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.

Read More
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

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
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

Photo - Pet ‎Kangaroo & Wallaby Babies For Sale | Dragonstone Ranch

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

Read More
Outrage Over Roaming Dogs: A Wildlife Crisis We Can't Ignore
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Outrage Over Roaming Dogs: A Wildlife Crisis We Can't Ignore

Every night, wildlife across our country falls victim to the preventable chaos caused by roaming dogs. From terrified joeys breaking their necks to kangaroo mums losing their precious young, the heartbreaking consequences are endless. And yet, where is the outrage? It’s time to shine a light on these devastating incidents and call for accountability—because our wildlife deserves so much better.

Read More
Where Is the Outrage? The Silent Damage Caused by Members of the Public (MOP’s)
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Where Is the Outrage? The Silent Damage Caused by Members of the Public (MOP’s)

Where is the outrage? Every day, wildlife suffers not just at the hands of cruelty but also from well-meaning ignorance. Untrained individuals raising wild animals lead to devastating consequences for these creatures—preventable tragedies that leave carers to shoulder the emotional and physical toll of fixing what went wrong. It’s time we demand better for our wildlife and the carers who fight tirelessly to save them.

Read More
Where Is the Outrage? The Silent Struggle of Wildlife Carers
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Where Is the Outrage? The Silent Struggle of Wildlife Carers

Compassion fatigue is not a sign of failure—it’s a sign that you care deeply. If you find yourself struggling, reach out. Talk to someone who understands, find a supportive community, or even just take a day to breathe. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s how we ensure we can keep fighting for the animals that need us most.

Let’s raise our voices, not only for the kangaroo on the roadside but for the person who stays up all night bottle-feeding the joey that survived. Let’s foster outrage, compassion, and action—for the animals and their carers alike.

Read More
Where Is the Outrage for Our Hit-and-Run Wildlife Victims?
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Where Is the Outrage for Our Hit-and-Run Wildlife Victims?

Every night, on quiet roads, Lies a tale of lives untold. A mother gone, a joey cries, A silent scream beneath the skies.

Wings are clipped, tails broken, bare, And yet we pass, as if not there. Where is the fury, the rallying call, For creatures struck, ignored by all?

Wildlife carers bear the pain, Their hearts break, time and again. Burnt out souls, with none to see, Their endless fight for empathy.

Raise your voice, let outrage grow, For those whose lives end far too slow

Read More
The Outrage We Need Every Night
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

The Outrage We Need Every Night

The Outrage We Need Every Night

The story of the woman who took a baby wombat from its mother sparked national outrage—and rightly so. But where is this same outrage every night, when thousands of kangaroos are slaughtered, and their babies are bludgeoned to death or left to die alone?

Read More
The Hidden Tragedy of Fencing: A Call for Compassionate Action
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

The Hidden Tragedy of Fencing: A Call for Compassionate Action

Fencing. To many, it's a simple boundary demarcation, a way to protect property and livestock. But for our precious wildlife, it can be a deadly trap. Every year, countless animals (kangaroos, joeys, bats, birds etc) become entangled in fences, leading to slow, painful deaths. The struggle to free themselves can result in horrific injuries—dislocated hips, broken feet, and deep lacerations. The agony and desperation they experience are heart-wrenching

Read More
My Precious Heart Hugger - Ellie
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

My Precious Heart Hugger - Ellie

Tears are still flowing as I think of you. You were my beautiful, precious heart hugger, and I don't understand your death. So many unanswered questions. Yes, I'm supposed to accept it, but I can't—my heart is so broken

Read More
The Hidden Dangers of Poison Bait: Protecting Our Wildlife
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

The Hidden Dangers of Poison Bait: Protecting Our Wildlife

Standing in front of the rat bait aisle at Bunnings, it's easy to see why these products are popular. They promise a quick and effective solution to rodent problems. However, what many people don't realise is the significant harm these baits can cause to our native wildlife.

Read More
Living with Possums in Suburbia: A Guide to Coexistence
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Living with Possums in Suburbia: A Guide to Coexistence

With the encroachment of urban sprawl, the natural habitats of many native species, including possums, are being compromised. The cutting down of trees, construction of roads, and overall expansion of urban areas have pushed these nocturnal marsupials to seek refuge in our backyards and homes. Here's how we can coexist with our furry neighbours while ensuring their safety and well-being.

Read More
Gould’s Monitor
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Gould’s Monitor

Say hello to the Gould’s Monitor (Varanus gouldii), or as it’s fondly called in some circles, the Bungarra. This kinda scary lizard lives at Amaris.

Read More
Rufous Tree Creeper
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

Rufous Tree Creeper

There’s something endlessly entertaining about watching Rufous Treecreepers dart from tree to tree, always busy, always agile.

Read More
“Ellie’s Midnight Munch - Her Brush with Danger”
Maggie van Santen Maggie van Santen

“Ellie’s Midnight Munch - Her Brush with Danger”

Tuesday morning, just like any morning I walked into the joey shack with bottles for Ellie, Elsie and Elijah.  The generally fall over each other trying to get to their morning bottle.  This morning though Ellie was not interested and started doing some very interesting kind of  'wobbles' for lack of a better word.

Read More