Kangaroo attacks in Australia are rare because kangaroos are usually docile however can attack if provoked or cornered, and have been known to kill dogs. Very occasionally they can attack even if not provoked. If there is a shortage of food, kangaroos will enter suburbs and have caused attacks, as noted in Melbourne[1] and Canberra.[2]
Below is a list of unprovoked kangaroo attacks that occurred in Australia in reverse chronological order.
Mudgee,was walking through a wooded area of the property on her way to tend to her horses when a two metre kangaroo attacked.[1]
Christine Canham
July 2004
Canberra, kangaroo held dog underwater and drowned it[2]
Sylvia Aldren, 48
March 2004
Burpengary, kangaroo pushed a woman to the ground, kicked, bit and scratched her [3]
Doug Lawson
June 2003
Monto, man chased into house by kangaroo, the kangaroo knocked him down [4]
20th century
Name, age
Date
Species
Location; Comments
Steven Shorten, 13
October 1996
Grafton, kangaroo attacked him while looking for a ball at which went into the bush at a golf course, received facial wounds and cuts, golf course was sued in the High Court[5]
3 men
Dec 1943
Lachlan River near Cowra, men returning from fishing were attacked by a kangaroo, two men were knocked down [5]
14yo boy
Feb 1940
Sandy Hollow, boy's dog had fought the kangaroo, which the kangaroo hurled off a cliff, and then attacked the boy, inflicting serious injuries [6]
'old' Japanese shopkeeper
1936
Darwin, kangaroo caused several cuts and abrasions before the man beat it off [7]
farmer
1933
Western Australia, a farmer had been attacked by a kangaroo, which was described as unusual [8]
James Owen, 37
Nov 1931
Corpus Christi College, Werribee kangaroo rushed at waiter who entered reserve where kangaroos were kept, needed several stitches. Same kangaroo described as having made an attack on another employee in January. [9]
L. Johnson
1929
Carrajung South, dog 'bailed up the kangaroo', when the man tried to rescue his dog, the kangaroo attacked him, inflicting a deep wound on his neck. The kangaroo then tried to drown the dog but the man beat the roo off and saved the dog. [10]
Waterloo station, 10 miles from Walcha, Man tried to drive a kangaroo away from eating straw in an area with scarce feed, the kangaroo resisted and attacked and held the man, an 11yo boy intervened and killed the kangaroo with an axe.[12]
16yo male
1872
Browns, kangaroo attacked boy, dog and man intervened and fought off kangaroo, reputedly in an hour long fight, leading to death of the kangaroo.[13]
