'Truly incredible' detail in kangaroo photos shows hidden social world
The photo of an injured kangaroo lying on the ground dying has revealed the "strong familial bonds" that exist among the country's most iconic animals, with many members of the mob standing over the female roo as she took her final breath.
A wildlife rescuer was called to a Victorian golf course at the start of the month after a golf ball hit the kangaroo on the head, leaving her on the ground "shaking and convulsing". When the rescuer arrived, two kangaroos were by her side, with one "gently stroking her" while a joey watched on metres away.
Photos taken of the moment highlight just how social the animals are, Helen Round from the East Trentham Wildlife Shelter told Yahoo News.
"Kangaroos don't mate for life but they're mates for life. Roos of similar personality will hang out together," she explained. "They stay buddies for their whole lives. They will box each other, they will stay close to each other, feed together and raise joeys together."
Kangaroo joeys are in their mother's pouch for up to a year and remain dependent on their maternal bond until they have fully matured.
"A joey is dependent on its mum psychologically, physically and emotionally until it's about two years old, so the joey is truly orphaned when it loses its mum," Helen said. "Wildlife carers will do their best to keep it warm, feed it and mother it, but it's not the same as the bond they had with their mother."
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While an older joey watched on at the golf course, another was found inside the mother's pouch and the rescuer on the ground was able to save the youngster. As the joey was being tended for, the older joey and other roo returned again to be with the female.
"They have strong family bonds and complex family structures... it's truly incredible, and heartbreaking, to see," Helen said, adding that most wildlife workers will have witnessed loving bonds play out in front of them while responding to rescuers.
The image of a male kangaroo holding a dying female in his arms as she reaches for her joey was shared worldwide in 2016, with photographer Evan Switzer saying he'd "never seen anything like this before" and called kangaroo bonds "a special thing".
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