41- Please Slow Down. We have family too!

About the three Amigos

Aka the three burritos - Tiny, Peekaboo and Radar

Oh, what a mischievous trio they were! These three little critters brought endless joy and amusement. In their early days, they were under the care of another wonderful guardian. However, as they entered the stage of needing an outdoor enclosure, they found their way to me. Let's start with Tiny, a tiny bundle of energy. I rescued him when his mother was chased by a dog, resulting in him being thrown from her pouch. Due to work commitments at the time, I couldn't provide the care he needed. After a night of assessing and hydrating him in triage care, he went to another amazing carer before returning to me for the final stages of nurturing and eventual release.

Then there's Peekaboo, whose story unfolded when a woman had accidently trapped a wallaby one evening. As she released the mother the next morning, a sudden fright caused the mother to drop her precious joey. In need of temporary shelter and care, Peekaboo stayed with me in triage before joining the same carer as Tiny. It was there that they met Radar, another young wallaby who shared their size and circumstances. The trio became inseparable, earning the endearing nickname "The Three Amigos." Radar's mother, unfortunately, met the same fate as Tiny, but luckily an observant bystander rescued him and alerted Bonorong.

In addition to the Three Amigos, I found myself caring for Ren and Bandit. Though Ren and Bandit were part of the group, they remained a little on the outside. These five boys were absolute terrors, constantly engaged in playful fights and jumping around their enclosure, using logs, long reeds, and even my feeding chair as their personal playground. It was not uncommon for me to enter their enclosure during the evening feed and discover the mischievous Amigos casually lounging on my chair. Oh, those cheeky little devils!

During chilly evenings, I would gather them up in a large duffle bag, affectionately dubbing them "The Three Burritos" as seen in the photo. While they were eventually released back into the wild, Peekaboo remains a familiar face to me. Shortly after his release, he found himself in a fierce altercation with a dominant pademelon, leaving him with noticeable scars on his back. These scars have become his unique identifier. However, despite the battle wounds, Peekaboo is thriving, growing into a robust and sturdy young lad. Witnessing his strength and good health brings me immense joy.

The memories of these mischievous encounters still bring a smile to my face. Their playful spirits and unique stories remind us of the resilience and beauty found within nature.

Photographs and back story by Janelle Olivia