The story of Mr Boo the Kangaroo...
Little Boo was found one chilly morning standing helpless next to his mother’s lifeless body. She had been shot. Boo who weighed just 1800 grams and was too young to hop, would have had no chance of survival had he not been rescued that day. Boo was taken in by a local wildlife carer, Carol, who immediately connected with Nikki and Scott who had expressed an interest in learning how to raise orphaned joeys and were in the process of establishing their own registered wildlife shelter.
Every day Carol would drive over to Nikki’s with Boo and another joey Prudie and they would spend the day caring for the two joeys. One day, about a month in, Carol arrived at Nikki’s with the two joeys and a car loaded to the brim with supplies. “Here you go, you are ready,” She reassured Nikki. And off she went.
Nikki looked at Mr Boo and Prudie with love, gratitude and wonder and they looked back at her with the very same expression. “We will do this together” they agreed in that moment and so they did.
As Mr Boo and Prudie grew bigger and stronger Nikki knew she needed to get them out into the forest and build up their familiarity with the natural world. Typically this process would be led by another adult kangaroo but without that option, Nikki knew that it was up to her.
So every day Nikki ventured out into the bush with the two joeys and would let them run and explore and memorise their surroundings. They were learning quickly who they were and finding their connection to nature and a sense of belonging. The local mob of kangaroos would come and go and see Nikki with the joeys and kept a close watch over what was happening. Nikki knew that at some point, when the joeys were ready, the mob would take them in. This was an exciting and daunting proposition for Nikki who knew they needed to be released but feared the many dangers that kangaroos face everyday. Soon enough that day came and the joeys took off with the mob.
In an unexpected turn of events, Prudie returned to the house unwell and deteriorated quickly. Mr Boo returned too sensing something was not right and when Prudie passed on, Boo was devastated. Prudie had been like a sister to him through a time when he had no other kangaroo family. He returned to Nikki and Scott and the only love, comfort and safety he had ever known. He stayed inside for several months, sleeping by the fire and close to Nikki while he regained his confidence. In time, he returned to his mob and to the wild. Mr Boo is now a healthy young man who, after returning from adventures further afield, has made his original stomping ground home. Here he leads a small mob of hand raised kangaroos from care to true freedom whilst visiting Scott and Nikki on occasion. He has never forgotten those that loved, raised and cared for him.
The below image shows Boo with his mob relaxing in the forest surrounding Red Box Wildlife Shelter.
“He has never forgotten those that loved, raised and cared for him.”
Inspired by Mr Boo and his incredible intelligence, trust, strength and devotion to his mob, Nikki wanted to share Boo’s story with others in the hope that it would inspire compassion and understanding in her community for these amazing, unique animals. The Mr Boo Roo Rangers program is the result of that inspiration. Now, Mr Boo and his story can be shared with the world and children and adults can learn about kangaroos and make the commitment to ensuring their protection. Below are images of the Mr Boo Roo Rangers in full swing from children in Australia and from all over the world.
