Is anyone aware of a hand-reared female kangaroo having been released on Callum Brae?
My first encounter with this small-yet-adult eastern grey was 4-6 weeks ago when she left the mob and came bounding up to me as I trundled through the scrub with my gear. She stopped at about 15 metres, moved away, circled me a little, came in to about 10 metres, stopped, watched me, moved away, circled again, and so this went on for several minutes. During this time one large doe remained at about 20 - 30 metres and the rest of the mob was within sight, but only just. I could see she had a joey in her pouch, but it did not have its head out.
This morning I had exactly the same experience in about the same location. Her joey is now bright-eyed with its head out of the pouch looking around. This time, the rest of the mob cleared out and were nowhere to be seen, but even so, she persisted in circling me, approaching me and then backing off again.
It seemed to me that she was trying to obey two opposing instincts. One telling her that humans are OK, and the other telling her they are not. Later when I look at the pics I took, I will see if she has any distinguishing earmark. Has anyone else met her? By size, you would think she was a juvenile, but she has bred.
Curious
Margaret Leggoe
