Leading kangaroo researcher weighs in on ‘very, very rare’ suspected fatal kangaroo attack

A leading kangaroo researcher has given his expert opinion on a “very, very rare” suspected fatal kangaroo attack near Albany — believed to the first in nearly 90 years.

Paramedics were called to a semi-rural property in Redmond, 15km north of Albany, on Sunday afternoon after a 77-year-old man was found with serious injuries.

A WA Police spokesman said paramedics called for police support after the kangaroo — believed to be a male western grey kangaroo — prevented them from reaching the man.

The police spokesman said it was believed the man had been keeping the wild animal as a pet.

“The kangaroo was posing an ongoing threat to emergency responders,” he said.

“Attending officers were required to euthanise the kangaroo by firearm.”

The 77-year-old farmer — whose family has asked the Advertiser not to identify him — died of his injuries at the scene.

Curtin University Associate Professor Bill Bateman said that if the kangaroo had become accustomed to humans it might have viewed them as other kangaroos “coming into its territory”.

“If it was effectively seeing people as other kangaroos, it was fighting with them as it would any other kangaroos in order to impress any nearby females,” he said.

“That resulted in people having to defend themselves against it.

“I certainly wouldn’t want to be in a fight with an adult or even a sub-adult kangaroo — they’re incredibly powerful animals.”

Male western grey kangaroos can grow to weigh 70kg and measure 223cm from head to tail.

Professor Bateman said males have “body-builder level of muscle in the forearms and across the chest” to impress the much smaller females.

He said the males fight each other by pulling their opponent in then kicking out with their powerful hind legs which have long claws.

“If they do that to another roo that’s bad enough, but if they do it to a person, it’s potentially broken ribs and internal damage,” he said.

“I don’t know enough about the details of this tragic event, but it sounds like this was a kangaroo that was habituated to human beings, didn’t see them as something to be scared off, and then reacted very negatively and aggressively when people were around.”

It is believed to be the first fatal kangaroo attack on record since 1936 when William Cruickshank died in hospital as the result of injuries caused by a kangaroo months prior.

Professor Bateman said his advice for anyone who thought a kangaroo was acting aggressively towards them was to move away as fast as possible, get behind trees, shout or throw sticks.

He said it was important keep dogs, which are viewed as a potential threat by kangaroos, away from the wild animals.

“Certainly don’t make friends with wild animals — wild animals remain wild animals,” he said.

“As tragic as this was, this is a very, very rare event.

“Most people will never have an encounter with kangaroos apart from seeing them peacefully on the side of the road.”

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.