Kangaroos are often seen as cuddly animals that hop along beaches. For instance, if a female kangaroo is nearby, a male kangaroo might be a little irritated toward another animal or human if they are close to her. Some kangaroos can also be aggressive toward humans during their search for food. Many kangaroos have now found a fascination with human food left behind on streets or in trash cans, like French fries, and will be hostile toward those it sees holding a potential snack.
Because of this, tourist attractions near kangaroo habitats tend to ban food. However, kangaroos will give you a warning sign to back off before they hurt you, such as standing up on their hind legs. There are a few reports of kangaroos killing people but this is still very rare.
One of the most famous stories of a kangaroo killing someone is from New South Wales in A man was beaten to death by a kangaroo after trying to intervene between a fight the animal was having with his two dogs. This animal does have a few predators they need to keep an eye out for. Some of the most common are humans, dingoes, and eagles.
Young kangaroos also need to watch out for foxes and wild dogs that like to hunt them. One of the main ways kangaroos defend themselves is by using their powerful hind legs to hit whatever it feels threatened by. This animal will also send warning signals to other kangaroos if they sense danger.
Some ways they do this is by stomping their feet and hitting their tail on the ground. This animal has an impressively powerful kick that has been known to kill people or break bones. Sometimes kangaroos will jump up to feet in the air before they extend their hind legs to kick giving them more power to their punch.
Their feet are extremely long and have a sharp claw in the center that can rip apart flesh. The combination of their kick and claws can be so powerful that it can rupture your stomach and surrounding organs. It can be difficult to escape a kangaroo when they kick, but you can easily brace yourself for it. Mr Temby said it was likely that Ms Urquhart surprised the animal by inadvertently running too close and that it was "extremely rare" for kangaroos to attack people.
Mr Temby, who now works privately as a wildlife consultant, estimates that 40 to 50 kangaroos live in the park. He said the most common attacks occur when a dog owner tries to protect their pet when it chases a kangaroo. Mr Temby said the best way to avoid being attacked by a kangaroo is to keep a safe distance, never give them food and to watch for signs of aggression, such as standing on their toes, scratching their stomach or growling.
If a kangaroo does attack, never stand tall and face the animal because it might be interpreted as a challenge to fight. With regular feeding, a kangaroo or wallaby learns to approach people for food. Even without feeding, kangaroos and wallabies readily accept our presence if we show no aggression towards them. But, if we get too close, they may see us as a threat. Kangaroos and wallabies that are used to being fed can approach people expecting food. When there is no food, they may become aggressive.
Today, people rarely live in close contact with large wildlife. As a result, we have lost much of our wariness and first-hand knowledge of these animals and how they live. This means we can get too close to kangaroos and wallabies without thinking about the consequences.
For kangaroos and wallabies living on the bushland fringe of a suburban area, a human may be seen as little more than a large animal living in its habitat - and one that they may occasionally need to defend themselves against. There are occasions where people come into conflict with kangaroos and wallabies, usually due to a combination of the availability of attractive habitat and increasing urbanisation from an expanding population.
Where these situations arise, landholders can take a number of actions to help reduce the impact of kangaroos and wallabies on their property. To deter kangaroos or wallabies from gardens and lawns in residential areas, landholders are recommended to:. Wild animals should never be seen as having set patterns of behaviour that they follow blindly. Individual animals have their own 'personalities' and learn in response to their experiences. If a kangaroo or wallaby has been raised in captivity and released into the wild it may approach you demanding food by scratching and biting.
It may even see you as another animal and start to kick and scratch as a form of 'play fighting' or to assert its dominance. Kangaroos or wallabies that are injured or sick can also become defensive if approached and may be dangerous.
In these situations, a trained wildlife rehabilitator should be contacted rather than approaching the animal yourself. Kangaroos and wallabies are protected wildlife and a permit is needed to raise a joey in captivity. An important part of raising a joey is to ensure that it is capable of caring for itself in the wild without human assistance when it is released. It is also important to know how you should behave around kangaroos and wallabies. The following information can help to make living near kangaroos and wallabies a safer and fascinating experience.
Enjoy your kangaroos or wallabies — but from a distance. If you enter an area where kangaroos or wallabies live, give them as much space as possible. If you see one, stay away from it and watch how it behaves. If it moves toward you, or shows signs of being aggressive, move away even if it is only looking for food or human contact, a kangaroo or wallaby may still become aggressive.
Don't act aggressively towards the kangaroo or wallaby, as this will simply reinforce the idea that you are a threat. Dangerous situations may also arise where kangaroos and wallabies move into backyards or on to private property to feed. These can be avoided by fencing and removing sources of food or water that are attracting them.
Get to know your local mob. By watching the animals that live near you, you can learn to identify individuals by their appearance e. You will also start to work out the relationships between individuals e. To feed or not to feed.
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