Understanding the Impact: What Roaming Cats Are Doing to Wildlife
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Understanding the Impact: What Roaming Cats Are Doing to Wildlife

The Truth Behind the Purr: How Pet Cats Are Harming Our Wildlife

There’s a common sentiment: “My cat wouldn’t hurt anything.” We want to believe it. We need to believe it. But the truth is, even the gentlest, best-fed cats are natural-born hunters. And the numbers don’t lie.

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“There Was No Screech—Only My Screams and the Snap of Shattered Bones”
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

“There Was No Screech—Only My Screams and the Snap of Shattered Bones”

“There Was No Screech—Only My Screams and the Snap of Shattered Bones”

Over the years, I’ve read countless reports—calls for help, updates from carers, desperate searches that end in heartbreak. Each one struck me. Each one brought tears. But nothing compares to witnessing it. Nothing prepares you for the sound.

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Understanding the Silent Suffering of Orphaned Joeys
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Understanding the Silent Suffering of Orphaned Joeys

The Silent Suffering: What Happens to a Joey Left in Her Mother’s Pouch After a Roadstrike

It’s a tragedy we see far too often—an adult kangaroo hit by a car, her body left at the roadside. What many don’t realise is that inside that still pouch, life may still be flickering. A pinkie joey—fragile, hairless, blind, and entirely dependent—is silently waiting for the mother who will never respond again.

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Where is the Outrage!! A Response to Suzanne Orr: The Truth Behind the Kangaroo Cull in the ACT
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Where is the Outrage!! A Response to Suzanne Orr: The Truth Behind the Kangaroo Cull in the ACT

A Personal Response to Suzanne Orr’s Letter (ACT Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy, and Water)

This morning, I received a formal response from Suzanne Orr regarding the ACT Government’s kangaroo culling policy. While her letter was composed with care and filled with official justifications, it left me deeply unsettled. It spoke of science, conservation, and management—but not of compassion, coexistence, or the emotional toll this policy takes on our community and our wildlife.

This blog post is my response—not just to her letter, but to the broader narrative that has allowed the killing of thousands of kangaroos to be framed as environmental stewardship. It is a call to question, to feel, and to act. Because behind every statistic is a life lost, a joey orphaned, a mob shattered.

This is not conservation. This is cruelty dressed in policy.

And it must stop.

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Where Is the Compassion? A Heartbreaking Plea for Our Wildlife
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Where Is the Compassion? A Heartbreaking Plea for Our Wildlife

This post comes from a place of deep heartbreak and frustration. As wildlife carers, we witness the beauty and fragility of our native animals every day—and we also see the devastating consequences of human ignorance. What follows is a raw and emotional response to a video that should never have been shared for entertainment. It’s a plea for compassion, accountability, and respect for the lives we are so privileged to share this land with.

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"The Great Kangaroo Myth: Why the Numbers Just Don’t Add Up"
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

"The Great Kangaroo Myth: Why the Numbers Just Don’t Add Up"

To some, kangaroos are seen as pests — multiplying uncontrollably, overrunning farmland, and damaging crops. But this narrative, often repeated by frustrated landowners and echoed in policy, is not only misleading—it’s dangerously detached from the truth.

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Creating an Oasis: Drought-Proofing Amaris
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Creating an Oasis: Drought-Proofing Amaris

Welcome to our journey of transforming Amaris into a thriving oasis, even in the face of drought. Our project has been a labor of love, supported by generous grants and the dedication of our community. Here’s how we’ve turned our vision into reality.

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Kangaroos in War: A Symbol of Home and Resilience
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Kangaroos in War: A Symbol of Home and Resilience

War leaves scars not only on those who serve but also on the innocent and voiceless. Among the stories of courage and sacrifice are the quieter, forgotten tales of Australia’s beloved wildlife—kangaroos and koalas—taken overseas as mascots during wartime. These creatures, meant to bring comfort and a reminder of home to soldiers far from their land, often faced unimaginable stress and hardship in foreign environments. Their journey is a poignant reminder of how even the best intentions can lead to suffering and how much we owe to the animals that shared in humanity's moments of darkness. As we reflect on ANZAC Day, let us remember their silent sacrifices and the lessons they leave behind.

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Understanding Sensory Overload in Orphaned Joeys
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Understanding Sensory Overload in Orphaned Joeys

At Amaris Wildlife, we’re dedicated to giving orphaned joeys the best possible start after the trauma of losing their mothers. This post explores the hidden impact of sensory overload on joeys in care—especially in the context of social media, household noise, and overstimulation. It’s a gentle reminder to pause, reflect, and always put the joey’s needs first.

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Understanding Myopathy in Kangaroos
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Understanding Myopathy in Kangaroos

Exploring what myopathy is, how it happens, and why it presents such a unique challenge in wildlife care. From its physiological effects to the heartbreaking stories of animals like Ellie and Roobee, we’ll highlight the importance of awareness and proper intervention.

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Understanding Kangaroo and Joey Communication
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Understanding Kangaroo and Joey Communication

Understanding Kangaroo Communication: Nature’s Language in Motion

Kangaroos are iconic symbols of Australia, renowned for their powerful hops and graceful movements. But what many people overlook is their fascinating system of communication, which allows them to express emotions, social needs, and even warnings to their mob members.

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Understanding Cataracts in Joeys
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Understanding Cataracts in Joeys

Cataracts are a condition where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, impairing vision. This occurs when proteins in the lens clump together, blocking or scattering light. In joeys and kangaroos, cataracts can develop due to environmental factors, injuries, or underlying health conditions during their critical growth stages.

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Understanding Coccidiosis in Kangaroos
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Understanding Coccidiosis in Kangaroos

Understanding Coccidiosis in Kangaroos:

Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment

Coccidiosis is a common parasitic disease that affects kangaroos, caused by protozoa from the genera Eimeria and Isospora. This condition can have severe impacts on wildlife health, particularly in joeys or kangaroos under stress

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A Call for Compassion and Support for Our Wildlife Carers
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

A Call for Compassion and Support for Our Wildlife Carers

Wildlife carers are the unsung heroes of our natural world, dedicating their lives to the rescue and rehabilitation of animals that cannot fend for themselves. In the wake of Tracy Dods’ conviction, it’s time to reflect on the immense challenges these carers face, the sacrifices they make, and the crucial support they so desperately need.

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The Cockitrough: Supporting Native Birds and Innovation in Wildlife Care
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

The Cockitrough: Supporting Native Birds and Innovation in Wildlife Care

The Cockitrough: A Vital Addition to Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary

Here at Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary, we are thrilled to introduce the Cockitrough—a game-changer for wildlife rehabilitation and care. Thanks to the generous support of the NRM Community Stewardship Grant, we’ve been able to acquire this innovative piece of equipment, aligning beautifully with their priorities of biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management.

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Outrage Over the Exotic Pet Trade: The Exploitation of Kangaroos Must End
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Outrage Over the Exotic Pet Trade: The Exploitation of Kangaroos Must End

The exotic pet trade is a relentless industry that exploits wildlife for profit, human entertainment, and ego. Among the many victims of this cruelty are kangaroos—Australia’s iconic wildlife—who are being torn from their natural habitats, reduced to commodities, and subjected to lives of confinement, mistreatment, and misery

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