Members of the public have been asked to keep an eye on a small mob of kangaroos as water inundates their island home.
The kangaroos have been regular features of the Happy Valley landscape since the Bribie Island breakthrough of early 2022.
The kangaroos have been able to come and go from the northern tip of the island but there are concerns Tropical Cyclone Alfred may make it impossible for them to return to the island or that a storm surge could swamp them at Happy Valley.
The ocean has begun breaking through two sections of the northern tip of Bribie since last week and it is not known what will remain of the tip once the cyclone passes.
The Department of Environment and Science referred a Sunshine Coast News inquiry about the kangaroos to Sunshine Coast Council, saying the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service only dealt with kangaroos in national parks.
The council referred Sunshine Coast News to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, saying the roos lived on the northern section of Bribie and had been monitored by QPWS for years.
A community-based wildlife group has taken an interest in the kangaroos after speaking with a concerned member of the public.
Wildlife Rescue Queensland spokesperson Colleen Ogilvie said the group had made the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit aware of the situation.
“An Australia Zoo team did a bit of a welfare check and made sure they were not showing any signs of anything,” Ms Ogilvie said.
Related story: Wildlife officers monitor ‘North Bribie’ castaway
Ms Ogilvie said the roos seemed to be finding enough to eat and drink and were able swimmers if they needed to be.
She asked members of the public to keep a watchful eye on the roos over the next few days in case the weather corralled them into a difficult position.
“If anything happens, Australia Zoo should be the first port of call,” she said.
Kings Beach resident Martin Amos said the roos had been coming and going from the northern tip of the island since the Bribie breakthrough.
“There’s enough foliage for them there and they must be getting enough fresh water to survive, or they have adapted to drink the water that forms at the bottom of the stairs at Happy Valley, which must be mixture of fresh and salt water, but it can’t be any good for them,” he said.
Sunshine Coast resident Dean O’Keeffe was dismayed to see people trying to approach the kangaroos this week.
“They were trying to get close to them and there was just no need,” he said.
Mr O’Keeffe was also concerned about dogs, particularly those not on-leash, harassing the kangaroos, and said people should use their common sense.
“People just need to have some respect,” he said.
