LOCAL GOLD COAST STORY- by Local "Kitty Jellinek"
Kangaroo Rescued From Gold Coast Surf
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| Neil
McCallum, was walking along Kirra Beach on the Gold Coast when a
juvenile Kangaroo bounded across his path, dived into the surf and
started swimming out to sea. The young Kangaroo got caught up in a rip but Niel managed to rescue the terrified young animal by herding it back to shore from his surfboard. Once the Kangaroo caught its breath it bounded away into nearby scrub. It was the first Kangaroo Niel had seen in the area. Niel stated he had seen bush turkeys and Koalas in the area but never a Kangaroo. People have asked me why a Kangaroo would jump into the surf in the first place. I don't really know but my best guess would be as follows: Kangaroos in the wild are known to head for water holes when being chased by dogs or dingoes. They stand in shoulder deep water and if the dog follows them into the water they will grab hold of the dog and hold it under water till the dog drowns. Perhaps this young roo was being chased by a dog when it headed for the surf. But you may ask why did it proceed to swim out to sea? In answer to that question I'll tell you of an experience I had on a horse regarding that matter. I was riding a young horse I had just broken in, along a surf beach. I kept the horse close to the waters edge as the damp sand was firmer there. The young horse never having seen or heard surf before was nervous of the water. A spent wave had come in and crossed the horses path - it was only several inches deep but the bit of white foam on the water spooked the horse as it approached his front legs. The horses reaction was to leap over the white foam before it hit his legs. One long leap placed him squarely in front of the next wave sporting a white foam ridge and a couple of feet deep. The horse leaped over this wave, only to be faced with another and then another. Panicked the horse jumped over each wave in succession until we found ourselves in deep water swimming out to sea. Now being beyond the breakers I was able to turn his head back to shore. We lived through the experience, non the worse for wear - however I can't say the same for the salt water saturated saddle I had to deal with. Perhaps this young Kangaroo panicked when it got too close to a wave and leaped over it just like the horse. I live in Elanora on the Gold Coast and have never seen a Kangaroo in the wild in this area but I have seen plenty of Wallabies. So perhaps this wasn't a juvenile Kangaroo - perhaps it was a Wallaby? This is a Juvenile Kangaroo standing next to it's Mother carrying another Joey in her pouch.  This is an adult Wallaby |