, and a path back to freedom.

I’ll miss you, Kane. Thank you for every cuddle, every hop, and every reminder of what truly matters.

“Inspiring hope and healing for Australia’s wildlife, one rescue at a time.”