Kangaroo Kills Man in Southwest Australia

Police reported that a man in southwest Australia died from the kangaroo he thought was his pet.

Reports said that the kangaroo attacked the man in the day. To save the man, the police had no choice but to shoot the animal to reach the victim.

What is more tragic was the kangaroo prevented the emergency responders by posing a threat.

According to an NBC News report, a relative saw the man with serious injury on his property in semirural Redmond, southeast of Western Australia.

The victim was 77 years old.

The news website noted that it was the first kangaroo fatal attack in the country since 1936, when William Cruickshank, 38, died in the hospital in New South Wales located on the Australian months after he was attacked.

Kangaroos as Pets

Reports also said that police would investigate whether the man had a permit to keep the kangaroo as a pet.

According to reports, keeping Australian native fauna from becoming pets has legal restrictions and required permits.

On the other hand, state authorities rarely issue permits to keep kangaroos in western Australia, according to news reports.

Kangaroos are popular native animals in Australia.

The National Geographic explained that the animal has powerful hind legs, belonging to the family of Macropus or 'big foot."

Furthermore, the National Geographic said the animal could leap over 30 feet and travel more than 30 miles per hour. They can weigh 119 pounds and stand 4 feet 3 inches tall.

It also added that kangaroos pound the ground with their big strong feet when they feel threatened or in danger.

In NBC News, Tanya Irwin said it could be an adult male kangaroo. It became aggressive from captivity.

Questions about why the kangaroo was kept in captivity were raised because they are wild animals.

More About Kangaroos

(Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

Kangaroos are cute-looking native animals in Australia, and keeping them without the skills and permits could pose dangers.

According to Brittanica, kangaroo has different behaviors. They are active during low periods of low light and at night.

Despite kangaroos traveling in a group, they are anti-social animals that love individual freedom.

Moreover, the website added that male kangaroos fight for superiority and female kangaroos. They wrestle by boxing, kicking, or biting, the same skills they employ against dangers or predators.

Using their agile arms and strong legs, they can cause fatal attacks against their opponents.

Also Read: Giant Kangaroo from 50,000 Years Ago Wasn't Related to Australian Kangaroos

Kangaroo policies

The Department for Environment and Water of The Government of South Australia explained on their website that kangaroos cause damage to building structures, environment, property, or crops, and safety risks to people have the following options ( Depending on the property's location)

Consider a professional kangaroo harvester
Apply for a permit to destroy wildlife. There are following conditions to comply with.
Use non-lethal weapons

For more about the Kangaroo guidelines, you can visit here.

The National Geographic showed that there are more kangaroos than people in Australia.

Reports revealed that the country estimated over 50 million kangaroos damage in livestock and crops. Also, 80% of the over 20,000 vehicle-animal collisions involved kangaroos.