A viral video making the rounds this week shows a man, Greig Tonkins, a zookeeper in Australia, protecting his dog from a wild kangaroo. Tonkins was out pig hunting with his friends and saw that a kangaroo had put his dog into a dangerous headlock.
Kangaroos are often preyed upon by dingos, a type of wild dog common in Australia. To defend themselves, kangaroos use their large and powerful feet, which they use to kick their enemies. So powerful are their feet that they can disembowel predators if a kick is delivered the right way. They also have been known to claw animals’ eyes out using their front paws.
When Tonkins approached the defensive marsupial, it tightened its grip on his dog but then let go and prepared to fight Tonkins. Rather than run, Tonkins delivered a surprise punch to the animal’s face. From a distance, the scene almost looked like a boxing match.
But experts say this was no prize fight; kangaroos can actually be dangerous when they’re threatened, and Tonkins was taking a risk with his sparring. This is definitely not something to try next time you’re in the Australian outback!
Watch the stunned kangaroo’s priceless reaction to Tonkins’ pugilism.
