When Kangaroos Attack

Mudgree, New South Wales:

An Australian woman has been saved by a pet dog which leapt to her aid after she was attacked by a large kangaroo, her son has said.[...]

"The kangaroo just jumped up and launched straight at her," he said.

"My dog heard her screaming and bolted down and chased him off. If it wasn't for the dog, she'd probably be dead.

Now most people would probably scoff at the thought of a kangaroo attacking a human. But large kangaroos can be very large - up to 180 lbs, and more than 7 feet tall when up in fighting position. But the most dangerous things about them are the second from outer claws on their very strong hind legs. They're huge, way larger than the three others on each foot. When fighting they can put their weight on their tails, lift both legs, and use those monster thighs to deliver powerful kicks - and with that claw take your guts out. Take a look at the size of that claw:


Photo from Ozanimals

Here's a look at how they stand back on their tails and kick, from the video I made in Canberra in 2006 that inspired this blog.