Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Telly addicts

Related: Film discussion forum.

Flip

Original poster

The Natural World, Kangaroo Dundee

22 replies

Jux · 26/01/2013 21:09

Surrogate mum to kangaroos, this guy is extraordinary. He rescues baby kangaroos whose mums have been killed.

He feels posh because his new hut has 4 walls, when his old hut had only 3. He will feed a baby kangaroo at midnight, 4am and 8am. He talks of his latest charge as being a sad little baby, still missing its mum. He provides 24-hour care.

The shots of Australia are wonderful, beautifully juxtaposed with music by Nick Drake.

A lovely programme.

OP posts:

Piemother · 26/01/2013 22:08

I nearly missed this! Thank god I haven't cancelled catch up yet. I met him in Alice springs in 2005 when I was backpacking because he used to have a tiny house in the town and let the backpackers come and see them for a tiny donation.
He is amazing and selfless. I have some footage of the joeys I will keep forever.
I sent him some money back along - hope he gets more donations out of this he does an amazing job

IamMummyhearmeROAR · 26/01/2013 22:13

Wonderful man - amazing television. So selfless. Loved the ladies with their nappy clad joeys!

Piemother · 26/01/2013 22:21

Love love that he insists he's a kangaroo mum, not dad.
I remember him so well. The joeys can't stay out much. He lets them out to have a hop about but they soon have to go back in their pouches which they hopped in to willingly head first. Then he propped them up in a cat basket

theliverpoolone · 26/01/2013 22:49

I caught the second half of this. What an amazing man! What does he live on? Surely he can't survive just on donations?

BegoniaBampot · 26/01/2013 23:16

This was fantastic. Watched it with the kids who were a bit eweee when Rodger had dangly balls and tasted the wee. Really interesting and touching programme.

Piemother · 26/01/2013 23:37

going to show it to dc1 (3) tomorrow who i always forget really enjoys wildlife stuff. i couldnt find his website or a fb page - did anyone else?

GreenBrizzle · 27/01/2013 00:21

So glad to hear how much Mumsnet people are liking the film. For those who want to know more about Brolga's work with orphaned baby kangaroos, please visit www.kangaroosanctuary.com/. Part two of the story is showing next Saturday, BBC2, 8.30pm. There's also a FB fan page: Kangaroo Dundee.

FiteFuaite · 02/02/2013 20:41

I love this programme!! Even if it has reduced DH and myself to tears already this evening :(

Original poster

Jux · 03/02/2013 01:50

Thank you, GreenBrizzle. I missed the 2nd part but can catch up on pc later.

I also spent some time after the first part trying to find the site from a half-glimpsed address on the side of his van, to no avail, so glad to have the links. Good luck to him.

OP posts:

GerardWay · 03/02/2013 16:03

The official FaceBook page is The Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs. Brolga updates it when he goes into town.

BigGums · 03/02/2013 16:16

Loved this! Lovely programme and what a thoroughly nice man.

kerstina · 03/02/2013 16:18

Oh what a wonderful man he is and what an interesting and enjoyable programme I loved it. So touching and restores your faith in human nature that there are people like this out there.
Could not help thinking I wish we could have pouches, giving birth would be so much easier. I would definitely had more!

FreckledLeopard · 04/02/2013 10:15

It was such an incredible programme. Unfortunately I had a semi-hysterical DD who sobbed for 5 minutes when Daisy died. The landscape and colours of the bush were absolutely wonderful.

So interesting watching a kangaroo give birth - also slightly puzzled as to how it can cause any discomfort, given that the baby is the size of a jelly bean!

Brolga's dedication is awe-inspiring. I was very excited when he mentioned he was single...but then realised that no electricity, bath, air conditioning or internet could be a bit of an issue should I decide to become Mrs Brolga!

Original poster

Jux · 04/02/2013 14:21

Kerstina, I said that to dd yesterday! I told her how easy it would be, and how much more fun it would be carrying babies around in a pouch (having the bouncy legs would help too). She was unimpressed.

OP posts:

Bonsey · 04/02/2013 16:49

Loved the programmes as well. Want to see more of Brolga, I hope they make a series. Then perhaps he will get electricity and running water and the prospect of becoming Mrs Brolga might seem even more appealing!

fufulina · 04/02/2013 19:56

I can't believe there isn't more on MN about this programme! It was amazing! What a fantastic man.

GreenBrizzle · 05/02/2013 19:20

Had a quick chat with Brolga yesterday (I work for the production company). He was especially chuffed to hear he's being discussed on Mumsnet and that UK mums like what he's doing.

Piemother · 05/02/2013 20:08

Can I just raise the fact that IMO, he is a bit of a dish

FlouncingMintyy · 05/02/2013 20:12

Oh I read something about this programme but I don't think I can bear to watch it. Just the thought of orphaned baby kangaroos makes me want to cry, let alone seeing them for real . I do hope he gets masses of donations and support now though.

Original poster

Jux · 05/02/2013 21:09

FlouncingMintyy, no, it's wonderful. A really happy programme, as Brolga is so happy with what he's doing and he is making so much difference. The kangaroos are so cute - especially the baby ones, but the adults are fab too, not to mention the astonishing shots of really tiny joeys in the pouch as they develop.

He watches the mums' behaviour and emulates it as far as he can and as closely as he can. It's completely uplifting (though there are two sad bits, but the rest is so heartening that you can take it). I tell you, you really need to see those joeys getting into their pillowcase pouches....

I think it was a really worthwhile programme. The man deserves as much praise and exposure as you can heap on him, not to mention donations. You need to hear him talking about what he does, FM, really you do. (Did I hear him giggling a bit when he was playing ring a roses with Roger?). Mintyy, really uplifting and inspiring that someone can be so self-less. Do watch it if you get the chance.

Bonsey, you'd always have to share him with the roos though, wouldn't you? I toyed with the idea of being his assistant (fgs, I'm 54 and, no I don't fancy him, but he's so nice!) as I'd done a fair bit of animal behaviour at Uni - and at one point my tutor was talking about sending me off to work with bonobos doing theory of mind type stuff - but then I thought I would be getting up and feeding babiy roos all through the night until I was 90. TBH, I don't think I could quite manage that!

I suspect that the right girl for Brolga won't mind lack of leccy etc.

OP posts:

Piemother · 05/02/2013 22:14

I had fleeting fantasies of starry skies and barefoot dds.....after two dc I reckon I could handle the wee joeys

TomArchersSausage · 08/02/2013 13:17

We've watched this about four times now on iplayer. Dc keep asking to watch it again and again.

Wonderful! What a great chap he is

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread