Today show slammed for 'most Australian' joke as 'upsetting' video emerges
As the short clip is played, the Sydney-based team describe the native marsupial as 'very menacing' and joke that its encounter with a dog is 'the most Australian thing'. But further south in Melbourne, where the incident occurred, locals fear the kangaroo could have been serious injured by the attack.
The kangaroo in the video is beloved by a large community southeast of Melbourne, where he's been affectionately named Nigel.
'Nigel is a very gentle kangaroo. I've known that kangaroo for four years and I know his movements, but I can't find him,' local shelter operator Sue Johnson told Yahoo News.
Despite ongoing searches, Nigel hasn't been seen since the incident occurred a week ago, sparking concern around the southeast suburb of Rowville. And some residents are upset at the tone of the morning TV segment on Monday.
'It was upsetting the way Today handled it. When something like this happens, and they think it's funny, but it's not on,' Sue said.
She has reviewed alternative footage of the incident and noticed tiny signs in the animal's behaviour that indicate he could now be suffering from myopathy, a marsupial disease that's induced by stress and causes a long, painful death.
'In the other video, once the dog has gone, he stands up to turn around and his right leg is swivelling. And it shouldn't be doing that,' she told Yahoo.
During the segment, the Today team make it clear they don't know what happened to the kangaroo, or where it occurred, suggesting it could be Canberra or Melbourne.
After Today posted the clip to Instagram yesterday, it attracted hundreds of comments, with many animal lovers around Australia also taking umbrage with the tone of the video. 'Everyone forgets that poor roo is simply trying to protect himself,' one person wrote. 'This ain't funny,' another said. 'This is not cool at all,' another commented.
Others questioned why the dog wasn't on a leash. 'This is absolutely stupid – where is the owner of the dog?' one person said. Meanwhile some expressed concern for the dog's welfare, saying; 'That ain't funny, that dog is lucky to be alive.'
Today declined to comment on the community response to its segment.
The clip was clearly aired without malice, and experts in kangaroo behaviour believe it was simply 'careless'. They argue the television show's response to the clip indicates a wider issue of Australians misunderstanding how damaging the harassment of kangaroos by dogs is. Some also don't realise that large kangaroos can kill dogs if they fear for their lives.
Deakin University wildlife ecology expert Professor Euan Ritchie described the video as 'distressing'.
'The owner of the dog may not realise their dog is in serious risk of being harmed by the kangaroo. Large males are very powerful animals with long sharp claws and powerful feet and are quite capable of killing a dog,' he told Yahoo.
'Of course, there's also the possibility that the dog will harm the kangaroo, which is of course protected native wildlife. And then on top of that, there are pedestrians and drivers in the vicinity of the panicked kangaroo and it could potentially hit a car or bystander.
'Really the whole situation is quite worrying and problematic, and certainly nothing to make a joke about.'
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Kangaroo expert and documentary maker Mick McIntyre said people in Rowville are lucky to have wildlife in their community, but more 'common sense' is needed. If dogs aren't kept on leashes kangaroos will be forced out as they see dogs as predators.
'When you see a wild kangaroo, give it space, do not harass it,' he told Yahoo.
'The TV commentary made much hilarity. But imagine if that dog had been injured by the kangaroo, their commentary [could] have changed very quickly, blaming the kangaroo. The kangaroo is our national icon and deserves our care and respect.'
Alyssa Wormald who founded the Victorian Kangaroo Association, said in 2025, Australians need to move away from laughing at animals being 'attacked'.
'This is presented as a titillating story, but really it is just desperately sad. Not only has this magnificent kangaroo been displaced by suburbia, he is fighting for his life against a dog,' she told Yahoo.
Victorian shelter operator Helen Round is also concerned about the longterm welfare of the kangaroo.
'One bite is all it takes. The kangaroo [now could face] a slow, agonising death,' she said.
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