Escaped Kangaroo in Canada Punches Police Officer's Face After Being on the Loose for Days

Kangaroos punching humans is nothing new. In fact, there have been similar cases reported in Australia in recent years, where a viral video also showed that an Australian man even struck a kangaroo in a bid to save his dog. Now, the world's largest marsupials could be plotting their revenge but this time it is on the other side of the world: Canada. Reports earlier this week say that an escaped kangaroo punched a police officer in the face while being captured after being on the loose for several days.

The four-year-old kangaroo went missing last Thursday, November 30, during a 15-hour-long transfer from Ontario to a zoo in Quebec. It was only after four days that the Canadian police were able to capture the fugitive wild animal, which struggled first before being completely subdued. However, one of the officers received the kangaroo punch that he may never forget. Reports indicate that the animal was not harmed.

Police Kangaroo Punch

The Durham Regional Police Service stated that the kangaroo was being transported to its new home when it suddenly hopped over her handlers who made a rest stop on the outskirts of Toronto city. The Canadian police found out about the escaped kangaroo when they were alerted on the whereabouts of the kangaroo in Oshawa, which is 40 miles east of Toronto.

The runaway kangaroo punched one of the officers when they attempted to capture the animal behind and grabbed its tail. After struggling and becoming agitated, the wild kangaroo is now recovering in Oshawa zoo. It will eventually be moved to its initial destination in Quebec. Footage of the incident was caught by a police bodycam.

The local police even humored that the force would not be pressing any charges against the escaped kangaroo for assaulting one of its officers.

Kangaroo Facts

Kangaroos have become a symbol of wildlife in Australia, where they are native, as well as in Papua New Guinea. They belong to the genus Macropus, which also includes wallabies. The different species of kangaroos include the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), and antilopine kangaroo (Macropus antilopinus).

The cultural and spiritual significance of kangaroos can be traced back to the Aboriginal people of Australia. However, Australia's kangaroos are threatened in their natural habitats, especially by introduced carnivores like wild dogs and foxes.

Kangaroos are also famous for being exotic pets, such as in Texas, which is one of the 13 states that allow people to own pouched marsupials. In Australia, the hopping creatures make up a large portion of the country's animal population.

According to the Australian Government, the local kangaroo population consists of approximately 34.3 million individuals but indicates that the actual national populations could be higher. This is because some areas may not have been subjected to aerial and ground surveys.