Australia loves its kangaroos, but one man was apparently keeping one for a pet and the relationship ended badly.
The 77-year-old kangaroo owner, living outside the Western Australia capitol Perth, was attacked by his wild pet and suffered serious injuries. He was found by a relative.
Police arriving on the scene had to shoot the kangaroo because the animal was preventing rescuers from attending to the injured man.
“The kangaroo was posing an ongoing threat to emergency responders,” the police statement said.
The man was reported dead at the scene.
There are some legal restrictions involving keeping wild kangaroos as pets, but it is unclear whether the man had a permit. Permits for wild kangaroos are rarely granted in Western Australia because the animals are aggressive and, not surprisingly, don’t like being cooped up.
Kangaroos are common to Australia and total more than 50 million. They weigh over 100 pounds and can stand more than four feet tall. Males are often aggressive and can viciously attack humans. Attacks are rare and usually they keep their distance.
Animal behavioral expert, Graeme Coulson, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that kangaroos have “a lot of weapons” such as sharp teeth, claws and powerful legs.
The attack was the first fatal incident reported since 1936. In that year, a 38-year-old man died after being attacked by a kangaroo and suffering a broken jaw and other injuries, after he tried to rescue two dogs trapped by a large, aggressive kangaroo.
In July, a kangaroo attacked a 67-year-old woman in Queensland, but she survived with bruises and a broken leg.
In March, a three-year-old girl received serious head injuries in a run-in with a kangaroo in New South Wales.
