The castaway on “North Bribie Island”, who may not be alone, is being watched by wildlife authorities.
The Eastern Grey kangaroo appears to have been left stranded by the dramatic surf breach that has created a fragile, isolated isle, separated by a channel that is 300m and growing steadily.
The dramatic breakthrough occurred on January 2, the result of sustained heavy conditions created by ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth, combined with king tides of up to 2.2m.
Eagle-eyed photographer Chris Green captured images of the roo while kayaking with friends in Pumicestone Passage on January 16 and shared them on social media and with SCN readers.
Concerns were then raised for the marooned roo’s welfare as the encroaching surf eroded more of the two islands.
RSPCA Queensland communications and media manager Emma Lagoon said the animal welfare group had spoken to National Parks and Wildlife officers on Bribie Island, who were aware of the animal and monitoring the situation.
“They’ll be in touch with our team should the roo require assistance,” she said.
“Apparently they frequently have roos swimming across the passage, so they believe there is a chance this one may do the same.”
Sunshine Coast wildlife expert Brian Coulter said the roo would no doubt have fresh water trapped in low-lying pockets of that former northern tip of Bribie Island, especially after recent rains.
Mr Coulter, who worked closely with “Crocodile Hunter” the late Steve Irwin during his 16 years at Australia Zoo and was manager of the Zoo Rescue Unit from 2007-2011, said that particular area had hosted “quite a good mob of kangaroos”, and he was “pretty sure there’s a lot more” marooned on the isle than the one photographed.
“I haven’t had a chance to get over there and have a look for myself yet. I probably will on Friday,” he said.
Mr Coulter – whose Saltwater Ecology business conducts fauna surveys, assesses habitats and monitors wildlife that may be on sites earmarked for roads or development – was pleased rangers were monitoring the situation but believed the small isle couldn’t sustain any roos long-term.
“I doubt very much it will ever close up now, given the depth (of the channel),” he said.
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His sentiments mirror those of Dr Javier Leon, a Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography at the University of the Sunshine Coast, who has previously told Sunshine Coast News that the ongoing effects of the breach could include more erosion and a change of currents in the Passage.
He doubted the new channel would close up, rejoining the rest of the northern tip of Bribie Island, and instead they may remain two separate bodies of sand.
While hopes are held that some of the Bribie mob caught out by Mother Nature may have swum across in the days following the dramatic surf breach, the chances of survival of any remaining stranded roos attempting a similar feat grow worse by the hour.
As Linda Anne Kelly wrote on the post on the Caloundra Community Board page on Facebook: “Yes, they can swim but remember it is a strong current there. “They are calling it a washing machine“, so his chances of making it across the new split are highly unlikely – a dart & move him to the big island.”
In the short term, Lissa Ware believes the Eastern Grey roo will be fine.
“Go and have a paddle or go kayaking with Golden Beach Hire Carl Trocki, and you will learn that there are hosts of kangaroo families on Bribie Island that have been reproducing for the 18 years. We’ve personally monitored and photographed them,” she wrote.
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“They have adapted during the droughts to eat sea grass provided them by the black swans that washes up on the high tides. There is fresh water on Bribie also.
“They forage in the daytime if they have joeys to feed. They are fine and heaven forbid if everyone decides to save them when they don’t need saving.
“Where were you all when the poorly planned and managed backburn caught scores of roos and birds off guard and fried them alive a couple years back!
“I suppose we could do a head count soon and determine if there are more than the habitat can support with the break, but, as far as I’m aware, they kept to the top end and didn’t traverse the entire 60km to forage.”
