Australia is quite famous for its Kangaroos. In fact, kangaroos are one of the national symbols of Australia. That said, when foreigners hear about kangaroos, they assume they are as adorable as the many stuffed animals created of them. This is not quite the case. There have been several incidents of kangaroo attacks in Australia. For those living in or planning to visit Australia, it is highly recommended to understand data about kangaroo attacks in Australia and how to prepare for kangaroo attacks.
To understand more about kangaroo attacks and how to best prepare for them, consider the information below:
Are There More People or Kangaroos in Australia?
It is quite surprising that individuals are curious whether there are more kangaroos than people in Australia; however, according to recent studies, the kangaroo population has doubled in the last six years. The number of kangaroos in Australia has now grown to have a ratio of 2 to 1 in comparison to Australian residents. This is precisely why experts in Australia are highly recommending consuming more kangaroo meat to cause the population of kangaroos to reduce. By consuming more kangaroos, it is felt that the risk of attacks will be lower, and the threat to biodiversity in Australia will decrease.
Top 3 Famous Stories of Kangaroo Attacks
There are a surprising amount of kangaroo attacks in Australia each year. There are many famous kangaroo attacks that have been widely reported in Australia. In March of 2004, there was a famous kangaroo attack in Burpengary, Queensland. A resident named Sylvia Aldren was picking roses in her garden when a kangaroo approached her. The largest of the kangaroos kicked, bit, and scratched her, which caused her severe injuries.
Another famous kangaroo attack occurred in Canberra in March of 2009 when a kangaroo broke into the home of Beat Ettlin, jumped in his bed and scratched him when he tried to force him out of the house, the kangaroo cut itself on the broken glass; leaving blood all over the house.
In Arthur’s Creek, Victoria, in November of 2009, a sleeping kangaroo was awoken and went after Chris Rickard’s dog, trying to drown it in the pool until Rickard jumped into the pool to save his dog. When he did, he saved his dog but was scratched severely by the kangaroo.
Data About Kangaroo Attacks in Australia
Considering the ratio of kangaroos to humans in Australia, there are surprisingly few attacks. Mainly, kangaroos are not going out just looking to attack; they need to be provoked usually. Granted, there have been a few cases where kangaroos have broken into places; however, the primary attacks that have been reported involved something setting off the kangaroo by getting too close by feeding them or scaring a sleeping kangaroo. Typically, there are only a handful of reported kangaroo attacks each year; however, the ones that do occur are violent, which is why it is important to be aware of what sets kangaroos off and how to protect yourself in the event of being at risk of a kangaroo attack.
How to Protect Yourself from Kangaroo Attacks
If you are spending any extended period of time in Australia, it is wise to have an understanding of how to protect yourself from a kangaroo attack. One important tip is to walk away sideways from the kangaroo if it is imminently approaching you. Remember that many kangaroo attacks are also prompted based on being aggravated by house pets. If you have dogs that bark easily, try to remove them from the environment where kangaroos may be to avoid further agitating the kangaroos. If the kangaroo is wandering in your yard, try to keep your distance and even try to find a large tree branch to keep the kangaroo from getting closer to you. Lastly, be sure to put your hands in the air to protect your face. Kangaroos have long claws that can cause substantial damage if they scratch your skin.
Final Remarks
Even though kangaroos are the national symbol of Australia, it is wise to realise that feeding them is not a wise decision. Ideally, they are best to be admired from afar. Be sure that you do not walk up to a sleeping kangaroo or scare them in any way. If you are in their proximity, raise your arms up and try to cover your face. Remember to walk slowly sideways away until you can quickly get away. If you try to shield yourself in this way, then you will be able to keep yourself out of harm’s way from kangaroo attacks in Australia.