Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter, Australia

Fast Facts for Volunteers

Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter

Location: Yackandandah, Victoria, Australia Languages Spoken: English Species on-site: Australian wildlife- varies with season, but likely to include grey kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, emus, cockatoos and galahs Type of Organisation: Wildlife Shelter and registered charity Aims of Organisation: Kangaloola aims to rescue, rehabilitate and release sick, injured and orphaned native Australian wildlife species. The organisation also has a focus on raising awareness and educating the public on the threats to native animals, and the actions they can take to help wildlife thrive. Types of Volunteers Accepted: Live-in Animal Care Volunteers: Volunteers at Kangaloola have the chance to work hands-on in the care and husbandry of injured and orphaned Australian wildlife species. Fees apply for live-in volunteer positions. Veterinary experience is not necessary for theses roles. Read more details below. Day Volunteers: There is also scope to be involved with the organisation as a local volunteer, either working directly with the animals or sharing any useful skills you may have, such as construction or transportation. Read more below. Research Links: None currently, contact the organisation to find out more. Funding: Self funded through donations and volunteer programs.

Introduction

The Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter is not an easy place to find. That is, unless you know where to look.

And yet, when I set off for my first day as a volunteer, I was full of confidence! I cruised through the quaint town of Yackandandah, then followed the driving instructions as the road turned from asphalt to dirt, from farmland to deep bush. The road was longer than I had anticipated, and I was almost at the point of turning back when I spotted the nondescript driveway that I had been looking for. My car rolled down the hilly drive, and pulled up in a small clearing in front of a chain-link fence. I was struck by the pleasant smell of eucalyptus as I wound down the window to read the sign on the front gate.

”Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter” it read, directly above the words in bold ”SHUT THE GATE. ROAMING KANGAROOS”.

After phoning to get permission to enter the premises, I followed a winding path between large animal enclosures of different shapes and sizes. On my left, I heard a deep ‘boom’ before an Emu appeared, eyeing me with suspicion as I passed. Further down, a rustle in a tree branch revealed a koala, sitting high in his enclosure and enjoying a lunch of freshly picked gum leaves.

And as I rounded a final corner, I was confronted by a ring of fuzzy grey backs and tails. A gaggle of joeys had completely surrounded three young volunteers, who were each carrying an armful of milk bottles into the yard. As they began to offer the bottles to the the thirsty joeys, the mob jostled enthusiastically to get at the teats. I heard the conversation as I approached:

‘This one is for Pepper, watch to make sure he doesn’t bite off the teat’ a volunteer said, handing a bottle to her colleague, who already had her hands full. ‘And watch Henry doesn’t push the others away to get more milk- he can be greedy like that’.

As I was introduced to the volunteers that day, I found they were from all walks of life- some students, some retirees, and from all corners of the globe. They greeted me warmly, and invited me into the rustic kitchen where the main activities took place. It was a hive of activity, with volunteers and visitors alike chatting as they prepared feeds and planned out the day. I was taken straight to meet the top woman, Glenda. Ever the multitasker, Glenda introduced herself in the nursery, joey on her lap, feeding with one hand and cleaning the young one with a wet towel in the other.

Background of Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter

Glenda has been caring for Australian wildlife for her whole life, and has been running the not-for-profit shelter for over 25 years. Her aim has always been simple- to care for wildlife in need, and to give those that are injured or orphaned a second chance. When Kangaloola began, the shelter was simply a shed with no walls, hidden deep within the bush. Over the years, as the number of animals in care have multiplied, the local community rallied around the shelter. They donated their expertise and building supplies to create a curious but comfortable home for Glenda, and the many animals in her care.

Facilities

The facilities at Kangaloola are rustic, but functional. The shelter consists of a small complex of buildings, enclosures, caravans and sheds within a clearing of native bushland. The location is fairly isolated, and the local town can only be reached by vehicle. The shelter owners live on site, as do volunteers, who are provided with basic shared accommodation within the caravans. The rest of the complex consists of a number of indoor and outdoor enclosures housing various wildlife species, dependent on the season.
There is no vet hospital on site, but basic treatments for injured animals are performed under direction of local vets.

Ethics

Kangaloola wildlife shelter rehabilitates orphaned and injured native species within the bounds of the Australian Law and recommendations of Wildlife Victoria. All animals taken in are cared for under the experienced guidance of the carers and local vets, and are released as soon as it is safe to do so. Volunteers at this shelter will get the chance to get hands on experience with orphaned marsupials. This is justified, because orphaned animals of this age will not survive without round-the-clock care, including bottle feeding, cleaning and manual toileting. However, as the animals mature, they are weaned from milk and from human contact. Using soft release methods, orphaned joeys will form strong bonds with a mob of their peers and develop a natural aversion from human contact before release.

Volunteer Roles at Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter

Live-In Animal Care Volunteers

Kangaloola relies on its animal care volunteers to assist in the day-to-day running of the shelter. Volunteering at Kangaloola is very rewarding, but its best suited to those who are dedicated and willing to work hard while at the shelter. Days are always long, and for very young joeys, volunteers will need to be willing to assist with 4-hourly feeds throughout the day and the night.

Activities during the day consist of bottle feeding the orphaned marsupials, chopping fruit and preparing hard feeds, mixing milk, sweeping, cleaning enclosures and picking up faeces. Volunteers can also help with other projects as they arise, including building or repairing enclosures, painting walls and collecting supplies. The days are often hot in summer and cold in winter, so volunteers will need to be hardy enough to work in all weathers, and not be afraid to get their hands dirty.

Live-in volunteers do not need any formal qualification, but a background in animal care or relevant studies would be favourable. Holding an Australian or International drivers licence is preferred. Volunteers must accept that conditions at the shelter will be different to those at home, and willing to put the care of animals above this. The shelter is isolated, there’s little phone reception and there isn’t enough water for everyone to shower each day- this is the real bush life, and while its part of the experience, its best to be prepared for this before you come. The commitment for full-time volunteers is from 2 week periods onward. There are fees for these roles which cover the cost of food and accommodation, and assist with the shelter running costs. The fees are substantial but may be reduced for those making longer commitments.

Day Volunteers

There is some scope for locals to volunteer at Kangaloola, particularly those with certain skills, such as construction, animal care or veterinary knowledge. These opportunities will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, depending on the needs of the shelter at the time. Get in touch with the shelter directly if you’d like to offer a skill or other types of assistance.

NB: Kangaloola is a private shelter and is not open for visitors or tours. Please do not visit the shelter unannounced. Always contact the shelter first if you wish to assist them in some way, or if you are aware of an animal needing care.

Practical Information

Accommodation and Food

There is basic shared accommodation on site, with bedding provided. Rooms are usually shared among 2-3 volunteers. The bathroom is detached, and the water is scarce (as the shelter relies on tank water), so volunteers are encouraged only to shower only once every 3 days.

There is a central kitchen, where communal meals are prepared each day. Basic breakfast and lunch foods are provided, so volunteers can make their own toast, sandwiches or pot noodles. Dinners are cooked and eaten together with the team. Special dietary requirements cannot always be provided for, so you are encouraged to bring your own supplementary food if you have specific dietary needs.

There is very limited internet connectivity in this remote location. Volunteers wanting to get online should bring their own data connection (the Telstra network gets the best coverage), but don’t expect to be able to make high bandwidth skype calls or watch netflix.

Working Hours

Days are always long, usually starting before 8am and finishing after 5pm. Extra bottle feeds often need to be done in evenings and the early hours of the mornings, so volunteers will need to be willing to take turns to complete the 2am feeds. The animals need care 7 days a week, so volunteers do not take days off unless organised in advance. On these days, volunteers may be able to visit the pretty nearby town of Yackandandah to stock up on supplies or use the internet cafe, however you’ll need to arrange a lift or the use of a vehicle to get there.

Location: Getting to the Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter

Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter is located in north-east Victoria, Australia. The exact location is private and only shared with those who have been accepted as volunteers.

For those driving to the shelter, the nearest town is Yackandandah. Volunteers from further afield are best to reach the shelter by train and bus. From Melbourne or Sydney, take the Vline or XPT train to the town of Albury (this leg of the journey will take approximately 4hrs or 8hrs respectively). From the Albury train station, take the Regional Bus 7 in the direction of Beechworth, and disembark in Yackandandah (approximately 40 minutes, running 3 times per day). Pick-up in Yackandandah can be arranged in advance with the shelter for those arriving on public transport.

Further Information

If you like to know more about Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter, you can find their website here, or follow them on the Kangaloola facebook or Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter Instagram.

If you’d like to become a volunteer, get in touch with them directly via this link.

Looking for other international shelters where you can rehabilitate wildlife? Check out the Volunteer Projects and Opportunity Page.