A Traveler Remembers, Worries, and Hopes

Kangaroo Island, 2014. This is what it looked like before devastating bush fires.

I’m watching MSNBC, a story about wildlife workers hustling to save koalas on Kangaroo Island. As I watch one rescuer, a bulky, bearded focused man dressed in shorts and a brimmed Australian bush Safari hat, grab a squealing koala from a tree and deposit her into a safety cage, I notice the name on his vehicle — Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park.  The rescuer brusquely tells the reporter that he works fast to save the animals, at times less gentle than he might be. He is an important part of a koala triage operation that is taking place at the KI Wildlife Park, a sanctuary he and his wife own. Back at the sanctuary, the camera scans the scene — rows of resting koalas, snuggled in laundry baskets, paws bandaged, burned noses treated. These little guys have been hydrated, fed, and treated. They represent hope for the species’ future. They are the lucky ones.

A sweet koala on KI, 2014

I’ve visited Kangaroo Island, fed female kangaroos at the Wildlife Park, watched sweet kangaroos in the wild grazing, joeys peaking out of their pouches, photographed wallabies in the bush, and observed koalas in the eucalyptus trees.

A news report shows a relief worker giving a small koala a much needed drink of water, the normally shy koala reaching out to clutch the worker’s hand. I remember feeding kangaroos on KI, a female bending back my fingers so she could better reach the treats in my palm. In my history of world travel, this moment was extraordinary. These mammals are precious. As Australia burns, I think what have we done?

Female kangaroos at KI Wildlife Park, 2014

It is commonly known that humans protect what they love. We sent a small donation to KI to help with their efforts to save the species. That is but a token.

A wallaby in the bush, KI, 2014

There’s much on our planet we need to protect. I’ve watched and rewatched Adam Schiff, my country’s best statesman, make an impassioned plea that right must matter, doing what is right must matter.  In the USA, we are in a fight to preserve and protect democracy and our constitution, both priceless as is nature. Unless we do what is right to protect the first two, we have little chance to protect the earth.  If you’ve traveled to Kangaroo Island, you know it was a magical place, a place where visitors enjoyed an Australian safari. As travelers, we must do our part to protect what we love.