Don't mess with 'roos, Aussies warned

Residents of Australia’s capital Canberra have been warned not to mess with starving kangaroos bounding through the city in search of food, following reports that the desperate marsupials were attacking people and pets.

Wildlife authorities said the usually harmless, grass-eating Eastern Grey kangaroos – the beloved symbol of Australia – are being driven by hunger from the drought-stricken countryside into the city of 320,000, where the town water supply has kept conditions greener.

The Australian Capital Territory Environment Department warned residents to beware after a woman was attacked by a kangaroo while walking her poodle in a city park .

Another woman reported a kangaroo had drowned her golden retriever in a pond and seriously injured another two dogs in an unprovoked attack.

The dogs had been swimming when a large kangaroo appeared on the bank and entered the water, according to owner Christine Canham. The kangaroo “held her under the water with its back legs and drowned her as we watched helpless,” Canham said.

Government wildlife ecologist Murray Evans said he was concerned that city residents might forget that the kangaroo was a wild animal.

“Kangaroos don’t come bounding out of the bush looking for people to attack,” Evans said. “It’s usually kangaroos minding their own business and people thinking they’re cute and cuddly and getting too close.”

Hunger has broken the kangaroos’ usual routine of lazing in the shade of trees by day and feeding during the night.

Kangaroos are now more likely to be seen feeding during the day, particularly on well-watered open spaces such as golf courses and sporting fields, which makes them likely to come into contact with humans.