I see a lot of people doing this. I believe this is not safe, isn't it?
Where can I do this?
5
-
I just re-defined what I want to ask– MachadoJul 16, 2015 at 14:56
-
4Enough places that you'll find somewhere if there for a few weeks. (My daughter used to walk to work past "wild one". Tame ones cdan be very tame albeit often aloof. DO NOT accept a challenge to box :-) - big red makes Thai kick boxers look weak :-).– Russell McMahonJul 16, 2015 at 17:00
-
1First watch this movie: imdb.com/title/tt0257568/?ref_=nv_sr_1 and then consider whether you actually want to take a selfie with a kangaroo.– user31927Jul 17, 2015 at 11:12
-
3Green screen + photoshop!– CaptainCodemanJul 17, 2015 at 15:01
-
Until converted by a boomerang ...– bmarguliesJul 17, 2015 at 21:01
Add a comment
|
8 Answers
Kangaroos are wild animals. While you will come across them if you are driving in rural areas, do not approach them. While most will simply run away, some may enter a more defensive posture especially if there are young (joeys) nearby. A kick from an adult can kill a human (http://www.amazingaustralia.com.au/animals/kangaroo_attacks.htm).
Kangaroos can be mean vicious creatures. When I was growing up as a kid in Australia, we were cautioned away from getting anywhere near them.
The best and safest way to get a selfie with a kangaroo that isn't a cardboard cutout is to go to a zoo that has a petting zoo component. Instead of kangaroos, they often pick the smaller/friendlier cousin, the wallaby (http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/wallaby-vs-kangaroo.htm).
This is just one of many petting zoos that have wallabies: http://www.featherdale.com.au/#=
-
1Kangaroo attacks are very very very rare. No fatality has ever occurred except when the victim has provoked the kangaroo.– HughJul 17, 2015 at 13:22
-
2Deaths are rare as kangaroos are not carnivores / predators and thus will not fight to kill, but attacks with injuries are not uncommon. Jul 17, 2015 at 13:35
-
3Oh rubbish. When I was growing up as a kid in Australia I never heard anything of the sort. You won't get close enough for a two-shot as they will move away, but they are fairly approachable at most times. Try Healesville Sanctuary if you're going to Melbourne, or if you get as far as the Grampians try Zumsteins. Jul 18, 2015 at 8:40
-
1Oz government disagrees with you: ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/livingwith/kangaroos.html Jul 18, 2015 at 11:30
-
Wild kangaroos will only attack if provoked. Most of the time they'll either run, or beg for food depending on where you find them. Aug 27, 2015 at 11:34
It depends on how close you intend on getting for your selfies. If you insist on approaching closely, I would only do so in a controlled environment. If you're willing to have your selfie with the kangaroos a dozen or more metres in the background, you'll be fine.
As to where you're able to do so, just about every major town or tourist location has some location where you can get close to kangaroos - patting or hand feeding, either of which would allow selfie opportunities. Some examples include:
- Sydney has Taronga Zoo (free roaming kangaroo area) and Featherdale Wildlife Park
- Melbourne
- Brisbane
- Cairns and Kuranda
- Alice Springs
- Even the Whitsundays
Searching specifically for whereever you may be visiting would almost undoubtedly find somewhere, as all international airports and ports would have somewhere within an hour or less.
Of course, you could just go golfing.
Mareeba Golf Course. Credit: Sweetwater Lodge
Yamba Golf Course. Credit: Shelley Street Beach House
Anglesea Golf Course. Credit: Anglesea Golf Club
-
1If those are not your photos (and, come to think of it, even if they are), please credit the source. Jul 17, 2015 at 0:03
The Cairns Tropical Zoo has a Kangaroo enclosure:
Spend time in our kangaroo area. Around 60 tame Eastern Grey kangaroos spend their day meeting visitors, eating from your hand and lazing in the heat of the day.
I can confirm that they will let you get relatively close if they are in the right mood, but not necessarily for the kind of "hugging" selfie you'd take with a human.
answered Jul 16, 2015 at 15:34
-
The Australia Zoo outside Brisbane has a similar enclosure. If they're willing to cooperate you might be able to get a picture of them eating out of your hand. Jul 16, 2015 at 21:41
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane also has a kangaroo enclosure where you can hand-feed kangaroos, including (according to their website) Red Kangaroos and Eastern Grey Kangaroos. I visited many years ago and can confirm that they will eat out of your hand; however, selfies were not a thing then, and so I didn't try to take one.
answered Jul 16, 2015 at 18:16
If you are traveling to Melbourne, I recommend you visit Healesville Sanctuary, it's about an hour east of Melbourne, they have Kangaroo's they are quite used to people.
I went to the Featherdale Wildlife Park outside of Sydney when I was about 16. It was great and plenty of exotic(by my standards) animals running around that could be fed and touched. However, I don't recall any kangaroos that were free roaming in the park, I think they were all in enclosed spaces, but plenty of small wallabies running around like goons.
Featherdale in Sydney has wallabies and possibly roos. Bonorong, just outside Hobart, has both. In fact, they give you a bag of food for them upon entry. They seem to be very people friendly and don't mind you petting them.
Cleland Wildlife Park in Adelaide has tame Kangaroos for selfies.
