Meet Jaxon
Jaxon was Jonti’s second boy. She has been an amazing Mumma A tiny girl herself she has now successfully raised 3 boys, Jaxz, Jaxon and now Jakari. When we first moved here there was 10 acres plus beautiful Land for Wildlife opposite me. Over the years owners came and went but the kangaroos and joeys were always welcome there. Then the block was subdivided and we endured a nightmare of roaming dogs. She sold up and moved and the new owners put up a fence around her 5 acres, then the people in front did the same. Of course mass confusion and I would spend hours everyday trying to get them out and home. Thankfully the new people across the road, who only use the property occasionally as weekend getaway in the caravan allowed me to dig access holes. I would often see Jonti and Jaxon behind the fence on the back block, with Jaxon happily jumping back and forth over the fence, Oh what fun!! Till it wasn’t. I have no idea if that is where it happened. Lots of new fences going up everywhere. This was a facebook post from Oct 2024.
A Tragic Loss at Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary. RIP Jaxon
Something that should never be allowed to happen… Little Jaxon became a fence hanger. Jaxon’s mummy is Jonti, who is Rossie’s (RIP ) big sister. He was a wild boy but felt comfortable here at his home. I couldn’t get close to him. I saw him on Saturday morning with some of the mob. His two feet/toes were so swollen and looked broken. A larger wild male saw me approach, thumped his tail, alerting the others to danger - me, and Jaxon took off with the mob. How he could move with those horrific injuries, I don’t know.
He came home later that afternoon, but there wasn’t anything I could do. A tranquilizer gun would have been the only possible option, but he was really far too mobile. (The region’s only tranquilizer gun is currently tied up in red tape due to the current gun amnesty.) He returned home Sunday morning, and Claire from Karlup Animal Sanctuary came with her jab stick, hoping we could sedate him and get him to the vet for assessment. Sadly, he took off, and we had no chance of catching him.
We came up with a plan: remove all the feed bowls. After the Bordetella bronchiseptica outbreak, it was suggested to invest in smaller trays and scatter them around a larger area to prevent anything contagious from affecting the mob again. All feed trays were removed and some were placed close to the joey enclosure, with the gate open and more trays inside, hoping to lure him into the pen to contain him.
Late Monday evening, I saw one lone joey close by. I checked, and it was Jaxon. All the feed trays were empty. I very quietly filled one, put it in the opening of the gate, and gently herded him towards it. He was hungry and started eating. I got behind him, and he ran into the pen. It was too late to organise anything for Tuesday, so I called the vet, and we made a plan for Wednesday morning. Claire would come with Kristy early on Wednesday morning, sedate Jaxon, and take him to the vet for assessment.
Sadly, his injuries were too severe, and he was quietly put to sleep. The team at Mt Barker Veterinary Hospital WA were just amazing in his care. I brought him back to his home, and he has been laid to rest here. Broken heart again. He was such a gentle boy, just like his Mumma and Rossie. Jonti has another bub in her pouch, praying this one will grow up big and strong.
I don’t know where this happened. When I first moved here, there were no fences except for the farm across the road, which has a very low fence. Since moving here, new people have moved in and are putting up fences. It’s tragic. How long did he hang in the fence? Did he free himself, or did some well-meaning person cut him out, and he took off? Please, if you see a joey/kangaroo in a fence, call a wildlife carer so the joey doesn’t take off with horrific injuries. I am so thankful that he came home. Even though it took us five days to catch him, I was at least able to keep an eye on him, and he felt safe enough to stay close. Thankful he wasn't left alone in the bush somewhere to die a slow agonising death.
R.I.P. Jaxon Your life mattered.
Some photo’s of Jaxon and his Mumma, before the incident that cost him his life. Please read the dangers of inappropriate wildlife fencing. HERE
