Bizarre reason kangaroos are attacking tourists
WARNING, GRAPHIC IMAGES.
Tourists looking for a selfie with a kangaroo have been warned not to feed the native animals after several bloody attacks.
Experts say kangaroos “addicted” to certain foods are getting aggressive with visitors at Morisset Hospital in Lake Macquarie, NSW, – with one man receiving 17 stitches in his face after being scratched, and another getting his stomach cut open in an attack.
Others were left with long scratches to their arms, legs, backs and stomachs.
The visitors to tourist hotspot on the hospital grounds are instructed via signage not to feed the wild animals but the warnings often go unheeded, with processed foods regularly fed to the kangaroos.
In a video posted to his Facebook page, Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper said it was the animal’s want for food that was the cause of most attacks.
“Do not feed kangaroos processed food and be aware due to the feeding that has occurred these kangaroos are not just desensitised to human contact, they will literally come to you looking for food,” he said.
“This behaviour can actually lead to aggression particularly from male kangaroos.”
But it’s not just processed foods experts are worried about.
Andrew Daly, from the Australian Reptile Park, told ABC the kangaroos get used to being given items like carrots, and eventually just come up to take them off tourists.
“And in doing so they can be quite aggressive. They can kick, they can scratch with their front paws and do quite a bit of damage, especially when they’re trying to get those foods that they really like, or could be addicted to,” he said.
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Mr Daly added that vegetables like carrots are not “healthier” options, because the animals can overeat them very easily.
Shane Lewis, who operates Kroosn Shuttle Service, drives up to 500 people per week to the tourist hotspot.
Despite advising his customers against feeding the roos, he has seen countless acts of aggression from kangaroos looking for food.
“We have seen a lot of people get injured through feeding the kangaroos, where they’ve been kicked, scratched,” he tells Mr Piper in the video.
“One guy even left here in an ambulance where his whole stomach got cut from side to side.”
Mr Piper believes one way to better inform tourists is to display signage in multiple languages.
He insisted there are no plans to stop tourists from visiting the hospital grounds, but is urging people to follow instructions
“Please don’t feed the animals,” he said.
“Be mindful just to use common sense in looking after the welfare of the animals but also of yourself.”
