Kangaroo’s are highly social, sensitive, intelligent and extremely protective of their families and young. It is not a natural or normal occurrence for kangaroos to enter water unless they are threatened or chased. If a dog pursues a kangaroo into water, as was the case in this incident, the scared and terrified kangaroo to defend itself and its family mob will hold a dog underwater until the threat has passed. In some cases unfortunately, a joey may drown while its mother, fearing for her life, tries to defend and protect herself and young against a marauding dog.

HEAT STRESS ALERT

Summer has come early this year with soaring temperatures affecting many kinds of wildlife already. Earlier this year a heatwave at the end of January took a major toll on our wildlife before the fires with a thousand fruit bats dying at Yarra Bend in Melbourne and hundreds of possums, mostly Ringtail possums and many koalas taken into care across the state suffering from heat exhaustion.

Wildlife Victoria congratulates Fiona Corke, Wildlife Victoria's Media Coordinator, who has recently directed and produced a short film, WOUNDEAD which was selected for the 2009 St Kilda Film Festival, screening 26th – 31st May. 

Hope and Beau, the two young Eastern Grey Kangaroos that were callously struck with arrows and left to suffer and die are recovering at a shelter near Healesville.