Kangaroo attacks in Australia
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Kangaroo attacks in Australia are rare because kangaroos are usually docile however can attack if provoked or cornered, and have been known to kill dogs. Very occasionally they can attack even if not provoked. If there is a shortage of food, kangaroos will enter suburbs and have caused attacks, as noted in Melbourne[1] and Canberra.[2]
Below is a list of unprovoked kangaroo attacks that occurred in Australia in reverse chronological order.
21st century
Name, age | Date | Species | Location; Comments |
---|---|---|---|
family | March 2009 | Eastern Grey | Canberra, kangaroo smashed through window of suburban house, was wrestled by the owner and dragged out, who received scratches[3] |
man in 50s | 2008 | Sunbury, Melbourne, man attacked by a kangaroo while jogging at 1.30pm[4] | |
Rosemary Neal, 65 | July 2008 | Eastern Grey | Mudgee,was walking through a wooded area of the property on her way to tend to her horses when a two metre kangaroo attacked.[1] |
Christine Canham | July 2004 | Canberra, kangaroo held dog underwater and drowned it[2] | |
Sylvia Aldren, 48 | March 2004 | Burpengary, kangaroo pushed a woman to the ground, kicked, bit and scratched her [3] | |
Doug Lawson | June 2003 | Monto, man chased into house by kangaroo, the kangaroo knocked him down [4] |
20th century
Name, age | Date | Species | Location; Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Steven Shorten, 13 | October 1996 | Grafton, kangaroo attacked him while looking for a ball at which went into the bush at a golf course, received facial wounds and cuts, golf course was sued in the High Court [5] | |
3 men | Dec 1943 | Lachlan River near Cowra, men returning from fishing were attacked by a kangaroo, two men were knocked down [5] | |
14yo boy | Feb 1940 | Sandy Hollow, boy's dog had fought the kangaroo, which the kangaroo hurled off a cliff, and then attacked the boy, inflicting serious injuries [6] | |
'old' Japanese shopkeeper | 1936 | Darwin, kangaroo caused several cuts and abrasions before the man beat it off [7] | |
farmer | 1933 | Western Australia, a farmer had been attacked by a kangaroo, which was described as unusual [8] | |
James Owen, 37 | Nov 1931 | Corpus Christi College, Werribee kangaroo rushed at waiter who entered reserve where kangaroos were kept, needed several stitches. Same kangaroo described as having made an attack on another employee in January. [9] | |
L. Johnson | 1929 | Carrajung South, dog 'bailed up the kangaroo', when the man tried to rescue his dog, the kangaroo attacked him, inflicting a deep wound on his neck. The kangaroo then tried to drown the dog but the man beat the roo off and saved the dog. [10] | |
4yo | 1923 | Balgowan, Yorke's Peninsula, attacked by a pet kangaroo, which caused cuts and bruises [11] |
19th century
Name, age | Date | Species | Location; Comments |
---|---|---|---|
labourer named Armstrong | Aug 1880 | Waterloo station, 10 miles from Walcha, Man tried to drive a kangaroo away from eating straw in an area with scarce feed, the kangaroo resisted and attacked and held the man, an 11yo boy intervened and killed the kangaroo with an axe.[12] | |
16yo male | 1872 | Browns, kangaroo attacked boy, dog and man intervened and fought off kangaroo, reputedly in an hour long fight, leading to death of the kangaroo.[13] |
Reference
- ^ Roo attacks rise as suburbs spread
- ^ Starving kangaroos attack city residents
- ^ Kangaroo terrorises Garran family
- ^ Jogger dials triple-0 after kangaroo attack News.com.au, Sep 1 2008
- ^ Three men hurt by kangaroo The Canberra Times 1 January 1944
- ^ Boy injured by kangaroo, attack on cliff The Argus 8 February 1940
- ^ Pet kangaroo attacks Japanese The Canberra Times 3 January 1936
- ^ Most unusual attack by kangaroo The Courier-Mail 28 August 1933
- ^ Attacked by pet kangaroo The Argus 23 November 1931
- ^ Attacked by kangaroo
- ^ Pet kangaroo attacks child The Argus 11 August 1923
- ^ Thrilling Encounter with a Kangaroo The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser 28 August 1880
- ^ A kangaroo story The Argus 21 June 1872