Interesting facts
– Kangaroos are the only large animals that move by hopping.
– Their powerful hind legs and springy tail allow them to reach speeds of up to 55 km/h and make jumps up to 12 meters long and 3 meters high — like a human jumping over a bus.
– In Australia, the number of kangaroos exceeds the number of people: about 50 million animals versus roughly 26 million residents.
– Kangaroos cannot move backward due to the structure of their pelvis and tail.
– Their ears can rotate almost 360 degrees, helping them catch sounds from all directions.
– A newborn joey is only about 2.5 cm long — about the size of a grape — and continues to develop in the mother’s pouch for about six months.
– A female can simultaneously carry an embryo, nurse a joey in the pouch, and feed an older young, with milk of different composition for each.

Name origin
– The word “kangaroo” entered English from the Guugu Yimithirr language of one of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia, where “gangurru” referred to the large grey kangaroo.
– The legend that it supposedly means “I don’t understand” in response to Europeans’ questions is not confirmed.

Numbers and records
– The largest species, the red kangaroo, can reach 2 meters in height and weigh over 90 kg.
– The record for jump length is about 13.5 meters.
– Short-distance speed can reach 70 km/h, comparable to city car traffic.
– Kangaroos can travel long distances without significant energy expenditure thanks to the elasticity of their hind leg tendons, which work like springs.
– In some regions of Australia, kangaroo population density is so high that they cause tens of thousands of road accidents annually.

Uniqueness
– Kangaroos are endemic to Australia and do not live in the wild on other continents.
– They play an important role in the ecosystem, dispersing plant seeds and maintaining grassland balance.
– Their ability to save energy while moving is a unique biomechanical phenomenon studied by engineers to create more efficient vehicles and robots.

Interesting cases and stories
– There are stories of kangaroos saving people, warning of fires, or scaring off predators.
– In 2003, a kangaroo named Lulu saved a farmer who had lost consciousness by attracting his family’s attention.
– At the same time, there are tragic cases: in drought years, kangaroos can die en masse from lack of water and food.
– Sometimes they fall victim to bushfires, which in Australia can cover areas comparable to entire European countries.

Disasters and deaths
– In addition to natural disasters, kangaroos often die on roads.
– Collisions with vehicles are one of the main causes of their mortality.
– In drought years, mass deaths from hunger and thirst become a serious environmental problem.

Tourist places
– Namadgi National Park in the Australian Capital Territory — a chance to see kangaroos in the wild.
– Flinders Ranges in South Australia — mountain landscapes and abundant kangaroos.
– Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane — close interaction and feeding of kangaroos.
– Kangaroo Island in South Australia — observing animals in their natural habitat, beaches, and unique nature.