In the heart of Australia’s ongoing flood crisis, an unprecedented confrontation emerged when a man named Don James faced off against a particularly "muscular" kangaroo in Port Macquarie. Reports indicate that the altercation occurred as James unwittingly wandered too close to the agitated marsupial, which had been trapped by rising floodwaters.
Kristy Lees, a witness who captured the event unfold, described the situation as shocking, even for Australia. “It’s not everyday a big, male kangaroo decides to take you on… Even in Australia, you do not expect to see it,” she remarked. The encounter began while she and her husband were evaluating the water levels on Friday morning when they learned from other passersby about the presence of a large kangaroo nearby.
The kangaroo, seemingly agitated and distressed by the flood conditions that have devastated New South Wales—resulting in five fatalities—didn’t hesitate before launching itself at James. The ensuing chaos saw James and the kangaroo engaged in what could be likened to an unconventional boxing match, with punches thrown back and forth.
In a dramatic turn, James found himself pushed into the murky floodwaters, where witnesses reported the kangaroo pursuing him underwater, leading to a terrifying moment where it appeared to try to hold him down. “The kangaroo tried to drown the man,” said Lees, as she realized the seriousness of the situation and alerted her husband to intervene.
Fortunately for James, the arrival of a friend's car startled the kangaroo, allowing him to escape towards Lees. “I just remember being under water and kicking and screaming,” he recounted of the harrowing experience, which left him with an unsettling reminder of his close encounter.
Kangaroo ecologist Graeme Coulson from the University of Melbourne provided some insights into the unusual behavior of kangaroos when feeling threatened, suggesting that their instinct is more about self-defense rather than attacking others. This kind of aquatic defense mechanism is generally reserved for smaller animals, leading to concerns about the safety of pets near kangaroo habitats.
Reflecting on his recent string of animal encounters, including a previous run-in with a great white shark, James quipped, “I feel like they’re trying to kill me, all these animals.” As flood recovery efforts continue in the region, many locals and experts will be closely analyzing wildlife behavior as they navigate the complexities of both nature and extreme weather.
