Latest news with #HelenRound
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Shock footage of a kangaroo in a Chinese zoo has sparked concern
A Chinese zoo has been accused of 'sedating' kangaroos after footage emerged of one seemingly passed out in the dirt. In footage shared to social media, the Aussie native can be seen lying on its back as visitors gather around, petting and even attempting to hold its hand. The red kangaroo keeps its eyes completely closed and only manages to pull its hand away once before another person goes to hold it. In a second clip, what appears to be the same kangaroo is seen lying on its back unresponsive with its eyes closed as people hover over it. One person offers the marsupial some food that it attempts to eat before dropping its head to the side. The clips, which were filmed on May 18, saw many branding the scenes 'amusing' and 'entertaining.' Viewers were quick to praise the 'calm and sleepy' animal for remaining calm and being so good around people. However, others expressed their concerns, suggesting the kangaroo may have been sedated in order to keep it docile around visitors. Prominent Victorian wildlife carer, Helen Round, has been working with kangaroos for over a decade. The 56-year-old from East Trentham is a fierce defender of the native animal and works tirelessly to raise, rehabilitate and release them. Speaking to Ms Round revealed that the animal 'very well could be' under sedation. 'It wouldn't be the first time that an animal in an Asian zoo was sedated,' she said. Although red kangaroos have a habit on lying on their backs to 'sun themselves', Ms Round believes this is likely not the case with this footage. She further revealed that it's hardly unheard of for kangaroos and other wild Australian animals to end up in foreign zoos or ownership. 'They are shipped all over the world, all you need is a license to sell,' she said. Just last month, a frazzled runaway kangaroo temporarily shut down an interstate highway in Alabama before it was shot and sedated. The owner, Patrick Starr, told the Associated Press that his family runs a petting zoo but Sheila (the kangaroo) is just a pet. 'People fancy the idea of having a pet kangaroo but they're not an animal that is meant for domesticity. Very few of them are suitable to be kept as pets,' said Ms Round. Concerns around the sedation of wild animals at zoos first came into the spotlight in 2016 when a clip of a heavily sedated lion being used as a photo prop in Thailand went viral. In the footage, a park worker repeatedly pushed a drugged lion cub's head up while visitors draped their arms over it and urged it to say 'cheese' for the camera. In 2018, a kangaroo was viciously stoned to death by visitors at a Chinese zoo because it didn't display its signature hop. The 12-year-old female kangaroo suffered a severely injured foot when it was struck by bricks and concrete chunks and died just days later from a reported ruptured kidney as a result. In 2020, a woman sparked outrage after taking photos of herself holding the testicles of a presumed sedated tiger at a Chiang Mai wildlife park. Animal sedation raises serious ethical concerns about the treatment and wellbeing of animals. They may experience health risks or distress from sedation such as unnatural behaviour that misrepresents their true nature. Under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the maximum penalty for a wildlife trade offence is 10 years imprisonment or a fine of up to $210,000 for an individual. Despite these penalties, wildlife trafficking remains a significant issue, with reports of increased illegal activity in recent years. Wildlife trafficking reports in Queensland alone have doubled over the past two years, with the scale of the problem potentially reaching 'catastrophic' levels. It is estimated that wildlife trafficking is the fourth-largest organised crime globally, worth over $450 billion a year.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'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." 🥴 Today show slammed for 'most Australian' joke as 'upsetting' video emerges 😔 Heartbreaking scene spotted by passing driver highlights worsening crisis 😢 Disturbing footage captures driver's shocking kangaroo act 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". Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
