For too long in Australia, we’ve fallen into the habit of blaming wildlife for simply existing. When an incident happens — whether it’s a shark near a swimmer, a kangaroo startled by an uncontrolled dog, or a dingo reacting to human behaviour — the animal is labelled the problem. But the truth is far simpler: wildlife are not the issue. They are behaving exactly as nature designed them to. The real challenges arise when human activity, development, and expectations collide with the natural world. This blog is about shifting that perspective — recognising that native animals belong here, and that coexistence starts with us, not them.

For many Australians, kangaroos are a familiar sight — a symbol of our landscape, our identity, and our wildlife heritage. Yet in recent conversations, we’ve seen deeply misleading terms like feral and invasive being used to describe them. These labels are not only scientifically incorrect, they are harmful. When we reduce a native animal to a nuisance category, it becomes easier for people to dismiss its value, ignore its suffering, and justify its removal. At Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary, we believe it’s time to correct the language and remind our community exactly who kangaroos are, why they matter, and why they deserve respect, protection, and truth.

Brigitte Bardot spent more than half her life fighting for the protection of animals — from wildlife on the brink of extinction to the everyday creatures too often overlooked. Her advocacy reshaped global conversations about compassion, conservation, and the moral duty we hold toward the natural world. As a sanctuary dedicated to the care and protection of Australia’s wildlife, we honour her legacy and the path she helped carve for all who stand up for animals.

Every summer in the Great Southern, the landscape bursts into colour as one of Western Australia’s most iconic trees comes into bloom. The WA Christmas Tree, with its brilliant golden flowers, transforms paddocks and bushland into something almost magical. Here at Amaris Wildlife, we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by these spectacular trees — and their arrival each year feels like a celebration of the season, the land, and the life it supports.

Every day in the Great Southern, native animals face dangers they can’t overcome alone — fences, cars, predators, illness. Until now, many of these cases had to be sent hundreds of kilometres away to Perth, often at great cost to their survival. That’s why the launch of the Mt Barker Wildlife Hospital is such exciting news. Led by Dr James and Dr Theresa, the hospital is built on compassion, expertise, and a promise of Excellence Every native wildlife, will receive the highest standard of veterinary care with modern facilities and specialist expertise. This is more than a hospital — it’s a lifeline for our region’s wildlife, and a shared responsibility for us all.

Parenting, Aussie‑Style

Parenting in the animal kingdom is never one‑size‑fits‑all — and in Australia, it’s downright extraordinary. From kangaroo dads who vanish after the deed, to emu fathers who sacrifice everything for their chicks, to cockatoos who stick together for life, our wildlife shows us every possible version of family. Some parents are fiercely protective, others hilariously chaotic, and a few are shockingly ruthless. Each strategy, strange or tender, is perfectly adapted to survival in the wild — and together they paint a vivid picture of how life is nurtured in the bush.

Welcome to Room to Roam

At Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary, Room to Roam is more than a project—it’s a promise. A promise to give joeys and other native wildlife the space, safety, and care they need to grow strong and free. Born from years of hands-on experience and community support, this initiative is creating a sanctuary within a sanctuary—where healing begins, and hope takes root.

Found a joey? Please—don’t ask Google. Ask a wildlife carer.

Every week, well-meaning people turn to the internet for advice on raising orphaned joeys. But quick answers can cause lasting harm. This blog shares the real risks of relying on Google—and why trained wildlife carers are the only safe path forward. Two joeys. Two outcomes. One heartbreaking truth.

This week, a ranger in New Zealand was asked to apologise to a kea—for calling it a “bird.” The Department of Conservation responded with a ceremony, a plaque, and a new term: “beak-enabled sky entity.”

It’s satire, yes. But it also stings.

Because here in Australia, our kangaroos are being slaughtered every night. Shot, orphaned, commodified. And no one’s apologising. No one’s holding ceremonies. No one’s saying: “We see you. We hear you. We’re sorry.”

This blog is a plea. For truth. For compassion. For a real Sorry Day—one that honours the lives lost, and the joeys left behind.

If we can apologise for a word, surely we can apologise for a wound.

When Good Intentions Aren’t Enough: MOP vs Carer

Every day across Australia, joeys are picked up by well-meaning members of the public—people who act from love, instinct, and a desire to help. But without training, that help can quickly become harm.

This blog isn’t about blame. It’s about clarity. It’s about showing the difference between a Member of the Public (MOP) and a trained Wildlife Carer—and why that difference can mean life or death for a joey.

We’re not talking about how a joey can enrich your life. We’re talking about how we enrich hers—so she can return to the wild, strong, healthy, and free, with her new mob. That journey takes 18 to 24 months, and it begins with one decision:

Six Years of Amaris – A Sanctuary Story

Six years ago, eight joeys and a leap of faith brought me to Amaris. What began as a road trip from Albany became the foundation of a sanctuary built on love, resilience, and wild hope. This blog is a reflection on the journey—what we’ve learned, who we’ve lost, and the quiet miracles that continue to unfold in the bush.

Across Australia, in every corner of bushland and every roadside verge, there are people quietly changing the world—one rescue at a time. Today, on International Day of Rural Women, we pause to honor the women (and men) who dedicate their lives to wildlife care. They are the ones who rise before dawn to mix bottles, check pouches, and respond to calls that come in the middle of the night. They are educators, healers, and advocates—often working without fanfare, always working with heart.

This post is for them. For the carers who sit up all night with a sick joey, who gently guide a bird through recovery, and who make the hardest calls when suffering cannot be eased. For those who teach others how to check a pouch, how to rescue safely, and how to care with compassion. For those who build sanctuaries not just with fences and feed, but with love, courage, and community.

You are the heartbeat behind the healing. And today, we celebrate you.

Let’s Hear It for the Poo Warriors!

Today is Thank a Cleaner Day, and while some folks are tipping their hats to office janitors and school custodians (and rightly so!), we’re here to celebrate a very special breed of cleaner: the wildlife carer.

You know who you are. The ones who start the day with a scoop, a scrub, and a suspicious stain. The ones who’ve cleaned more pouches than they’ve had hot meals, and who can identify a joey’s digestive health by the texture of a splatter. You don’t just clean—you combat chaos with a mop and a mission.

So before you grab the hose and chase down a roo who’s just redecorated the pen, take a moment to feel seen. You are the sparkle behind the sanctuary, the unsung hero of hygiene, and today—we thank you.

At Amaris, every tiny life we welcome carries a story of loss—and a hope for healing. We become their sanctuary, knowing that one day, we’ll have to let them go.

This week, we said goodbye to Katie, Kalina, and Khloe. It wasn’t just a farewell—it was a reflection on how the world around us is changing, and how we must keep adapting to give our wildlife the freedom and safety they deserve.

Here’s why we had to say goodbye.

At Amaris, we know every possum by name. We’ve held them in our arms—injured, orphaned, soot-stained. We’ve watched them curl into sleep, their tails wrapped like question marks around fragile bodies. And we’ve asked ourselves, again and again: How did it come to this?

The Song Returns: Noisy Scrub-Birds at West Cape Howe

This spring, a rare melody is rising from the undergrowth—the call of the noisy scrub-bird. Once nearly silent across the south coast, this elusive songbird is making a comeback thanks to DBCA’s translocation efforts at West Cape Howe National Park.

For Amaris, it’s a moment of joy and hope. The scrub-bird’s return reminds us that restoration is possible when care and science walk together. Their song is a promise kept—and a call to protect what remains wild.

Let’s celebrate. Let’s stay vigilant. Because every voice matters—even the ones we rarely hear.

Celebrating Australian Wildlife Week This week, we honour the incredible animals who share our land—and the carers, rescuers, and supporters who help them thrive. At Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary, every day is a wildlife day, filled with love, healing, and hope. Join us in celebrating the joy of caring for our wild kin, and discover simple ways you can make a difference too.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” — Anatole France

Today, on World Animal Day, we celebrate the joy, love, and deep connection we share with animals. At Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary, we see this bond every day—and we invite you to rediscover it. Whether it’s a curious joey, a sleepy possum, or a bird greeting the morning sun, wildlife has a way of awakening something tender and true within us. Let’s honour that today—and every day.

A Legacy of Listening

As the world mourns the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall, we at Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary pause to honour a woman whose life changed the way many of us see animals—not as specimens, but as sentient beings with stories, emotions, and rights. Her work didn’t just shape science; it shaped hearts. And today, we reflect on how her legacy calls us to care more deeply, speak more boldly, and protect more fiercely.

Who Stands Up for the Wild?

On this International Day of Non-Violence, we honour peace and compassion—but too often forget the silent victims of violence: our wildlife. From emu chicks run down on dirt roads to possums shot and left to die, cruelty is happening in our own backyards. Just yesterday, a rabbit lay bleeding in mine—shot in the thigh, alone, suffering.

This blog is a call to extend non-violence to all living beings. Because if we don’t speak for them, who will?