A local wildlife rescue group is calling for more volunteers to help the growing number of animals in need.
Mandurah Just Joey Marsupial Care has welcomed creatures in need since the Coodanup-based refuge service was established in 2017.
Co-founder Dot Terry said they could always use a helping-hand, especially as the busy 'pinkie' season, which runs until December, approaches.
"It's getting busier all the time," she said.
"We're growing really fast as more people get to know that we're here."
The group generally care for possums, kangaroos, chuditch, quoll, bandicoot and phascogales.
Ms Terry said the current volunteer-base of about 30 people needed help conducting tougher jobs such as preparing cages and undertaking gardening tasks.
"It's like anywhere with animals - there's a lot of cleaning, feeding and handling the birds and marsupials," she said.
"The volunteers develop a bit of a rapport with the animals, a connection. It's very rewarding and they all love it."
Local Indigenous elder and community leader George Walley has recently come on board as Mandurah Just Joey Marsupial Care's patron.
Mr Walley said it was an honour to work alongside Ms Terry, who has been a registered carer for more than 50 years.
"I've been a friend of Dot's for a long time and have always had an interest in what she's done, looking after the native animals," he said.
"They asked me to be the patron and I thought 'why not?' We've all got an interest in looking after kangaroos, the little ones especially.
"I'm really respectful of everyone here and what they do. All the volunteers love being a part of this and so do I."
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The service is full equipped to support young marsupials with humidicribs, a type of incubator used for the care of premature babies, on-site.
They cover the Peel region as well as the Rockingham-Baldivis area and are currently a self-funded operation so would appreciate donations from the community and businesses.
If you see a young marsupial in danger please call Ms Terry on 0409 734 125 (Mandurah) or Trish Dixon on 0407 251 140 (Rockingham-Baldivis).
For more information about the service, visit their Facebook page.
