In this article, we’ll answer the question:
“Are kangaroos friendly?”
First, you’ll find a short summary about the friendliness of kangaroos in general, then get specific answers about these marsupials like are kangaroos nice to humans, can they be petted, are they friendly to each other, etc.
Kangaroos are a marsupial from the family Macropodidae in the order Diprotodontia and are indigenous to Australia and New Guinea.
Are Kangaroos Friendly?
Kangaroos are not friendly to humans and can be aggressive to people in the wild. However, kangaroos are naturally shy and gentle animals that only be unfriendly to humans and other animals if they feel threatened.
If you approach a kangaroo in its natural habitat, it is likely to flee rather than attack unless you cause it to feel fear. Captive kangaroos are more prone to aggression because people often provoke or taunt the animal or its young which makes it become offensive and agressive towards humans.
Do Kangaroos Like Humans?
Kangaroos do not like humans in their natural habitat but captive kangaroos can enjoy the presence of people. Some studies show that kangaroos may also use a form of communication to request help from humans.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, “Kangaroos might be capable of intentionally communicating with humans, suggesting the bounding marsupials might be more intelligent than previously thought.” During an experiment, captive kangaroos were presented with a box filled with food they couldn’t open, and the animals gazed intently at researchers as if they were communicating: “Can you help me with this?”
Do Kangaroos Like Being Petted?
Kangaroos do not like being petted and you should not keep a kangaroo as a pet. Trying to touch a kangaroo can cause the animal to show aggression through kicking, biting, and punching.
It is illegal to posess a kangaroo in Australia and other countries; however, some states in the U.S. do allow you to keep a kanagroo without having a permit. Although you that is permissible, it is still dangerous for you and harmful for kangaroos to keep these marsupials away from their natural social group.
Can You Train A Kangaroo to Be Friendly?
You cannot train a kangaroo to be friendly but it can become accustomed to humans if kept in captivity like a zoo. The more a person interacts with a kangaroo, the more comfortable it will become around people but it will not become house-trained.
Essentially, a kangaroo that is trained by a zoologist will become habituated to people and tolerate their presence; however, these animals will not actually become friendly and affection with humans. The same thing is true with other animals. Kangaroos cannot be trained to like other species but rather tolerate them in their captive habitat.
Are Kangaroos Friendly With Each Other?
Kangaroos are friendly with each other and live in social groups called mobs. However, male kangaroos often fight each other to establish dominance or to win a mate.
According to PBS Nature, a mob of kangaroos usually consits of 10 or more troop members. And in any mob, the largest male kangaroo (known as the “old man,” or “boomer”) dominates the troop during the mating season.
Do Kangaroos Have Feelings?
Kangaroos do have feelings and can experience emotions like love, sorrow, happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. Studies show that kangaroos can also react to a person’s tone of voice which is evidence of kangaroos having feelings.
One of the most common ways kangaroos communicate their feelings is by stomping their hind legs noisily on the ground. This is a kangaroo’s form of talking to other kangaroos in their environment.
How Do Kangaroos Show Affection?
Kangaroos show affection by licking each other. Female kangaroos also show affection to their babies called joeys by keeping them close and teaching them how to groom themselves.
Are Kangaroos Dangerous?
You can visit our other guide about are kangaroos dangerous to find out how harmful these marsupials are to people.
Are Kangaroos Nice Summary
You now know the answer to the question about are kangaroos friendly to humans and each other.
As you discovered in this guide, kangaroos do not like human beings and prefer not to be petted, but these marsupials are friendly to one another in the wild and in a zoo. Therefore, are kangaroos nice or not depends on the species they’re interacting with in nature and captivity.
I’m the lead editor and writer for Animal Answer Guide. I enjoy sharing expert knowledge on the various characteristics of common species within the five distinct groups of animals: amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles.
