Australia's iconic, cute,
cuddly, hop-along creatures
might not be as friendly
as you think they are.
Kangaroos have a dangerous side.
They can be very aggressive
if they're searching for food
or think you pose a threat to them
or their families.
Between 1999 and 2002,
kangaroos attacked at least 15 people,
and those are just the attacks
that got reported.
Since then, there have been other attacks
in different regions of Australia.
So if you find yourself
face to face with a kangaroo
and you want to survive,
follow these steps.
If a kangaroo approaches you,
turn your body sideways.
Raise your hands
and turn your head away from the animal.
Its punches are packed
with very sharp claws
that can rip apart your flesh.
You'll want to keep a narrow profile
to protect your body and vital organs
from the roo's powerful kicks.
The Kangaroo's family name is
Macropodidae, which means big feet.
And their big feet,
combined with their powerful hind
legs are so strong
they can break your bones.
In 2018, a kangaroo attacked a family
in Queensland, Australia.
They were feeding the kangaroo
when it became aggressive and attacked.
They tried to fend it off
using a broom and shovel,
but it didn't work.
Linda Smith, a kangaroo caretaker,
suffered a collapsed lung,
broken ribs, abrasions
to her arms and legs
and other internal injuries
that required surgery.
Her husband sustained
multiple lacerations
and her son got minor injuries.
The kangaroo quickly
escaped after the attack.
Sorry, dog lovers,
but don't bring your pet
into kangaroo territories.
Kangaroos do not share your love of dogs
and have attacked dogs and their owners.
The heaviest kangaroos
are male red kangaroos,
which weigh up to 90 kg (200 lb).
And some kangaroos,
depending on their species,
can grow up to 2.8 m (7 ft) tall.
So an attack probably wouldn't end
well for your dog.
And you could get
caught in the crossfire.
Practice social distancing with kangaroos,
and use whatever you can
from your surroundings
to act as a blockade.
Slowly retreat,
but do not turn your back and run.
A Kangaroo can quickly chase you down,
kicking as it hops.
The red kangaroo
is the fastest jumper
bouncing along at up to 56 km/h.
If a kangaroo aims to fight you,
you'll be able to tell.
It'll begin to show dominance
by pulling out grass,
rubbing its chest on the ground
and tensing its muscles.
And if that happens,
Act submissive.
Don't look it in the eye.
Stay low and back yourself away.
Do your best roo imitation.
A thick, forceful grunt
will do the trick.
Since it's that type of behavior
male kangaroos use
to assert themselves in the wild.
If you get attacked, curl up in a ball
and wait for help.
Kangaroos are vegetarians,
so they're not interested in eating you.
They're only going to attack you
if you bother them or
have some food they want.
If you give up and show defeat,
they might back off.
But as more people
try to get cute pictures
while feeding kangaroos,
the number of attacks have increased.
Although the last recorded
death was in 1936,
many people have ended up
with deep gashes after these encounters.
So the best way to avoid any danger
from a fierce kangaroo attack
is to steer clear
of these unusual marsupials
in the first place.
They are so exotic and cute.
But from what we just learned,
cuteness doesn't mean
an animal will be gentle.
Like these little cuties, for instance.
How could you survive
a vicious cat attack?
Well, we've got the
perfect video for you.
To be prepared and stay alive,
keep watching How to Survive.