A Wild Encounter in Melbourne

Lands that were far and spread out to the extreme within stretch of green wide enough to divine huge eucalyptus trees popping here and there, bent over elegantly in their will against warm winds. We were on a walk: to seek the Eastern Grey Kangaroo in the wild. As we moved through Gorge Park, only the sound of the whispering leaves and a distant call of an unseen bird ended any impression of life.

Even though it was a bit far from the city of Melbourne, we had the opportunity to travel. We should take advantage of each moment. The briefest time between these people and the animals is just noise and leaving familiar human contact. When the sun comes out after the rain, just like that, everything is bright green: grasses shine, the trunks of trees polish their barks shiny, red soils seem incredulous and majestic.

The flanks of the landscape stretched wide and green and dotted with huge eucalyptus trees bent themselves adoringly into a warm breeze. As we strode through the park, the sounds of life seemed to consist solely of leaves whispering in the wind and distant calls of hidden birds.

As we started doubting that we had a chance to see kangaroos, we came across an Englishman who was that district's residence. He greeted us with a wise smile and guided in the direction of a quiet corner where kangaroos had a tendency to congregate. After listening to him, we went deeper into the park, our expectation growing stronger with every step.

Then, suddenly, they were there—a horde of Eastern Grey Kangaroos grazing in the open paddock. Remembering what I had been taught, I approached them slowly, warily, keeping my hands low and not staring directly at them to scare them. They regarded me as much as I regarded them, their muscular legs poised to leap, their flicking ears catching every sound.

Together with it, a bony skeleton was scattered on the ground, a stark reminder that this was actual wildlife. It was a moment of reflection - life and survival in tandem in this raw, untamed landscape. But the beauty of the setting overpowered any fear. The kangaroos, the endless greenery, the clean air - it all made me realize that this was not just a location; so close to the city this was a world where nature reigned supreme, and we were just visitors.

This visit was not all about looking out for kangaroos; it was about entering their land, understanding their terrain, and living the free-roaming Australian spirit.

By Sophie Döhring, Britt van Dien, Elisa Weeda, Haniyeh Rahmani, Jonas Hendriks

 

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