Joeys given temporary haven

THE Sun Bear Festival will take place in October but the festival’s young supporters are already putting their beliefs into action, sewing temporary pouches for orphaned joeys.

Children from the wildlife festival, organised by those for families who love nature and all its creatures big and small, have used their weekly “craft-ernoon” sessions in the lead up to the festival to provide the Surf Coast Animal Rescue Service (SCARS) with the pouches.

Jason Cichocki from SCARS said 72 kangaroos had been hit and killed in and around Torquay over the past 60 days.

This resulted in five orphaned joeys, three of whom survived, so Mr Cichocki posted on Facebook asking for pouch donations to help care for the orphaned animals.

“At this stage from what I’ve noticed, I reckon it’s (the number of kangaroos hit) nearly increased two-fold compared to this time last year. It’s supposedly the quietest time for animal rescue, but at this stage it’s not.

“We’re trying to work with DELWP (Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning) to help the kangaroos around Torquay, particularly the ones behind Bunnings.

“We’re hoping to have a meeting and come up with a plan and work towards what can be done to help the kangaroos within the Spring Creek development area.”

More than 23 pouches are now on their way to SCARS thanks to the Sun Bear kids, and festival director Katja Nedoluha said the children had worked hard.

“We received donations of fleece and flannelette from Pauline at the Anglesea Op-shop and the kids have been undertaking sewing workshops with Cassandra Thieme.

“The aim of the festival is to do whatever we can to help endangered animals; the kids are very concerned about what’s going on with the kangaroos. They know about all the roadkill and joeys that become orphans and the kangaroos behind Bunnings being pushed out of their habitat.”

Mr Cichocki said his team of dedicated rescuers were on call 24/7 and would get to the site of collisions as soon as possible – phone 0422 048 557.