Footage showing a kangaroo trying to fend off a pack of dogs has been making the rounds online, but it has alarmed pet owners and scientists alike. During the 52-second clip, which was uploaded to TikTok on Monday and has garnered more than 675,000 views, a woman can be heard calling for her animals to return as the large kangaroo stands up and fights back.
Many netizens responded with concerns for the welfare of the dogs, with one falsely claiming that “kangaroos lead dogs into water to drown them”. This popular belief likely began to spread last October in response to viral footage showing a kangaroo trying to push an attacking dog underwater.
But kangaroo expert Alyssa Wormald debunked that myth, telling Yahoo News that they are “flight animals” and not “fighting animals” as many mistakenly believe. “Kangaroos do not lure dogs into danger, but retreat into the water as a last resort to defend themselves from attack. They resist only in case of self-defense and that is clear in the video,” he added.
@diu_animals_01 The dogs are attacking kangaroos #worldanimals #animals #foryou #fyp #dogs #attacking #kangaroo #viraltiktok #populartiktok #trendingtiktok ♬ Funny – FASSounds
It’s a defense mechanism
After watching the video, Deakin University wildlife ecology professor Euan Ritchie also pondered the issue.
“Kangaroos do not attract dogs to bodies of water, but retreat to them, and this is where they can use their height advantage, as well as their long arms and strong claws, to hold and drown the dogs as they swim to attack the kangaroos,” he said.
“It is well known and has killed many farm dogs or hunting dogs in Australia. Kangaroos have probably learned this behavior to survive dingo attacks,” said the professor, arguing that it is an evolutionary lesson that is passed down from generation to generation.
@wildernesswhispersPitbull vs kangaroo. Dogs attack a kangaroo in water♬ original sound – osoriowuij789 – WildernessWhispers
The kangaroo is most at risk
Alyssa Wormald, who runs the Victorian Kangaroo Association, was not alone in condemning the dog’s attack.
Although the kangaroo appeared agitated but largely unharmed, some experts expressed concerns for the animal’s welfare. This is because stress often causes kangaroos to die slowly over several days.
“It’s so sad to see this wonderful kangaroo retreating in terror in the water … the saddest thing is that if he only suffered one bite, he will probably die a slow death from infection,” she said. “If that doesn’t kill him, chances are he’ll die of stress myopathy. Male kangaroos look big and tough, but like all kangaroos, they are fragile and easily stressed.”
Videos of dogs in Australia attacking wild animals and the animals fighting back are very common as most dogs are very possessive of their space trying to protect their family.
