|
Some animals need no introduction and the kangaroo,
symbol of Australia, is one of them. Even if Skippy never
featured heavily in your childhood, you'll recognise this
strange, spring-heeled creature and associate it immediately
and uniquely with that vast land down under where there's
even more odd-looking fauna than odd-looking locals. Legend
has it that the kangaroo gets its name from an early encounter
between the Australian Aborigines and the white settlers.
When asked by the Europeans what on earth these weird-looking
things were, a native replied "kangaroo" - meaning,
"I don't understand you".
Bouncing babies
In recent years, the kangaroo population has been variously
estimated at between 20-25 million, outnumbering the human
population by about 2-7 million. They can get by on almost
no water, which certainly helps, but another factor is their
exhausting and almost continuous breeding cycle. Beginning
at the age of 15 months, the female kangaroo (flyer) gives
birth to a tiny, immature baby (joey) weighing less than a
half an ounce, which climbs into the pouch and attaches itself
to a teat. The flyer then gets pregnant again immediately
but leaves the new embryo "on hold" in the uterus
until the joey leaves the pouch after about 8 months. It then
activates the dormant embryo and the whole process kicks off
again.
Pesky or tasty?
So prolific are kangaroos in fact that, despite being revered
as a symbol of Australia, they are considered to be a pest.
Each year millions of kangaroos are slaughtered, for their
hide and meat but also for sport or by farmers who believe
that legal methods of population control (government-issued
permits allow a percentage to be killed for this purpose)
are insufficient to protect their crops. This in turn sparks
debate between animal rights activists, who criticise hunting
methods as inhumane, and those who argue that culling is an
effective way of bringing the population down to a level that
does not impact adversely on the environment. Whatever stand
you take on this issue, you'll find that kangaroo meat features
heavily on Australian restaurant menus in every conceivable
form - from kebabs, to steaks, to burgers. If you don't have
a problem with it, it really is worth a try - low in fat and
cholesterol and, if cooked properly, gamey and delicious.
Mega marsupials
There are over 47 varieties, the most common of which are
the grey kangaroo, found in the forested areas of Australia,
and the red kangaroo, which is primarily found in the Australian
outback. They have a life expectancy of about 6 years in their
natural habitat, but about 20 if kept in captivity. Their
tails, around 3ft long, are used for balance and the males
(boomers) can grow up to 6 ft tall. Their characteristic leaps
and bounds are powered by their strong hind legs and can be
up to 30 ft in height and at speeds of up to 30 miles per
hour. The boxing kangaroo, that famous symbol of sporting
Australia, actually has some basis in fact - the boomer will
keep the younger joeys in check by boxing them - but beware.
They're not above taking a swing at humans, and with a weight
of up to 300lb, that's probably something you don't want to
be on the receiving end of.
|
