Paleontologists have discovered a nearly 50,000-year-old skeleton of a giant short-faced kangaroo, Simosthenurus occidentalis, in Nightshade Cave, Victoria, Australia. This juvenile specimen, found remarkably intact, offers new insights into the species' anatomy and behavior, suggesting it may have walked with a striding gait rather than hopping. The fossil is now housed at Melbourne Museum for further study.
Scientists have identified three new species of giant kangaroo, one of which was more than 6.6 feet tall and weighed up to 375 pounds, living from 5 million to 40,000 years ago. The research, based on complete fossil skeletons found in southern Australia, revealed that these kangaroos demonstrated more variability in shape, range, and hopping method than previously thought. The study also sheds light on their ability to survive in varied environments and their eventual extinction on mainland Australia around 40,000 years ago.
A kangaroo was found hopping around a Tampa apartment complex in Florida, prompting an unusual emergency call to the police. The animal was eventually trapped in the pool area and reunited with its owner by the sheriff's agriculture unit. It's legal to keep kangaroos as pets in Florida with the right permit, and the creature, named Hopper, was safely returned after proper registration was verified.
An escaped kangaroo was found hopping around a Florida apartment complex and was later reunited with its owners by sheriffs, as it is legal to keep kangaroos in Florida if properly registered.
Deputies in Tampa responded to a call about a kangaroo on the loose, which had ended up trapped in an apartment complex's pool area. The kangaroo was eventually reunited with its owner after its ownership was verified by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's Agriculture Unit.
A kangaroo was spotted frolicking on the beach and playing in the ocean at Noosa North Shore Retreat in Australia's Sunshine Coast. The adorable creature was captured on video, channeling its inner Little Mermaid and having a great time.
An escaped kangaroo was captured in Oshawa, Canada, after four days on the loose, but not before punching a police officer in the face. The officers approached the kangaroo and grabbed her by the tail, successfully capturing her. The kangaroo, about four years old, had been missing since last Thursday when she escaped from a truck headed to a zoo in Quebec. She will stay temporarily at the Oshawa Zoo for rest and safety.
A kangaroo that had been on the loose for four days in Canada was captured by police after being spotted by members of the public on a rural property near Oshawa. During the detention, one cop was punched in the face by the kangaroo. The marsupial, a 4-year-old female, was born and bred in captivity and was being transported to a zoo in Quebec. She will continue her journey once examined. Kangaroos are large and powerful animals that can cause injury and should be treated with caution.
A kangaroo that had escaped its handler in Oshawa, Canada, was captured by police officers after being on the loose for four days. The officers managed to apprehend the marsupial, which was born in captivity, after keeping eyes on it for several hours. Videos on social media showed the kangaroo running along roads in the area.
An escaped kangaroo in Canada was captured by police after being on the run for several days. The kangaroo had escaped its handlers during transportation to a zoo and was spotted bouncing along roads in Oshawa. Police located the kangaroo on a rural property and attempted to capture it by grabbing its tail, but the kangaroo punched one of the officers in the face. The kangaroo was eventually captured and returned to the zoo, where it will recover from its adventure.
A kangaroo that escaped its handlers during transport to a zoo in Quebec was captured in Oshawa, Ontario after a weekend on the loose. The kangaroo, born in captivity, was spotted running along roads before being apprehended by police officers. During the capture, the kangaroo punched one of the officers in the face. The marsupial received medical treatment and will stay at the Oshawa Zoo for rest and safety.
A man's heroic act of saving his dog from a wild kangaroo has gone viral after he filmed himself rushing into an outback river. In the video, the kangaroo is seen holding the dog just above the water, prompting the man to intervene and curse at the kangaroo. A struggle ensues, but the man successfully frees his dog. Commentators praised the man's bravery, while others expressed surprise at the encounter. Kangaroo attacks on humans are rare but can occur when they feel threatened or their territory is encroached upon.
The red kangaroo is the only five-limbed terrestrial animal on Earth, according to a study published in the journal Biology Letters. Researchers found that the kangaroo uses its tail as a limb to propel itself forward while walking, in a gait called "pentapedal." The tail of a kangaroo is equipped with highly articulated vertebrae and thick muscle, providing propulsive force equivalent to all four other limbs combined. The study suggests that the red kangaroo is the only vertebrate on the planet with five limbs.
Three wedge-tailed eagles launched a relentless attack on a lone kangaroo, swooping down several times to grab hold of its head. The kangaroo fought back and eventually escaped. Wedge-tailed eagles are the largest bird of prey in Australia and can have a wingspan of seven and a half feet. They tend to eat carrion but can also catch live prey, such as rabbits and hares. They are known to hunt in pairs or threes and are unpopular with farmers for targeting lambs.
