Journeys unfolded: 5 Questions & 5 Facts - part IV. with Josh Neille

by Brigitta Pasztor - March 26, 2024

Dear beautiful souls,

Welcome back to the fourth part of our series on the blog: 'Journeys Unfolded: 5 Questions & 5 Facts.' If you've been following along, you know that each segment introduces us to inspiring individuals (you can find part one, two, three here) who radiate authenticity and positivity. Today, we're happy to continue this journey with yet another remarkable guest.

Say hello to Josh, the passionate wildlife advocate and content creator with a heart for our furry friends. Hailing from Australia, Josh's vibrant Instagram presence with 515,000 followers showcases his dedication to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. Alongside his wife and daughter, Josh's family journey plays a significant role in his content, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts for future generations. Through his posts and heartfelt mission, Josh spreads awareness and compassion for Australian wildlife. Let's dive into his story and discover the true depth of his commitment to our animal companions. You can find him on Instagram, on Tiktok and learn more about his work and how to support wildlife rescue efforts on his website and online shop.

1. question: What made you decide to share your and your family's experiences with Australian wildlife on Instagram? How do people respond to your posts about wildlife and family life?

Josh: I have been doing the wildlife for a number of years however I started using Snapchat within my local friends group and I started to consistently get requests to start a YouTube channel or TikTok because the locals absolutely loved the content and my attitude towards life and wanted to be able to share my antics with their friends. So I started a TikTok but soon got banned and removed (TikTok is very harsh) I did not know why other than I had to many community guidelines violations.. and due to how hard it is to get feedback was unable to obtain what I did to receive these violations.. later on I learned it was to do with Ashlee and certain wildlife like snakes and koalas that they deemed dangerous and said I was endearing her life.. so that put a sour taste in my mouth about the platform, so I did not worry about it after that.. it was only when Insta started its reels section that I started uploading snippets of our ventures and then it was onward and upwards from their on. I then started another TikTok and it exploded now with 550k followers, however I don’t really put any time or interaction back into the account because I would rather put all my efforts and communication into Instagram they are so much more versatile and secure.. with how sensitive TikTok is I could once again have it removed without feedback or warning so it’s hard to want to put to much effort into that space..

When I first started out there was a level of negativity in certain areas, but now it’s mostly 99% good vibes, love and support from the community it’s really a good space.. which is very uncommon on the internet today.

2. question: Wildlife rescue can be tough. How do you and your family handle the challenges, like taking care of injured animals or raising funds?

Josh: Myself and Amber work full time and it’s all self funded the wildlife rehabilitation space so it costs us a considerable amount of money. However we have lately been getting donations and selling merchandise that really does help.. the time, effort and skill it takes to care for these critters is very mentally and physically tuff. Multiple feeds in the middle of the night, sick, injured and stressed animals require so much attention, but that’s why we do it as a family we all chip in and take turns to share the load even Ashlee ❤️❤️

3. question: Can you share a happy moment from your wildlife rescue efforts? What's one success story that you're especially proud of?

Josh: I think one of the best was Amber raising two little rainbow larukeets 🦜 that had no feathers 🪶 and were rescued after a tree was cut down. They were so tiny and she put so much time and effort to get them to strong healthy birds that eventually took off with a local flock on the farm..that whole journey was pretty special.

4. question: Your brand supports wildlife rescue with its sales. Can you tell us more about where the proceeds go and how people's support helps?

Josh: Yeah onya apparel all goes back into building infrastructure on the farm like wombat pens ect, also maintaining the current infrastructure and also buying feed and equipment that we use to facilitate these critters on their journeys with us back to good health and then the wild.. also medical treatment is funded out of our pockets so all this definitely helps.

@fezferretson
Well it’s happening we have finally organised some merchandise for all you supporters of our venture in the animal and wildlife space this is a way to help contribute to what we are about. We have started a company called ONYA APPAREL and we have a website kicking off on Wednesday 8th of November ONYAAPPAREL.shop where there will be a presale on all the range of shirts and hoodies for men, women and kids. We are supporting a local company that provides a very high quality product, this is a way to help us out as well as deck you legends out in some awesome gear. There will be four colours and all sizes available. The international shipping is a bit steep in my eyes however auspost has the monopoly and I can’t find away around it☹️, however it’s the same price for shipping one item or ten so buy up and save. There has been a-lot of work and logistics that has gone into making this possible with some really great people like @rodneylovedesign for the designs and the @thecolourcartel for the printing and logistics 🫶🏻 ..now this is a presale for 10 days so you will get your shirts legends they just might take a week or two to turn up but I promise we won’t let you down . This has all been a wild ride for this little country family to figure out but we look forward seeing you guys in your new kit showing your support and we can’t thank you guys enough for it ❤️❤️🫶🏻ONYA!
♬ original sound - Fez

5. question: With so many followers, how do you use your Instagram to help wildlife? What's the most important thing you want people to know about protecting Australian wildlife?

Josh: To be honest we love that we have made it kid friendly and provides educational aspects with a bit of Aussie humour, we also like to be transparent and show not just the warm and fuzzy stuff but also a few of the hardships that come alone, also that it brings a lot of happiness for people with mental health or that are just struggling we get a lot of great feedback in that space.. I like to think we are stimulating generational change and development towards certain species like snakes and wombats which tend to get a very negative reputation in our area..

@fezferretson
Kissing kangaroos was great way to start the morning when your on holidays… 😂
♬ original sound - Fez

+ 5 facts about Josh

* I have dreadlocks because I am lazy and it stops sunburn on my ears and neck when I am out and about and the wombats love to chew on them.

* I have been know to be found talking to the animals about the problems of life on a regular basis.

* I have no shoes with intact laces as the wombats have chewed them all to bits.

* My favourite bird is the boo book owl 🦉 after raring a number of them they have the most amazing eye 👁️ that stare into your soul 😂.

* I am enjoy seeing my family outside and interacting with the animals money can’t buy some of the experiences we have in our backyard ❤️

As we conclude Josh's chapter in 'Journeys Unfolded: 5 Questions & 5 Facts,' we've had the privilege of witnessing the incredible impact of his work and the depth of his passion for wildlife conservation. Thank you, Josh, for sharing your inspiring journey with us and for reminding us of the importance of protecting and cherishing our wildlife. Stay tuned for more captivating stories in our ongoing series, and let's continue to advocate for the voiceless! 🌿🐾

Who would you like to see featured next? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let's continue this incredible journey together! 🌟 #JourneysUnfolded #StayTuned

With love from B ♥

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