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The Kangaroo attack in Canberra 2009 was an internationally reported incident which occurred in the suburb of Garran in the Australian capital, Canberra early in the morning on Sunday 8 March 2009. A kangaroo smashed into the bedroom window of the suburban house where the family was sleeping, bounced around the room then down the hall and into a 10 year olds room, before being tackled by the owner and dragged out of the house. Due to the highly unusual nature of the attack, it received wide press coverage Following the attack the culling of kangaroos in the capital was called for.
Location
The suburb of Garran is located near the Red Hill nature reserve where many kangaroos live. It was described as an upmarket suburb.
Household
The house the kangaroo attacked was owned by 42 year old Beat, a recently naturalised Australian, originally from Stans in Switzerland. With him in the house were his wife and two children, 9 year old daughter and 10 year old son. The property was a few streets away from the nature reserve, and was surrounded by 3 metre high fences. Ironically Beat Ettlin is a chef who has enjoyed cooking kangaroo.
Kangaroo
The kangaroo was an Eastern Grey Kangaroo, described as being around 5ft 9 inches (176 cm) and weighing 40kg. At the time kangaroos in Canberra have been described by John Stanhope, the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, as being more numerous than any time in the past hundred years.
Initial warning
The family first heard their pet dog barking in the yard, but believed it to be barking at a possum.
Point of entry
The kangaroo jumped over a fence to a 3 metre high window of the bedroom, which it smashed through. The bottom of the window was about 1.5metres above the ground.
Master bedroom
While the family hid under the bedcovers the kangaroo jumped around the room and on top of them, jumped on the bedside table. The broken glass from the window had injured it, so it was bleeding, and it caused blood stains on the walls. The woman and daughter screamed while the kangaroo went on its rampage. While under the covers, the woman still believed the animal to be a possum, although a large one. Beat's first thought was the kangaroo was a "lunatic ninja" coming through the window. The kangaroo jumped up and down on the bed while they were underneath the covers.
Move into son's bedroom
The kangaroo moved out of the bedroom, down the hallway into the 10 year old boy's room. He was already awake from the noise of the kangaroo, believing there to be a burglar in the house. When it was in there the boy yelled out that the kangaroo was in the room.
Removal
On hearing the boy's yell Beat Ettlin believed the kangaroo could be dangerous for his family. He then went into his son's room and grabbed the kangaroo, putting it in a headlock. He tackled it, holding it low near the ground so that it could not kick or scratch him, and dragged it down the hall to the front door. With one hand he held the roo, while with the other he unlocked the screen door and pushed the kangaroo out of the house. Once out the kangaroo immediately bounded off back towards the nature reserve. Beat was only wearing his underwear at the time and his wife described him as "a hero in Bonds undies". She also believed an Australian man wouldn't have dared wrestle the kangaroo, but her husband did because he was a recent immigrant.
Cause
It has been speculated the kangaroo was trying to escape the yard when it made the attack, and did not see or understand what the clear glass window was. Greg Baxter, a Queensland University lecturer said that while unusual, when kangaroos are panicked they will do anything to get away.
Injuries
Ettlin received scratch marks on his leg and buttocks from the kangaroo. His underpants were also shredded. The rest of the family were lucky to escape injury.
Damage
Damage caused by the kangaroo included the broken window, the blood stains on the walls, curtains and carpet. Holes were gouged in the furniture in the bedroom, including claw gouges in the wooden frame of the master bed. There was a trail of blood through the house where the kangaroo was dragged.
Reaction
The family reported the attack to wildlife authorities. The incident was reported by local, national and international news sources.
Calls for culling
People in the community called for the culling of kangaroos following the attack. Beat said that he would support measures the reduce the numbers of kangaroos.
There were other calls for the culling of kangaroos in the Canberra area shortly after the attack.
Reference