Proof that children's books can really skew your view of the world - I've always thought of kangaroos as sweet and lovable, not unlike mama Kanga and her irascible youngster, Roo.
If you've got a similiar kangaroo crush, this story might make you whistle a different tune. An Australian family was awoken in the middle of the night by their ten-year-old screaming that a kangaroo had broken into his room. Nightmare? You don't know the half of it.
The frightened creature thrashed his way around the house, breaking glass and trouncing on Mom and one of the kids huddled under a quilt until a burst of adrenaline sent Dad flying for the six-foot-tall creature. He wrestled it to the ground, and aware that kangaroos get the bulk of their power from their massive legs, kept her close to the ground as he dragged her to the front door and shoved her out onto the porch to hop away.
His wife says it was probably the stupidest thing he could have done - considering the danger posed by those powerful legs - but he's definitely her knight in shining armor. The kangaroo was like a "ninja" or "Jackie Chan" busting around her house.
You probably don't have much to worry about if you don't live next door to a kangaroo reservation like these folks, but can't you imagine being that dad? The one who sees baby bear in trouble and just goes for it? I've read stories over the years of parents lifting entire cars off of their children or dads who have never shot a gun taking perfect aim at a dog that's chewing on their baby's face.
But bringing down a kangaroo? Only down under . . .
Image: Stanford
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