Friday, March 19, 2010

They're NOT CUTE and Cuddly

One of the things I really, really, REALLY don't like is seeing parents encouraging their kids to go up to Roos and hand feed them and pet them. People seem to forget that they're not domestic animals - actually, anyone who walks up to an unknown dog and starts petting it too is also likely in for a rude awakening one day ... but I digress.

In today's news we have:

Roo fight a knockout for lunchtime legend

EVEN after years playing football, ACT local David Striegl had never got into a fight - until he was knocked out cold by a rogue kangaroo.

Mr Striegl, 25, was running up the city's Mount Ainslie during his lunchbreak yesterday and did not think twice when he spotted one of the resident roos nearby.

The bushland reserve in the nation's capital is popular with joggers and cyclists, and assaults by the marsupials who share the mountain are rare.

Mr Striegl was knocked unconscious and remembers little about the attack.

"I turned around and before I knew it, it took a swipe at my face," he said.

A passing motorist roused the dazed and bloody victim and took him to hospital.

After x-rays and a tetanus shot he was able to go home with only a black eye to show for the encounter.

But he has now become something of legend at his corporate real estate office, where he returned to work the next day to discover he had a new nickname - "Skippy".

"I didn't want to wait til Monday to face the music," he said.

"The main thing they've been asking is whether I got one (punch) back on the roo.

"I can't even say that, because one punch and it put me to the floor.

"All my years of playing football and never a fight, and then I have a fight with a kangaroo."

So will Mr Striegl be running back to the area any time soon and risk a second round?

"Yeah, a few guys from work said they might come with me though," he laughed.

The attack comes a year after a crazed kangaroo crashed through a sleeping family's window at Garran, in Canberra's south, before going on a rampage through their home.

Beat Ettlin, his partner Verity Beman and their nine-year-old daughter Beatrix hid under blankets as the two-metre high animal jumped on top of them and gouged holes and their furniture.

Mr Ettlin eventually wrestled the thrashing animal and dragged it out of the house, saving his family from serious injury.


WILD animals are WILD animals and should always be treated as such.

From http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/roo-fight-a-knockout-for-lunchtime-legend/story-e6frfku0-1225842920645

5 comments:

ZerCool said...

Of course, this begs the obvious question...

"What round for 'roos???"

:-D

Unknown said...

i tell you what julie i would not like to meet that roo in a dark ally

Crucis said...

In California, joggers have to be on the look-out for Pumas. One ate a jogger last year and it's not uncommon for a Puma to attack a jogger.

I'm curious, though. How could the jogger be caught unaware? Was he stalked before being attacked? Or just being in a state of terminal inattention.

Old NFO said...

Yep, definitely NOT in the pet category... They are nasty and obnoxious... The one they call Osama at the Sydney Zoo will actually charge the fence if you stand there too long.

DaddyBear said...

We see the same thing here in the states. Every year you see some poor kid has to have rabies shots because they got bitten trying to play with a raccoon. Or some little old lady runs out of food while feeding the bears and becomes dessert.

People, they're called wild for a reason. Leave them alone.