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Bunnings' unexpected visitor sparks sad discussion

A kangaroo has been spotted hopping around a Bunnings Warehouse, with many locals thinking the lost mammal could highlight a much bigger problem. Shoppers in Western Australia's Albany Bunnings were greeted by the "unusual customer", who was filmed roaming the outdoor furniture section before stopping to take in its surroundings. A woman captured the scenes and shared the video online, captioning the post, "Looking for a new outdoor setting. Pouch was checked on the way out." While many couldn't help but be amused at the hoppy shopper, others noted the "sad" issue likely contributing to its "bizarre" appearance. <div> <div id="sda-INARTICLE"></div> </div> "So sad, poor baby, where's his habitat gone? "one questioned. "Poor guy," another expressed. "Aww it must be frightened," another pointed out. Bunnings confirmed the recent incident to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/unexpected-bunnings-visitor-highlights-sad-trend-poor-guy-053209942.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a>, as Bunnings Regional Manager Danielle Walker said, "Our Albany store had an unexpected visitor early Monday morning when a kangaroo hopped in via our drive-through area." "We thank our team for their assistance in quickly ushering the kangaroo out safely and helping to keep customers shopping with us at a distance". It's not clear how long the animal was inside the store. The Bunnings incident is not the first time in the last few months that kangaroos have been spotted in unusual places, as the animals are increasingly being squeezed out as developers build housing that’s needed for the human population. The habitat loss is thought to be contributing to animals ending up in seemingly random places with nowhere to go. Image credits: Facebook

Travel Trouble

"Skippy wants his zinger box": Kangaroo bounces into KFC

Roos hungry? It's not every day you walk into a fast food store to see Australia's national animal hopping around, but that's exactly what happened at a KFC in Western Australia. One man captured the animal making a bounce-by at a KFC in Busselton, WA on Sunday. Filmed from the car park, the man captured the young roo through the store window as it hopped around tables, with a few customers unbothered by the not-so-average customer. A follow-up clip showed the roo finally escaping through the door before bouncing across the car park to freedom. A KFC spokesperson confirmed that no one was hurt in the incident to Yahoo News Australia saying: "After roaming the restaurant for a bit, it then decided it was time to bounce. We can confirm no customers, team members or marsupials were injured as a result." <iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 552px; max-width: 100%; color: #323338; font-family: Figtree, Roboto, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7415551078130846984&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40torriebolton%2Fvideo%2F7415551078130846984%3Fembed_source%3D121374463%252C121451205%252C121439635%252C121433650%252C121404359%252C121351166%252C72778571%252C121331973%252C120811592%252C120810756%253Bnull%253Bembed_masking%26refer%3Dembed%26referer_url%3Dau.news.yahoo.com%252Fkangaroo-seen-bouncing-around-kfc-store-as-customer-eats-thats-australia-for-ya-231742682.html%26referer_video_id%3D7415551078130846984&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2FosMEHCJdBDV6acepD6FXgMIERAtDATAfEsBmtV%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26x-expires%3D1726884000%26x-signature%3Dzb8SyBxQ7JP5vW2fa6KOG9yzJFA%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> The incident caught the attention of social media users from overseas, with one writing: "That is the most Australian thing I've ever seen come from Australia." "That's Australia for ya," another agreed. "Skippy wants his zinger box," another joked. "Bro was sitting there like it's normal," another added, confused by how calm the customers inside the KFC were. "Imagine if it left with a twelve piece box" another added. Images: TikTok

Family & Pets

"Skippy ain't playing": Urban kangaroo stuns with epic leap

A landscaper has captured the moment a hopping mad kangaroo leapt metres into the air and over a fence. Nathan Xuebsy was at work with his colleagues in the town of Beveridge, 37 kilometres north of Melbourne's CBD, when they were confronted with the bounding kangaroo. The marsupial jumped past their bobcat and into a vacant lot, when the workers opened a gate to the fenced-off area to help let the animal out, but the kangaroo had its own escape plan. The kangaroo jumped onto the fence and then used it to vault metres higher to clear it, stunning Xuebsy, who filmed the whole thing. The trio of workers immediately went to check on the kangaroo, who was uninjured and hopped away unfazed. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A9vjuJ1xmbI?si=jUe2vJC_7WiK8Yxo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> "I took a screenshot of the video when the kangaroo was at its highest," Xuebsy said. "I put it on Facebook and said I think I just took the best photo I ever will in my life." The video quickly went viral, raking up thousands of hilarious comments as one person wrote that the roo was going "Straight to the next Olympics", while another added, "Oh, Skippy ain't playing." Another person said, "Poor suburban roo looks like that ain't his first rodeo," while others said the roo was showing off his dance moves with the jump saying "Roo did a better job than RayGun." Image credits: Facebook / Nathan Xuebsy

Family & Pets

"Roo-jitsu": Former cop fends off 2m-tall kangaroo trying to drown his dog

In an unusual and somewhat comical turn of events, a former Victorian police officer, Mick Moloney, recently found himself in a rather unexpected altercation with a kangaroo while out walking his dogs near the Murray River. The story, as bizarre as it sounds, unfolded last Sunday when Moloney's peaceful stroll took a dramatic twist, involving an agitated kangaroo, one of his beloved dogs, and an heroic rescue mission. Moloney, a resident of Mildura, was no stranger to the area and had often enjoyed leisurely walks along the scenic Murray River with his canine companions. On this particular day, his dogs were noticeably quieter than usual as they strolled by the water's edge. It wasn't until "Hutchy", one of Moloney's dogs, went missing that he began to sense something was amiss. Describing his dogs as "always in the water," the former policeman began to suspect that the tranquil riverbanks might be harbouring an unexpected visitor. And his suspicions were soon confirmed when he laid eyes on an agitated kangaroo standing in the river, his arms submerged, and his gaze locked onto Moloney. What unfolded next was an extraordinary encounter between man and marsupial, captured on camera and later shared widely online. In the video, Moloney can be heard demanding that the kangaroo release Hutchy from its grip. Despite attempts to scare the kangaroo away, the situation escalated as the roo retaliated by striking Moloney and sending his phone plunging into the water. This unexpected punch-up left Moloney with a few scratches and a sore forearm, but both he and Hutchy ultimately made it safely to the riverbank. Moloney <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@the.tiser/video/7290318689390300417" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared the video </a>on his Facebook page, where it quickly went viral, garnering hundreds of shares and reactions. The bizarre incident even led to some humorous commentary, with people joking about "roo-jitsu" and the unexpected martial arts showdown with the kangaroo. Moloney, who is a mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu teacher, emphasised that he did not intend to be cruel to the kangaroo, highlighting his love for animals. Despite the unexpected turn of events, he expressed that he has no plans to change his walking route along the river, suggesting that he and his dogs will continue using their favourite walking spot. As Moloney playfully put it, "My tussling with roo days are pretty much done though, cause that thing was strong. Let's just call it a draw." The bizarre incident serves as a reminder that encounters with wildlife can take unexpected turns, even in the most picturesque of settings, and that sometimes, a little humour can help us cope with life's quirks and oddities. Images: Tiktok

Travel Trouble

Aussie ranger's hilarious response to tourist's roo-diculous question

An Aussie ranger has shared a hilarious tongue-in-cheek response to a tourist's misguided question. Wildlife ranger Croc Turnbull took to TikTok to share the question he was sent by a man planning to travel Down under with his girlfriend, who asked if the couple could rent and ride a kangaroo while on their holiday. The ranger took the opportunity to hit the tourist with some classic Aussie sarcasm, with his response quickly going viral. "Yes, you can ride them," Croc said while sporting an Akubra. "The thing is though mate, you need to be an experienced rider". The crocodile wrangler casually and methodically explained the dangers associated with "riding a roo" and the different types of riding licences. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwUitvGJkMD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwUitvGJkMD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Steve Turnbull (@croc.tails)</a> </div> </blockquote> "Once you're experienced you can just hold on with one hand, then you've got a free hand to check your phone or drink your beer." Many flocked to the comments debating whether the tourist's "scary" question was real, while the ranger explained he had been asked far worse questions during his career. "Mate I get all sorts of weird questions, you would be surprised what tourists ask me," he told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussie-rangers-tongue-in-cheek-response-to-scary-question-from-tourist-065744110.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News Australia</a>. "Do roos run down the main street? Does the sun rise in the west in the southern hemisphere?" "It's amazing what you can make people believe if you keep a straight face and chuck a few big words in." Croc's convincing delivery and detailed response has won over thousands of Aussies who jumped in on the joke in the TikTok video's comment section. "My kangaroo licence was suspended for riding whilst intoxicated," one Aussie joked, while another complained about the unsuccessful launch of "Roober" in cities. Image credits: TikTok

Travel Trouble

5 things to enjoy on Kangaroo Island

There’s plenty to love in this South Australian gem. Here are just five things you can enjoy on a visit to Kangaroo Island. 1. Eat, drink and be merry Kangaroo Island might only be tiny, but it’s absolutely stuffed with gourmet food and top notch wine. Take the Kangaroo Island Farm Gate and Cellar Door Trail to discover farm gates, artisan producers, wineries and breweries. Don’t miss unique Ligurian honey, fresh oysters and marron, chocolate lavender fudge, sheep’s milk cheese and rich olive oil. 2. Walk with the animals As the name suggests, you’ll find lots of kangaroos on Kangaroo Island – western greys to be precise. But that’s just the beginning. Walk among a colony of around 1,000 Australian sea lions (one of the rarest species in the world) at Seal Bay. Little penguins will start waddling along the shore from April and glossy black cockatoos will be nesting above. Look out for shy echidnas, sleepy koalas and the tiny rabbit-sized Tamar wallaby. 3. Head out onto the water As soon as you arrive on Kangaroo Island, you’re going to want to get right off it again and back out into the water. Take an ocean safari to spot seals, sea lions and dolphins – you can even jump off and snorkel among them. Fishing charters will head out into the deeper waters off the coast in search of King George whiting, snapper, trevally, tuna and more. If you’re a surfer, you’ll fall in love with the uncrowded breaks of the island’s five main surf spots. There’s something for all levels of experience. 4. Get your heart racing There are a lot of adventure to be had on Kangaroo Island. Jump on a quad bike to explore inaccessible parts of the island, climb the dunes of the Little Sahara for some sandboarding or explore incredible natural underground formations with a canyoning and caving expedition. For something a little more sedate, there are plenty of walking and hiking trails winding through the island. 5. Indulge in a luxury lodge One of the most luxurious hotels in Australia (and in the world) is tucked away on the southwestern shore of the island atop dramatic ocean cliffs. Southern Ocean Lodge has just 21 rooms with lavish interiors, bespoke furniture and sweeping views. The restaurant serves up exceptional ‘paddock to plate’ cuisine and the award-winning spa will have you floating on a cloud. Image credit: Instagram / Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

Inside Travel Guide star’s intimate wedding

Travel Guide star Victoria Fren has tied the knot with her longtime beau, Nathan, in an intimate ceremony in Kangaroo Valley. In a segment for A Current Affair, the family gave a glimpse into the highlights of the wedding, including the one moment her dad Mark burst into tears after seeing his “little girl all dressed up”. “It was just an embarrassment walking down the aisle, I thought you were at a funeral,” Victoria joked in a post-wedding interview. "The door opened and I saw you and my little girl was all dressed up and I had all these emotions and then I had a flashback of my bank account," her dad replied, causing the family to burst into laughter. The ceremony itself was filled with joy as the newlyweds bantered with each other while exchanging their vows. "Victoria I'll give you this ring as a symbol of my vow and love, remembering once it's on, I'm off the Manshakes," Nathan vowed, as the guests roared with laughter. "I thank you for allowing me to travel the world with my family and I promise to bring you home signature bottles of alcohol from duty free,” Victoria quipped back. Victoria looked gorgeous in a flowy dress with lace detailing and a plunging neckline. She complimented the look with a traditional updo and added a touch of elegance with a hair vine and a short veil. The groom donned a beige suit and patterned tie. The pair weren’t afraid to add colour to their wedding with a beautiful red and orange bouquet, which matched the colour scheme they selected for their bridesmaids and groomsmen. The wedding came a year after her brother Jono, married Danielle. Images: A Current Affair/ Jono Fren Instagram

Relationships

Tourism Australia's new mascot targeted by animal rights activists

Tourism Australia has seen all kinds of ambassadors campaigning to bring travellers to Aussie shores. Names such as Paul Hogan, Lara Bingle and Kylie Minogue have all been the face of Australian tourism, but the latest ambassador aimed at boosting travellers Down Under is the ever-charming, yet computer-generated, Ruby Roo. Ruby Roo is part of Tourism Australia's push to attract people back to Aussie shores as the nation continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. While the CGI mascot has received a mostly positive welcome online, animal rights activist are not happy, calling out the government's "hypocrisy" over their choice in animal to represent Australia. "If Tourism Australia's Brand Ambassador Ruby Roo was real, she would have been shot as part of a Government 'Kangaroo Management Plan' and hung up by her leg on the back of a ute," NSW Animal Justice Party MP Mark Pearson said. Speaking to 2GB's Ben Fordham, Pearson said "if the tourism industry is going to have the icon as our signature to the world, then talk about what are we actually doing to kangaroos". "We can't keep saying, 'Oh my god, we're overrun with kangaroos' because they've been here for millions of years - they're trying to survive," he said. "We don't know how many kangaroos are out there but this is our native, protected animal, we need to be absolutely certain of how many kangaroos are out there (before we kill them). "This animal is loved around the world." The Australian government estimated there are between 40 and 50 million kangaroos across the country, almost double the nation's population of people. Due to their grazing habits, they've been considered a detrimental pest by some farmers and culling, though controversial, does occur across the country, with certain legal circumstances permitting the shooting of the animal. But Pearson insisted we need to "work with these animals" and not against them. "We need to work with these animals, it's not a competition between a cow and a sheep and a kangaroo," he said. "We're talking about killing kangaroos now and we've been killing kangaroos for 250 years. "If the agriculture industry is saying we've still got a problem then the methodology which is just killing and maiming animals is not working." Animals Australia Director of Development Louise Bonomi echoed Pearson's sentiment. "Tourism Australia using a kangaroo as its 'face' of tourism is the equivalent of Japan adopting a whale as its tourism icon or Canada marketing itself using harp seal images," she said. Image credits: Tourism Australia

Travel Trouble

Qantas, the trying kangaroo: why things won’t get better any time soon

Unlike many airlines, Australia’s flag carrier Qantas has survived the pandemic. But its return to normal service – and profitability – is proving to be a bumpy ride. It could well get worse before it gets better. As domestic and international travel picks up, the airline is struggling to keep up – having laid off thousands of staff whose experience, it turns out, was quite valuable for running such a complex business. Cancelled flights, lost luggage, long delays at airports and low staff morale are pummelling its carefully cultivated reputation. Qantas engineers <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-25/qantas-engineers-strike-safety-annual-profit-result/101368062" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took industrial action</a> last month. This week there’s <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-05/qantas-staff-far-airlines-reputation-at-risk/101391324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a strike by baggage handlers</a> employed by the contractor used since the airline retrenched almost 2,000 ground crew workers in 2020. (The Fair Work Commission has since ruled this outsourcing <a href="https://australianaviation.com.au/2022/05/qantas-loses-bid-to-overturn-illegal-outsourcing-ruling/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was unlawful</a>.) Former staff have told the ABC’s <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-05/qantas-staff-far-airlines-reputation-at-risk/101391324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4 Corners program</a> they fear the cutbacks will undermine the airline’s safety record. There is no quick or easy fix. These issues are tied to the airline’s profitability – or lack of it. Last financial year it reported an underlying loss before tax of <a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/static_files/files/2281/q899.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A$1.89 billion</a>. Since 2020, total losses have been A$7 billion, with the shutdown of travel costing about <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-24/qantas-announces-share-buy-back-as-air-travel-demand-surges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A$25 billion in revenue</a>, according to chief executive Alan Joyce. <h2>A challenging industry</h2> Qantas is by no means alone when it comes to the challenges of rebuilding after COVID. Even <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/travel-logistics-and-infrastructure/our-insights/the-six-secrets-of-profitable-airlines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in normal times</a>, airlines are notoriously hard businesses to keep in the black. The products they sell – seats – are highly perishable. Once a flight takes off, any empty seat becomes worthless. It is tempting to fill seats by discounting, but this can lead to competitors doing the same, and create a perception that leads customers to undervalue the product. There’s a reason so many national carriers are fully or partly <a href="https://gulfbusiness.com/gulf-carriers-spotlight-eu-addresses-unfair-airline-competition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government-owned</a> – including Air New Zealand, Emirates, Etihad, Garuda Indonesia, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines. It’s debatable how many of these airlines would be viable as standalone commercial operations. An airline regulated by a government with a vested interest in its prosperity may be assisted in a variety of ways, from bailouts and tax subsidies to policies that help protect it from competition on domestic routes. <h2>How to cut costs?</h2> Adding to these difficulties in 2022 are fuel prices, inflated since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Fuel costs typically account for about a <a href="https://www.iata.org/en/iata-repository/pressroom/fact-sheets/fact-sheet---fuel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quarter of airline costs</a>. <a href="https://simpleflying.com/what-is-fuel-hedging-and-why-do-airlines-do-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hedging contracts</a> have protected Qantas from the full impact of these increases. Like other airlines, it has few options to cut fuel costs besides cutting routes or buying more fuel-efficient aircraft. (It is buying 12 new Airbus planes, but with the plan to offer long-haul flights without stopovers, which will <a href="https://theconversation.com/bucking-the-trend-is-there-a-future-for-ultra-long-haul-flights-in-a-net-zero-carbon-world-183212" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increase fuel consumption</a>.) So cutting staff costs has become the default option. Qantas has never shied away from this under Joyce, who was appointed chief executive in 2008. In 2011 he notoriously <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-29/qantas-locking-out-staff/3608250" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grounded the fleet</a> and locked out staff during “hardball” collective bargaining with three unions (the Australian and International Pilots Association, Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association, and Transport Workers Union). But this combative stance on wages and conditions, and outsourcing so many key activities, has thinned corporate knowledge. Qantas’ problems with <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/brisbane-man-bag-destroyed-by-qantas-still-waiting-for-airline-to-resolve-his-2000-dollar-claim/2fdf9865-7350-4735-bc1a-b02201a3a7eb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost luggage</a> are clearly linked to sacking so many experienced staff and replacing them with contract workers who don’t necessarily understand how the airline’s <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/42e15d6d-bc05-4a5b-af16-c8c7f72af0fd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complex systems work</a>. <h2>A difficult outlook</h2> It’s easy to look for scapegoats – there are mounting calls for Joyce to go, for example – but there are no easy solutions to the problems Qantas faces. In the short term it must to balance the cost-cutting required with the reality that further aggravating its workforce will lower customer service – and ultimately its reputation. Domestically it has the advantage of its major competitor, Virgin Australia, being in an even worse position. Virgin only survived the pandemic by being sold to US private equity giant Bain Capital. This should save Qantas from a domestic discounting war for the foreseeable future. But even with subdued domestic competition, the airline industry remains unattractive. For the flying kangaroo, the path back to profitability looks set to be one of many ups and downs. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/qantas-the-trying-kangaroo-why-things-wont-get-better-any-time-soon-189558" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Why is newborn baby skin-to-skin contact with dads and non-birthing parents important? Here’s what the science says

Soon after a baby is born, it’s getting more common these days for the father or non-birthing parent to be encouraged to put the newborn directly on their chest. This skin-to-skin contact is often termed “kangaroo care”, as it mimics the way kangaroos provide warmth and security to babies. Mothers have been encouraged to give kangaroo care for decades now and many do so instinctively after giving birth; it has been <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27552521/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shown</a> to help mum and baby <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0882596316000531?casa_token=QBk4MOx7VIMAAAAA:3DIH_RF_PdsZDqHkKSYgbM37Tgsau5GpTBPqUowy4kDN3tOwtnnPvpXCGkpBI8lJEQIqSorp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">connect</a> and with <a href="https://connect.springerpub.com/content/sgrnn/27/3/151.abstract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">breastfeeding</a>. So what does the evidence say about kangaroo care for other parents? A growing body of research A growing body of <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361591701_Fathers_providing_kangaroo_care_in_neonatal_intensive_care_units_a_scoping_review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research</a> shows kangaroo care brings benefits for both baby and parent. One <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apa.14184" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> that measured cortisol (a stress hormone) levels and blood pressure in new fathers found: <blockquote> Fathers who held their baby in skin-to-skin contact for the first time showed a significant reduction in physiological stress responses. </blockquote> Another <a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/nrp/2017/8612024/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> in Taiwan involving fathers and neonates (newborn babies) found benefits to bonding and attachment: <blockquote> These study results confirm the positive effects of skin-to-skin contact interventions on the infant care behaviour of fathers in terms of exploring, talking, touching, and caring and on the enhancing of the father-neonate attachment. </blockquote> A <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361591701_Fathers_providing_kangaroo_care_in_neonatal_intensive_care_units_a_scoping_review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paper</a> I co-authored with the University of South Australia’s Qiuxia Dong found: <blockquote> Studies reported several positive kangaroo care benefits for fathers such as reduced stress, promotion of paternal role and enhanced father–infant bond. </blockquote> Qiuxia Dong also led a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jocn.16405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> (on which I was a co-author) exploring the experiences of fathers who had a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide. This study found kangaroo care helps fathers connect and bond with their baby in an intensive care environment. This had a positive impact on fathers’ confidence and self-esteem. As one father told us: <blockquote> I think after all the stress, when I have skin-to-skin I can actually calm down a little bit. I sit down and relax, I can cuddle my child and it’s just a little bit of a happy place for me as well as him to calm down, not to do any work all the time, not to be stressed out. There’s other things on my mind all the time but it’s time to relax and turn off a little bit. </blockquote> Another told us: <blockquote> She nuzzled around a bit, kind of got my smell I guess and then literally fell asleep. It was great. It was very comforting for both I guess for her and myself. </blockquote> As one father put it: <blockquote> Of course, they can hear your heartbeat and all that kind of stuff, of course warmth […] it’s being close with your baby, I think that would be the best way of building a relationship early. </blockquote> However, this study also reported that some dads found giving kangaroo care challenging as it can be time-consuming. It is not always easy to juggle with commitments such as caring for other children and work. Involving both parents One study noted <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21820778/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dads</a> can sometimes feel like a bystander on the periphery when a newborn arrives. Encouraging and educating all non-birthing parents, including fathers, to give kangaroo care is a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21820778/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">valuable way</a> to get them involved. And if a caesarean birth makes it difficult for the mother to give kangaroo care while still in theatre, the father or non-birthing parent is the next best person to do it while the mother or birthing parent is not able. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>A caesarean birth sometimes makes it difficult for the mother to give kangaroo care while still in the theatre. Isaac Hermar/Pexels, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY</a></figcaption></figure> More research needed There is a need for broader research on these issues, especially around the experiences of fathers from culturally diverse backgrounds and other non-birthing parents. But the research literature on kangaroo care shows there is good reason for dads and non-birthing parents to do some kangaroo care when a baby is born. As we concluded in our <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jocn.16405">study</a>, in the challenging neonatal intensive care unit environment, kangaroo care can serve: <blockquote> as a silent language of love.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188927/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> </blockquote> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mary-steen-970055" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mary Steen</a>, Adjunct professor of Maternal and Family Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of South Australia</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-newborn-baby-skin-to-skin-contact-with-dads-and-non-birthing-parents-important-heres-what-the-science-says-188927" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Family & Pets

This giant kangaroo once roamed New Guinea – descended from an Australian ancestor that migrated millions of years ago

Long ago, almost up until the end of the last ice age, a peculiar giant kangaroo roamed the mountainous rainforests of New Guinea. Now, research to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2022.2086518" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published</a> on Thursday by myself and colleagues suggests this kangaroo was not closely related to modern Australian kangaroos. Rather, it represents a previously unknown type of primitive kangaroo unique to New Guinea. The age of megafauna Australia used to be home to all manner of giant animals called megafauna, until most of them went extinct about 40,000 years ago. These megafauna lived alongside animals we now consider characteristic of the Australian bush – kangaroos, koalas, crocodiles and the like – but many were larger species of these. There were giant wombats called Phascolonus, 2.5-metre-tall short-faced kangaroos, and the 3-tonne Diprotodon optatum (the largest marsupial ever). In fact, some Australian megafaunal species, such as the red kangaroo, emu and cassowary, survive through to the modern day. The fossil megafauna of New Guinea are considerably less well-studied than those of Australia. But despite being shrouded in mystery, New Guinea’s fossil record has given us hints of fascinating and unusual animals whose evolutionary stories are entwined with Australia’s. Palaeontologists have done sporadic expeditions and fossil digs in New Guinea, including digs by American and Australian researchers in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. It was during an archaeological excavation in the early 1970s, led by Mary-Jane Mountain, that two jaws of an extinct giant kangaroo were unearthed. A young researcher (now professor) named Tim Flannery called the species Protemnodon nombe. The fossils Flannery described are about 20,000–50,000 years old. They come from the Nombe Rockshelter, an archaeological and palaeontological site in the mountains of central Papua New Guinea. This site also delivered fossils of another kangaroo and giant four-legged marsupials called diprotodontids. An unexpected discovery Flinders University Professor Gavin Prideaux and I recently re-examined the fossils of Protemnodon nombe and found something unexpected. This strange kangaroo was not a species of the genus Protemnodon, which used to live all over Australia, from the Kimberley to Tasmania. It was something a lot more primitive and unknown. In particular, its unusual molars with curved enamel crests set it apart from all other known kangaroos. We moved the species into a brand new genus unique to New Guinea and (very creatively) renamed it Nombe nombe. <figure><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/724328370" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>A 3D surface scan of a specimen of Nombe nombe, specifically a fossilised lower jaw from central Papua New Guinea. (Courtesy of Papua New Guinea Museum and Art Gallery, Port Moresby).</figcaption></figure> Our findings show Nombe may have evolved from an ancient form of kangaroo that migrated into New Guinea from Australia in the late Miocene epoch, some 5–8 million years ago. In those days, the islands of New Guinea and Australia were connected by a land bridge due to lower sea levels – whereas today they’re separated by the Torres Strait. This “bridge” allowed early Australian mammals, including megafauna, to migrate to New Guinea’s rainforests. When the Torres Strait flooded again, these animal populations became disconnected from their Australian relatives and evolved separately to suit their tropical and mountainous New Guinean home. We now consider Nombe to be the descendant of one of these ancient lineages of kangaroos. The squat, muscular animal lived in a diverse mountainous rainforest with thick undergrowth and a closed canopy. It evolved to eat tough leaves from trees and shrubs, which gave it a thick jawbone and strong chewing muscles. The species is currently only known from two fossil lower jaws. And much more remains to be discovered. Did Nombe hop like modern kangaroos? Why did it go extinct? As is typical of palaeontology, one discovery inspires an entire host of new questions. Strange but familiar animals Little of the endemic animal life of New Guinea is known outside of the island, even though it is very strange and very interesting. Very few Australians have much of an idea of what’s there, just over the strait. When I went to the Papua New Guinea Museum in Port Moresby early in my PhD, I was thrilled by the animals I encountered. There are several living species of large, long-nosed, worm-eating echidna – one of which weighs up to 15 kilograms. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=567&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=567&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=567&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Author Isaac Kerr poses for a photo, holding an Australian giant kangaroo jaw in his left hand" /></a><figcaption>I’m excited to start digging in New Guinea’s rainforests! Author provided</figcaption></figure> There are also dwarf cassowaries and many different wallaby, tree kangaroo and possum species that don’t exist in Australia – plus many more in the fossil record. We tend to think of these animals as being uniquely Australian, but they have other intriguing forms in New Guinea. As an Australian biologist, it’s both odd and exhilarating to see these “Aussie” animals that have expanded into new and weird forms in another landscape. Excitingly for me and my colleagues, Nombe nombe may breathe some new life into palaeontology in New Guinea. We’re part of a small group of researchers that was recently awarded a grant to undertake three digs at two different sites in eastern and central Papua New Guinea over the next three years. Working with the curators of the Papua New Guinea Museum and other biologists, we hope to inspire young local biology students to study palaeontology and discover new fossil species. If we’re lucky, there may even be a complete skeleton of Nombe nombe waiting for us.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/185778/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/isaac-alan-robert-kerr-1356949" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Isaac Alan Robert Kerr</a>, PhD Candidate for Palaeontology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flinders University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-giant-kangaroo-once-roamed-new-guinea-descended-from-an-australian-ancestor-that-migrated-millions-of-years-ago-185778" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Supplied

Domestic Travel

Grandfather attacked by kangaroo while protecting his dogs

A grandfather has been left battered and bruised after getting in a fight with a kangaroo, while trying to protect his dogs. Victorian man Cliff Dess squared up with the huge animal when it broke onto his property and started intimidating his pets. Despite his best efforts, the 59-year-old was trampled by the kangaroo. “It was a six-foot buck in an aggressive mood,” Dess told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/vic/shock-moment-grandfather-attacked-by-kangaroo-while-protecting-his-dogs-c-7006749" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>. Grabbing a stick for protection, the grandfather refuses to back down, wrestling to stop the beast clawing at his face. “I was fortunate enough I landed, there was a big stick there, so I sort of started whacking it across the head and that and started defending myself but then the stick snapped like a carrot.” When Cliff first saw the huge animal outside his house, he approached it with caution in an attempt to shoo it away with ease. “I was a good 30-40 feet away from it, but it stood back on its tail and hind legs and claws up and started making grunting noises,” he said. The terrifying tousle lasted minutes until Dess wrestled the roo to the ground, using his weight to subdue it. “At least I had a little bit of fight in the tank,” Dess said. Despite suffering injuries to his back, Cliff was glad the roo chose his house to approach and not someone else. “There’s a lot of old people who walk past here and a lot of women with children and prams. It could’ve been worse. It could’ve been one of those.” Image credits: 7News

Family & Pets

Man rescues mob of kangaroos from Ukraine zoo

Ten kangaroos have been evacuated to safety as Russia continues attacks in Ukraine’s second major city, Kharkiv. A video shows the animals being transported to a new home from Feldman Ecopark where three staff and animals including orangutans were killed after they were caught in the horrific war zone. A van driver fleeing with the frightened kangaroos says: 'It is one month since the war began and we keep evacuating the animals.' Other footage shows the peace and tranquility at the Kharkiv zoo before the war began. 'These kangaroos are already safe,' said the zoo. 'This is very good, because their enclosures, unfortunately, were repeatedly shelled. 'We believe that now they will be fine.' A statement said: 'Many thanks to volunteers and employees who take risks to save animals, as well as to our many friends - caring people, businesses and non-governmental organisations who help us financially and make our rescue operations possible. 'Your support truly saves lives.' The kangaroos were the latest to be saved from Feldman Ecopark in Kharkiv. Sadly, some have been killed in the attacks. 'We cannot avoid tragedies,' said a spokesman. 'Four fallow deer and three Welsh goats became victims of another barbaric shelling. 'The list of victims of aggression among our pets is growing - it already includes large cats, primates, ungulates, marsupials, and birds... 'Feldman Ecopark has been on the line of fire for the last month. 'In order for the mournful list to no longer expand, we must take out all the animals.' Ten days ago mortar shelling by the 'Russian aggressors' destroyed the winter enclosures of great apes at the popular facility, killing two orangutans and a chimpanzee. Staff and rescuers have recently managed to save rare spurred turtles, along with white-nosed and blue monkeys. The turtles each weighing over 100kg. 'For the first time in Ukraine, these Red Book giants successfully bred in our Ecopark, and we believe that everything will be fine with them.' Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported that the zoo had more than 300 species of animals but were repeatedly hit by Russian shelling since the 24th of February. Click <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/tp38yy/these_kangaroos_were_saved_from_an_eco_park_in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here </a>to see the amazing footage. Images: Reddit

Family & Pets

Bizarre search for escaped kangaroo in Denmark

Police in south-east Denmark have appealed for public help to track down a kangaroo that was filmed hopping across a field. Police said on Facebook that a driver saw the marsupial "hopping around" near Oster Ulslev, a village 16km from the port city of Rodbyhavn where ferries connect to northern Germany. They said the driver, whom they did not identify, had the presence of mind to film the animal although they acknowledged the three-second video they posted was "short and grainy." The South Zealand and Lolland-Falster Police requested any sightings or information on the animal's whereabouts to be reported using non-emergency number 114. The kangaroo is not considered to be dangerous and was not reported as missing. Despite the fact that kangaroos are not common in northern Europe, it is the second time the same police district has reached out for help in finding one: in 2014, a kangaroo escaped from a private animal farm in the same area. In July 2018, a kangaroo was on the run elsewhere in Denmark for half a day before its owner found it. Image: Getty

Travel Trouble

“Only in Canberra”: Locals rescue kangaroo from lake

Three Canberra locals have had an unlikely run-in with a kangaroo, after finding it standing in the cold waters of Lake Burley Griffin. Passer-by David Boyd filmed the moment two men rescued the marsupial from the water, which was later on a Canberra group Facebook page. “This was my morning - only in Canberra - well done to these two guys,” Mr Boyd wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> ONLY IN CANBERRA. From David Boyd 📸 <a href="https://t.co/KFc5Qmg4hw">pic.twitter.com/KFc5Qmg4hw</a> — Julian Abbott 💉💉 (@JulianBAbbott) <a href="https://twitter.com/JulianBAbbott/status/1440097357614379008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2021</a></blockquote> In the clip, the nervous roo allows the men to carry it out of the water and back onto land. Then, the kangaroo offered its paw to ‘thank’ its rescuers for their help. “Aw, he’s thanking ya,” Mr Boyd can be heard saying in the background. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844339/kangaroo.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4d2ecbbcca2040c7b5d0eaf2b665c856" /> Image: David Boyd / Facebook The video, which has been viewed over 400,000 times, received a flood of comments from concerned viewers wondering whether the animal was okay. Mr Boyd confirmed that the kangaroo “came good”, while another onlooker revealed that the animal ended up back in the lake again, prompting a second rescue. <img style="width: 375px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844341/242490125_10157139604002185_4809991376119986184_n.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8f7f9c7559234f6dae9aa044af038177" /> Image: Penelope Twemlow / Facebook “The kangaroo ended up back in the lake so a second group of people rescued it again (twice over), only to see it deliberately jump back in the lake so we ended up calling the rangers,” Penelope Twemlow wrote. Image: David Boyd / Facebook

Domestic Travel

Little pygmy possum discovered on Kangaroo Island after devastating bushfires

A little pygmy possum has been found on Kangaroo Island for the first time since its habitat was mostly destroyed in bushfires that burnt almost half the island. Fauna ecologist Pat Hodgens said the discovery on the west of the South Australian island was incredibly exciting. "There's only really been 113 formal records of the species [ever on Kangaroo Island]," he said. "So certainly not very common and, obviously, the summer bushfires burnt through much of that habitat that species had, but we were certainly hopeful that we would find them." According to Mr Hodgens, the tiny pygmy possum was hard to find and study, due to their size. The little pygmy possum, or Cercartetus lepidus, weighs a mere 7 grams. Considered to be the world’s smallest possum, they are mainly found in Tasmania, Kangaroo Island and sometimes on mainland South Australia and Victoria. Conservation group Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife found the tiny creature earlier this week as part of a larger recovery effort in the wake of the summer bushfires.

Domestic Travel

Riding on the kangaroo’s back: Animal skin fashion, exports and ethical trade

The Versace fashion house recently <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/15/versace-bans-kangaroo-skin-after-pressure-from-animal-activists">announced</a> it had stopped using kangaroo skins in its fashion collections after coming under pressure from animal rights group <a href="https://www.lav.it/en">LAV</a>. Kangaroo meat and skin has an annual production <a href="http://www.kangarooindustry.com/industry/economic/">value</a> of around A$174 million, with skins used in the fashion and shoe manufacturing industries. There are legitimate questions regarding the ethical manner in which kangaroos are killed. But Indigenous people have long utilised the skins of kangaroos and possums. Versace’s concerns may have been allayed by understanding more about our traditions and practices. Reviving skills There has always been concern around how native animals are treated while alive and how they are killed to cause as little distress, pain and suffering as possible. Campaigners say <a href="https://www.lav.it/en/news/australia-versace-kangaroos">2.3 million</a> kangaroos in Australia are hunted each year. Official <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/wildlife-trade/natives/wild-harvest/kangaroo-wallaby-statistics/kangaroo-2000">sources</a> cite this figure as the national quota, but put the number actually killed at around 1.7 million. Australian Aboriginal people have for many thousands of years utilised native animals, predominantly kangaroos and possums. Consciously and sustainably, every part of the animal was used. The kangaroo meat was eaten, the skins used to make cloaks for wearing, teeth used to make needles, sinew from the tail used as thread. The cloaks were incised with designs on the skin side significant to the wearer representing their totems, status and kinship. Cloaks were made for babies and added to as the child grew into adulthood, and people were buried in their <a href="https://www.nationalquiltregister.org.au/aboriginal-skin-cloaks/">cloaks</a>when they died. Aboriginal women from New South Wales and Victoria have begun <a href="https://sydney.edu.au/museums/images/content/exhibitions-events/where-we-all-meet/djon-mundine-essay-sectioned.pdf">reviving</a> the tradition of kangaroo and possum skin cloak-making to pass down knowledge of this important practice to future generations. Interestingly, possum skins can only be purchased from New Zealand for these crafts. As an introduced species, they have wreaked havoc on NZ animal populations and the environment, but are a protected species in Australia. Culls and trade In Australia, kangaroos are not farmed but are harvested for meat and fur in the wild under a voluntary <a href="https://www.viva.org.uk/under-fire/cruelty-kangaroos">code of conduct</a>. The code is difficult to monitor and enforcement is <a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/thinkk_production/resources/29/Kangaroo_Court_Enforcement_of_the_law_governing_commercial_kangaroo_killing_.pdf">complicated</a> by federal and state sharing of responsibility. This code is currently under <a href="https://www.agrifutures.com.au/kangaroo-commercial-code-review/">review</a>. The export and import of wildlife is <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/wildlife-trade/natives">regulated</a> under Australia’s national environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Act. In practice, kangaroos are shot in the wild by professional licensed shooters with an intended single shot to the head to kill them quickly. There are <a href="http://thinkkangaroos.uts.edu.au/issues/welfare-and-enforcement.html">concerns</a> over whether shooters should be trained better and whether nighttime shoots with poor visibility result in the killing of alpha males or mothers with joeys in their pouches. If mothers are accidentally shot, the code dictates the joey should be shot too. Sometimes the shot does not kill them instantly and they are then clubbed over the head. Traditionally, Aboriginal people speared kangaroos. This was unlikely to kill them instantly, so they were swiftly killed with a blow to the head by a boondi(wooden club). Why kangaroo? Kangaroo skin is extremely strong and more flexible than other leathers, including cow hide. It is routinely used in the production of soccer boots as they mould to the feet extremely well and don’t need to be worn in like harder leathers. This has led to an <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-07-12/kangaroo-skin-hits-fashion-capitals/1799602">increase</a> in the use of kangaroo. LAV <a href="https://www.lav.it/en/news/australian-fire-our-actions-to-save-animals">reports</a> Italy is the biggest importer of kangaroo leather in Europe, where it is used to produce soccer shoes and motorbike suits. They are <a href="https://www.lav.it/en/news/australian-fire-our-actions-to-save-animals">lobbying</a> brands Lotto and Dainese to stop using kangaroo, arguing that shooting animals is not sustainable given the estimated <a href="https://theconversation.com/bushfires-left-millions-of-animals-dead-we-should-use-them-not-just-bury-them-129787">1 billion</a> creatures killed in bushfires this season. In terms of environmental sustainability, kangaroos cause less damage to the environment than cattle. Cows contribute methane gas, their hard hooves destroy the earth, they eat the grass to a point that it does not regenerate. Kangaroos eat the grass leaving a small portion to re-flourish, they bounce across the land without causing damage to it, and don’t produce methane gases. The use of kangaroo skins in fashion can be done ethically if the code is reviewed in consultation with Aboriginal people and enforced properly. The industry has the <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/an/EA03248">potential</a> to produce and support sustainable business opportunities for Aboriginal communities. While celebrities are <a href="https://www.idausa.org/campaign/wild-animals-and-habitats/fur/latest-news/kardashians-shamed-among-10-worst-celebrities-fur-animals/">shamed</a> for wearing fur fashion, this relates to the unregulated and inhumane treatment of coyotes, chinchillas, foxes, mink, rabbits, and other fur-bearing animals. In contrast, scientists <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/an/EA03248">consider</a> kangaroo harvest as “one of the few rural industry development options with potential to provide economic return with minimal environmental impact”. Only natural Versace, along with most fashion retailers across the high-end to ready-to-wear spectrum, use synthetic fibres in their fashion products. Such materials eventually <a href="https://theconversation.com/time-to-make-fast-fashion-a-problem-for-its-makers-not-charities-117977">cause more damage</a> to the environment than natural fibres and skins. They don’t biodegrade and many of these fibres end up in landfill, our oceans or in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749119348808">stomachs of fish</a>. Animal skins will always be used in fashion and other products because of the unique properties the skins bring to design and function. While the bushfires have killed millions of Australian native animals, kangaroo culls are managed to have limited impact on the population. We should focus our energy on saving Australian native animals that are <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-bushfires-could-drive-more-than-700-animal-species-to-extinction-check-the-numbers-for-yourself-129773">close to extinction</a> and lobbying for a stricter ethical code for shooters that can be legally enforced to ensure kangaroos are killed humanely. Written by Dr Fabri Blacklock. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/riding-on-the-kangaroos-back-animal-skin-fashion-exports-and-ethical-trade-130207">The Conversation.</a>

Beauty & Style

Devastating scenes for wildlife rescuers at Kangaroo Island

Wildlife rescuers have been left heartbroken as they comprehend the sheer scale and task of helping injured wildlife that have been impacted by the bushfires. Wildlife rescuers were surrounded by burnt-out trees and ground covered with ash and dead animals who passed in the bushfires. Dozens of injured koalas have been arriving at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park’s makeshift animal hospital in cat carriers, washing baskets or clinging to their carers. However, it’s not all positive as many that have been rescued are found to be so badly injured that they must be euthanised. Steve Selwood, South Australia Veterinary Emergency Management team leader at the hospital said that 46,000 koalas were thought to be on the island before the bushfires. “The fires here were particularly ferocious and fast moving, so we’re seeing a lot less injured wildlife than in other fires,” he tells <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/wildlife-rescuers-find-signs-of-life-among-kangaroo-island-devastation/news-story/869a45d590338135af1254b4f6ec1176">news.com.au</a>. “A lot of the wildlife was incinerated.” With almost half of Kangaroo Island being ruined by fire, an estimated 80 per cent of koala habitat has been wiped out, which means that once the koalas are healed, they have nowhere to go. This issue is on the backburner as teams of vets work to save as many native wildlife as they can.

Domestic Travel

Hopping wet: Stubborn kangaroo jumps back into river after police rescue

Police on a jetski were filmed rescuing a kangaroo who went for a swim in a lake in ACT yesterday. The video of the attempted rescue was filmed on the edge of Lake Burleigh Griffin and featured a very happy marsupial just going for a swim. Police officers on a jetski pulled the kangaroo onto their jetski in an attempted rescue and dumped the animal on shore, hoping it would hop away to safety. However, the kangaroo had other ideas. <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ul087KosE8g"></iframe></div> As soon as the kangaroo was put onto shore, he turned around and jumped back into the water and swam away. The video ends with disgruntled police officers jetting back to the marsupial. Commenters were thrilled with the animals determination to keep swimming, as many had never seen a kangaroo in the water before. “Obviously wants to get to the other side! Kangaroos are great swimmers,” one commenter said. “Feet like flippers,” another said. ACT Police spoke to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/police-jetski-rescue-foiled-by-stubborn-swimming-kangaroo/news-story/c8d10ff0ae037d66c0b4b15d6044671b" target="_blank">news.com.au</a> about the incident, saying that after the camera stopped rolling, the kangaroo was rescued again and taken to the bush. “ACT Water Police officers were alerted to a kangaroo in the Central Basin of Lake Burley Griffin,” a spokesperson said. “Officers rescued the kangaroo from the lake, and handed it to parks workers who relocated the kangaroo to a bushland location.”

Domestic Travel

Hop to it! Head to Kangaroo Island

There’s always something special about islands by nature of their very isolation. That’s certainly true of Kangaroo Island, named by Matthew Flinders in 1802 because he saw a lot of western grey kangaroos here. Not far behind him was the French explorer Nicolas Baudin who gave this South Australian island many of its French names. While the closest point of the island is less than 15km from the South Australian coast it hasn’t been easy – or cheap – to get here. You need to either catch the ferry from the Fleurieu Peninsula to Penneshaw (four departures daily) or fly from Adelaide with REX – it’s a 30-minute flight. However, starting December 2017 QantasLink will begin a new Kangaroo Route and fly into Kangaroo Island from Adelaide three times a week, increasing to five flights a week in the peak summer season (December-March). It will also trial a direct flight from Melbourne three times a week from December 17 until January 28. It’s hoped that this new competition may reduce fares overall. Flinders Chase National Park has two of the three iconic sights of Kangaroo island: Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, right on the southwest corner. Midway along the south coast is the other: Seal Beach. Don’t underestimate the size of Kangaroo Island. It has more than 500km of coastline and it’s a 150km drive from east to west. And, as South Australians have known for generations, <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/" target="_blank">Kangaroo Island</a> is a remarkable place to visit. While most of the eastern end of the island is farmland the whole of the west is national park. Nature touring A feature of the island is its wildlife. We were fortunate to be shown around the island by Craig Wickham of <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.exceptionalkangarooisland.com/" target="_blank">Exceptional Kangaroo Island</a> who found us kangaroos, wallabies and koalas in the wild. Exceptional Kangaroo Island is part of the <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.australianwildlifecollection.com/" target="_blank">Australian Wildlife Collection</a>, a consortium of Australia’s best nature experiences. We had a lot of time to observe this because, unlike my few other echidna encounters, this one ignored us and went about its business of finding dinner. We kept our distance and it walked with us. That's another benefit of visiting an island – the animals are not skittish. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHg8dcQhIc8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHg8dcQhIc8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">#lookout #randomstops #cloudysky #treestreestrees</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/cassiechookie/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Cassie</a> (@cassiechookie) on Jul 6, 2016 at 2:20am PDT </div> </blockquote> A highlight of touring with Craig was a visit to Lathami Conservation Park near the north coast. We had the whole reserve to ourselves. While observing wallabies cautiously watching us, an echidna waddled past. Craig told us that the apparent waddle is because the spines go deep into an echidna’s muscle so they move as each muscle moves. Exceptional Kangaroo Island truly proved its worth as we were leaving the island. Our REX flight was delayed so Craig rushed to the airport to tell us he’d seen a South Australian glossy black cockatoo just minutes from the runway. We jumped in his 4WD and spent 15 minutes watching the bird with her spectacular red tail and yellow head flashes as she noisily cracked sheoak seeds. That was very special because this bird once ranged across South Australia, however, by 1995, the population was restricted to about 200 surviving on Kangaroo Island. There’s now a <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/kangarooisland/plants-and-animals/native-animals/glossy-black-cockatoo-recovery" target="_blank">recovery program</a> in place and the bird we saw is one of an estimated 350. So the population has almost doubled. Being whisked from the Departure Lounge to see it made the moment more special. Kingscote Kingscote is the main town of KI (as the locals call it) and it houses about a third of the island’s population of 4500. It has all the regular services you’d expect. The local art and jewellery at <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.fineartkangarooisland.com.au/" target="_blank">Fine Art Kangaroo Island</a> is especially worth a visit. So too is <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.island-beehive.com.au/" target="_blank">Island Beehive</a>, which offers a range of unique KI honeys and other products in a large showroom with an active beehive on display. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu4k4UqgmmN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu4k4UqgmmN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Did you know koalas sleep for almost 19 hours a day? #gdayATA⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ (Taken on Kangaroo Island Adventure | link in bio)</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/_adventuretours/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Adventure Tours Australia</a> (@_adventuretours) on Mar 11, 2019 at 3:00pm PDT </div> </blockquote> There are some good local wines, too – and enough <a rel="noopener" href="http://kangarooislandwineries.com.au/" target="_blank">wineries</a> for a tour. We visited the <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.iev.com.au/" target="_blank">Islander Estate Vineyards</a> and left with several bottles of its excellent Wally White 2015 semillon. Southern Ocean Lodge There’s no shortage of accommodation across KI from hotels, motels, guest houses, B&Bs, hostels and camping. However, one resort attracts inordinate attention because it is simply beautiful. <a rel="noopener" href="http://southernoceanlodge.com.au/" target="_blank">Southern Ocean Lodge</a> is a spectacular all-inclusive luxury resort in a remarkable location. On a ridge above Hanson Bay and wedged between Flinders Chase National Park and Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area, this glass edifice is theatrical in its simplicity. It’s been rated as one of the Top 100 lodges in the world and the exquisite detail in the 21 rooms and in the Great Room plus the cuisine – and the range of freely available SA wines – could keep you housebound for days. That would be no hardship as the wild panorama outside is breathtaking. Natural wonders The lodge is also down the action end of the island. From here it’s a short drive into the National Park. On the way we stopped to visit some very active koalas and fields of lounging kangaroos. Admirals Arch is accessed by a windswept, switchback boardwalk that makes the descent more like tacking than walking. While the arch is indeed grand, it’s the playful seals and sea lions down here that capture your attention. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwUGiy5DaOc/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwUGiy5DaOc/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">EYE • SPY At Admirals Arch, peel eyes away from the powerful swell and calcified tree roots emerging from the grotto overhead to spot New Zealand fur seals playing in the shallows, surfing the foamy wash or basking on the rocks.</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/southernoceanlodge/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> @southernoceanlodge</a> (@southernoceanlodge) on Apr 16, 2019 at 4:05am PDT </div> </blockquote> Remarkable Rocks are just that. The wind-carved sculptured boulders daubed in golden lichen on a giant granite dome seem carved by a giant Henry Moore or another imaginative sculptor. On the main southern road between Southern Ocean Lodge and the airport is <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/sealbay/home" target="_blank">Seal Bay Conservation Park</a>. From the visitor centre you can go down onto the beach for a rare chance to walk among Australian sea lions. Up to 1000 sea lions visit here so there’s a very good chance you’ll find some at home – even pups cavorting in the tussock. It’s exciting that the new air services will make KI more accessible than ever before. More of us will have the chance to discover a laid-back island community living with some of Australia’s greatest nature experiences and natural attractions. Written by David McGonigal. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/travel/hop-it-to-kangaroo-island.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a>.

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