THERE'S a healthy population of kangaroos in the Flinders Ranges, with the diminutive western grey a constant companion to every visitor as they explore the gorges and peaks of the sprawling national park.
In the early hours they can be seen in the pastures, eating the sweet grass that's covered in the morning dew, and later in the day they retreat to the shadows that fall around the trees and shrubs to hide from the afternoon heat.
This breed is much smaller than the eastern greys that live in Victoria, and when you get up close you can see just how elegant these creatures are with their delicate front feet and sweet faces.
I got to meet one of the communities youngest members today, a baby called Jeanie that had been adopted by a Blinman couple after her mother was killed by a car.
She was asleep, curled up in the bottom of a pillowcase, but was woken because it was time for her to eat and after she got used to the daylight I was thrilled to feed her a bottle as we sat on the front veranda of the Wild Lime Cafe in Blinman.
She was just like a human baby when she first woke up, with big black eyes looking around to figure out what was going on, and after lunch she was happy to sit with me and listen to the conversations while enjoying the dry heat of this perfect day in the northern end of the Flinders Ranges.
The western grey is known for having very big ears, and Jeanie's new parents are happy because she has a very good pair ready to grow into.
