The Rebounding Kangaroo

Australian outback and outer urban lore includes many examples of human–kangaroo interactions, too frequently involving collisions between vehicles and our national symbol at eventide or nightfall. Overnight roadside kills are so common along some highways, such as the Eyre across the Nullarbor Plain, that it has been necessary for road patrols to carry out a daily collection of carcases, to reduce distress to overseas tourists unused to such slaughter. Injuries to drivers, even fatalities, have also resulted from collisions or attempted avoidances. Beneficiaries include eagle and other raptor populations—provided they can get out of the way of oncoming vehicles in time. Our national news recently included a kangaroo inside Melbourne Airport’s passenger ; lacking a boarding pass, it was removed by security staff to greener pastures.

On a lighter note, the interactions are not always of the airport kind, or where a car or truck strikes the kangaroo. This one occurred on a…