Albany, Western Australia: In what could be termed as a bizarre and extremely rare occurrence, an Australian citizen has died after being attacked by a pet Kangaroo.

Paramedics were called to the man’s home in Redmond, near Albany, after a relative found the 77-year-old with serious injuries. Police were called to assist after the kangaroo prevented ambulance crews from accessing the injured man.

Police were forced to shoot the pet, with delay in support causing the death of the owner.

A police spokesman told the media that a kangaroo, a wild animal, was believed to have attacked the man earlier in the day.

Australia is to home to as much as 50 million kangaroos but attacks are rare. This is the first reported fatal death in Australia since 1936.

Australian Reptile Park life science manager Ms. Hayley Shute observed that it was important to show respect for wild animals and remember how dangerous male kangaroos could be.

Ms. Hayley Shute elaborated that, “The public sort of see kangaroos and koalas as fluffy, cuddly animals. I think it’s just important to note that they are wild animals and there’s a level of respect you have to give them,”

“The icon, that picture of an Australian kangaroo, is usually a female kangaroo with a joey sticking his head out of the pouch and they look so cute and sweet. But male kangaroos, part of their life and hierarchy within the mob are to take on the male that’s bigger than it. There’s a struggle there to become the alpha male and that’s part of a male kangaroo’s life and behavior.” the life science manager shared.

The Albany region of Western Australia is home to Western gray kangaroos. Males weigh 70 kg and are 223 cm tall from head to tail.

Ms. Hayley Shute added that, it was not surprising that a male kangaroo could kill a human given their temperament, size and strength.

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