While wandering the PANBOOLA WETLANDS I’ve seen many kangaroos. I always give them plenty of space. I love to photograph them, but I also like a healthy distance between me and the kangaroo I'm watching. I have walked around on the edge of the path, giving the kangaroos plenty of space as I’ve passed. I have even stopped and waited for a kangaroo to move on before continuing on my way.
The morning’s sunrise walk began with a chat with one of the permanent residents of the caravan park who was also going for a walk to the wetlands. There was a lot of mist around and it looked magical taking photos of the mist as the sun rose. We parted ways at the entrance of the wetlands and I headed up to the lookout. It was enchanting watching the mist over the wetlands, and I decided to go down to the race track to take photos of the mist over the little pond.
I stopped along the way taking so many photos, really enjoying myself and pleased I got up early this morning. Once down on the race track I turned right and went to the little lookout near the pond. The mist was amazing over the water but there were no birds there this morning. I decided to walk around the race track and head back towards the shops. I know if I walk quickly I can walk the track in about 15-20 minutes (stopping to take the odd photo here and there).
My first clue to turn back and head for the concrete path was a kangaroo blocking my path. Behind it I could see a wallaby, something that isn’t normally seen in the wetlands. I stopped and waited for the kangaroo to move on. The wallaby was on the edge of the grass, so I knew I could take a wide path to get past it. 2 girls on bikes rode past and scared both the wallaby and the kangaroo off.
I carried on spotting an eagle flying over head, hearing the plovers going crazy in the middle of the race track. I made it almost the whole way around, spotting the odd kangaroo in the bushes but not thinking anything more about it. I did notice near the shelter a tatty eared kangaroo and a female kangaroo with a joey in her pouch. They were off the path so I paid no attention to them and kept on walking.
When I made it back to the last stretch before going back to the concrete path, I was about 50-100 metres away there was a mob of kangaroos. I stopped, knowing it would be a little while before they would move. They were spread across the whole path, so no way for me to be able to pass on the edge of the path. I turned around to look behind me, thinking that maybe I could move back a bit to give them more space and the female kangaroo with the joey in her pouch had moved across the path.
So now I couldn’t go back. I saw 2 kangaroos having a fight so I moved off to the side and took a few photos of them. All of a sudden the tatty eared kangaroo started hopping straight for me. He was on a mission. Lots of people talk about how time stands still in this kind of moments but for me time sped up. Quick as a flash I jumped over the fence of the race track. I didn’t even look to see what was on the other side. I just wanted something between me and the kangaroo.
As soon as I jump over the fence the kangaroo stopped hopping. It stood and watched me; my heart was beating so fast. It growled before hopping down towards the rest of the mob. I was still a bit shaky and my heart was still racing but I felt better that it had moved on and wasn’t coming any closer. The female with the joey in her pouch was still blocking the path back, so I still couldn’t go back.
Now the waiting game really began, how long until the kangaroos moved on or someone else came to rescue me. After waiting for about 10 minutes, about 3 or 4 kangaroos had moved off the race track and into the middle, nowhere near me. Finally I saw someone come up the path with a bright yellow jacket. I was thoroughly relieved that someone else was up here, all they needed to do was to come onto the race track and I would be okay.
I watched them come up the path and turn right, the same way I had walked, so I knew they were going to come around to me. I looked over the top of the grass and could see them riding around the race track. So I hatched a plan. I’d wait until they got closer, then I’d go back under the fence and ask them for help to get through the mob of kangaroos. I had tried to climb back over the fence but there was no way that I was going to be able to do that again, it was lower in the middle than on the other side, and my adrenaline wasn't pumping as quickly.
As soon as I saw that yellow jacket come around the corner of the race track, I popped back on the track and waved them down. I explained what had happened with the kangaroo and asked if I could walk close by them as they rode through the kangaroos. He kindly said that they were quite friendly kangaroos, but let me jog close behind his bike as he rode through them. They moved, some slower than others, as he rode and he wished me a safe walk as I jogged towards the path. I thank him profusely for his help and walked back along the path.
I definitely learned my lesson, walking on the race track that early in the morning was not the best decision and not something that I want a repeat experience of.
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