While the sight of kangaroos hopping and feeding in the Australian bush is an integral part of the Big Lap experience, most grey nomads know to keep a reasonable distance from the iconic marsupials.
Not all tourists share the same level of knowledge though … and some have suffered some very painful consequences.
Kangaroo attacks are not uncommon and they can be extremely dangerous. A recent spate of incidents at a ‘kangaroo viewing hotspot’ in New South Wales has prompted the local MP to call for warning signs to be erected as a matter of urgency.
Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper delivered a private member’s statement to the NSW Parliament calling for a co-ordinated response to the kangaroo ‘problem’ inside the grounds of Morisset Hospital.
The Newcastle Herald reports that visiting the kangaroos at the site is advertised online as a cheap and highly recommended day trip, and it has become a ‘tourist phenomenon’
Mr Piper wants signs in multiple languages installed to warn visitors that kangaroos can cause injuries and shouldn’t be fed.
“We will not stop people from visiting these kangaroos,” Mr Piper told the Newcastle Herald. “That joey has left the pouch, so to speak, and the only thing we can do is to educate people about the dangers and find a way of managing the situation, not just for the safety of visitors and the hospital’s residents, but also for the kangaroos themselves.”
There have been a number of reported incidents where kangaroos have attacked visitors, in one case causing a very deep gash to a man’s stomach in March but in most cases kicking out, clawing faces and grappling people causing lacerations or significant scratching.
Mr Piper said a greater NPWS ranger presence was also needed.
Kroosn Shuttle Service owner Shane Lewis told the Newcastle Herald that the company takes up to 500 people a week to the site, while an additional 1000 people used other forms of transport to visit. He said he had seen countless attacks.
“We want to be part of the solution. If we see them feeding the roos, we confront them and ask did they see the existing signs and they say ‘no’,” he said. “You tell them the animals can be aggressive but they think it’s humorous, like the boxing kangaroo.”
He asks passengers who have brought food – including one who had 10 kilograms of carrots – to leave it on the bus.
Do NOT feed kangaroos !!!
Do NOT trust them !
Do not turn your back on them ! Especially a male roo.
They are WILD animals that only know 2 things… fight or flight
One attacked my 12-year old son – south coast nsw.
If scratched you will need to have a tetanus injection and an antibiotic injection . You will have a very painful wound for quite a while.
WARNING !!
Morisset Hospital has had a long history of roo problems. My parents lived and worked at the hospital 70 years ago for a while when I was a baby/toddler and the roos were a constant concern – not panic – just wariness
Manny years ago my father saw a roo pick up a dog and gut it with its rear leg in a split second never go near them they are very capable of killing you if annoyed enough . I have seen them lash out with shoulders that would make a sumo wrestler look like a scrawny runt, the big males are very strong , and smell bad to when you get close too.i won’t admit to how I know this but trust me on this one .
We were at Wilpena pound and a group of older children were feeding kangaroos – the food ran out and the kids moved on, except for a smaller child who had been watching from a distance. The Kangaroo immediately came over and grabbed the child who was luckily not seriously hurt but quite frightened. Wild animals should never be fed.