20th Anniversary Collection: Brolga the 'kangaroo mum'

Aug 14, 2025

Chris 'Brolga' Barns, founder of the Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs, shares his touching journey from aspiring bird enthusiast to devoted kangaroo caregiver. He recounts rescuing orphaned joeys like Josie, emphasizing their unique needs and the joy of their rehabilitation. Brolga discusses the emotional bonds formed with these animals and his experiences managing the sanctuary. He sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of wildlife conservation, including a new film about his life, offering an entertaining and heartfelt glimpse into his world.

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ANECDOTE

The Night He Found Josie

Chris Barns found a joey in a staff-house bedroom and fell in love while nursing it on the couch.
That lonely night started his lifelong work rescuing orphaned joeys from roadkill and neglect.

ANECDOTE

Joeys Survive In Pouches For Days

Barns describes finding joeys alive in pouches days after their mothers died on highways.
He and tour groups would rescue, clean and warm these joeys on the roadside before caring for them.

ADVICE

How To Rescue A Joey From Roadkill

If you find roadkill, remove it off the road and check the mother's pouch for a joey.
Use a pillowcase or shirt as a carrier and keep a hairless joey skin-to-skin to preserve warmth.

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Aged 17, Chris 'Brolga' Barns was meant to be the 'bird guy' at a new zoo in Broome. A cough in his keeper's house alerted him to a kangaroo joey called Josie, who needed four-hourly feeds and help with the toilet. From then on he was hooked.

Brolga knew early on he wanted to make a living working with animals.

After meeting Josie he began to rescue other joeys left alive in their mothers' pouches after the large animals had been hit by cars.

Word spread about his passion for orphaned joeys, and he started an education centre in an old double-decker bus.

In 2013 the BBC made a documentary about Brolga, Kangaroo Dundee, which became a worldwide hit.

Brolga and his wife Tahnee now run a hospital and rescue centre outside Alice Springs.

Further information

Originally broadcast October 2018.

Read more about Brolga's Kangaroo Sanctuary.

2025 update: since Sarah’s original conversation with Brolga, the mighty Roger has passed away, at the age of 12.

A new Australian movie, Kangaroo, based on Brolga’s life and the sanctuary, is due for release in September.

Standout story – Belinda Terry

Hear Belinda Terry, ‘Nocka' Peoples, Cheryl Thompson, Elizabeth 'Thumper' Clark in a special night of storytelling from Muttaburra.

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/muttaburra-stories-conversations-in-the-shearing-shed/7788918

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/richard-fidler-reflects-on-20-years-of-conversations/105495784

This episode was produced by Nicola Harrison. The Executive Producer was Pam O'Brien.

This episode of Conversations touches on kangaroos, wildlife care, Alice Springs, orphaned joeys, kangaroo joeys, epic life stories, origin stories, zoos, roadkill, outback Australia and the outback.

To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.