Inside the lives of Kym Haywood and Rufus the Couch Kangaroo at her Eyre Peninsula sanctuary
Meet the faces behind SA’s famous “zooming” baby wombats, Rufus the Couch Kangaroo, and see what it’s like to live with native wildlife in your home.
Port Lincoln
Don't miss out on the headlines from Port Lincoln. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Kym and Neil Haywood are happily sharing their Eyre Peninsula home with a social media-star kangaroo and “zooming” wombat joeys.
Rufus the kangaroo and wombat joeys Tabmow and Woodrow – who could be characters in a children’s cartoon – are the three youngest members of Kym Haywood’s rescue family.
Ms Haywood, owner of Pumpkins Patch Kangaroo Sanctuary near Port Lincoln, has been rescuing kangaroo and wombat joeys for five years and raising them in her own backyard.
Among her 30 rescue animals is the famous Rufus, who she describes as their four-year-old “couch kangaroo”.
The roo became a social media sensation after she posted footage on Facebook of him spread out on the couch, watching television with the couple.
“Every evening around 5.30pm, Rufus comes to the backdoor asking to come in,” Ms Haywood said.
“Then he just chills on the couch for the rest of the night.
“Rufus has done this from a joey but he never grew out of it and we just let him because it’s what makes him happy.”
Ms Haywood regularly updates Rufus’s social media with entertaining videos.
They give an insight into her wildlife family, including her “zooming” wombat babies Tabmow and Woodrow.
“They’re like cats (wombats), they just do whatever they want, then they get a sudden burst of energy and zoom,” she said.
Kym found comfort and solitude in animal rescue during a time in her life where her mental health was deteriorating.
Rescue and therapy for orphaned wildlife also became Kym’s rescue and therapy and together they have “pulled each other into better places”.
The amount of time and love put into this sanctuary is evident from the bond Kym has created with her rescues, who reciprocate their love with unlimited kisses and cuddles.
Kym’s online community is also heavily involved in the wonderful world of Pumpkin’s Patch and many of her fur-babies have been named in honour of her followers.
Operating purely not-for-profit further solidifies Kym and Neil’s dedication to wildlife protection and rescue.
However, the lack of funding hinders their dream to expand their charity, by increasing their land size to further assist animals in need.
The pair have spent thousands adapting their property to suitably home their diverse and growing family.
Shelters and fencing for two separate enclosures have cost the Haywoods over $30,000 with more amenities still required at further costs.
Feeding, desexing and vet bills are also included in the hefty price tag of owning a sanctuary.
“Quite often when joeys come in, they can have injuries after mum’s been hit by a car,” Kym said.
“All the joeys are vet checked and X-rayed and we do our best to help as many as possible so our vet bills can be huge.”
Ms Haywood is always drumming up new ways to raise awareness and funds for the sanctuary, including their recently launched YouTube channel, and some highly-anticipated merchandise.
Follow their journey on Facebook and Instagram and if you wish to help Kym and Neil on their mission, donations can be made to:
Pumpkins Patch Kangaroo Sanctuary at PayPal: nhaywood67@hotmail.com
Elite college’s record-breaking price hike revealed
The skyrocketing cost of private education in South Australia has hit a staggering new high with the state’s most expensive surpassing $33k. Search the fees.
Hopes for new direct Adelaide flights to Aussies’ favourite destination
South Aussies could soon be able to escape the winter blues for less thanks to talks between Adelaide Airport and a new airline that could spark a huge price war.