Kangaroo Dundee: I gave it all up to become a ‘kangaroo mum’

Chris 'Brolga' Barns fell in love with joeys and became a kangaroo 'mum'. He rescues orphaned baby kangaroos, or joeys, carrying them around in a pillowcase to mimic their mum’s pouch. While working as a tour guide in the Australian outback, Brolga would always check the pouches of kangaroos killed by cars lying on the side of the road, where often the joeys would still be alive. The plan was to look after them until they could be released back into the wild, but sometimes they had been injured and couldn't outrun dingoes or bush fires. So Brolga gave up his job to create a kangaroo sanctuary for them in Alice Springs, in Australia's red centre. After leading some land and digging for 18 months to build a giant dingo-proof fence, he spent all his money. He ended up living in a tin shack on site, without any electricity or a toilet, sharing his bed with the orphaned joeys he was caring for. But the visitors he had hoped for did not come, and he had no income. Things were looking bleak. Then he starred in a BBC documentary series called Kangaroo Dundee. The title was a play on the hit comedy film Crocodile Dundee, about a man from the outback who wows everyone in the big city. Brolga's TV appearance wowed too - much to his surprise, he received hundreds of emails from female fans, who were unaware that he had a brand-new girlfriend (now his wife). The show guaranteed the Kangaroo Sanctuary's survival, and Brolga was able to dedicate all his time to mothering orphaned joeys. One of his first rescues, an alpha male kangaroo called Roger, became an internet sensation for always trying to attack his 'mum', Brolga, who he now saw as a rival. And recently some of Brolga's joeys starred in a family film called Kangaroo, inspired by his life. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Vibeke VenemaLives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected.   Got a story to tell? Send an email to [email protected] or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784   You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice