Canberra Food Scarcity Makes Kangaroos Jumpy

Kangaroos have been invading uncommon areas of Canberra as they are forced to scrounge around back yards, sports fields and roadsides of the Australian city amid a food scarcity, CNN reported.

With over 30 nature reserves peppered across the city, many of which are home to large populations of the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, it is not uncommon to spot the critters scampering around the suburban neighborhoods.

However, recently social media has been flooded with photos and videos of kangaroos sighted in random places.

Between car parking & work in the heart of #Canberra (near our sole railway station) - an entire troop of kangaroos (more than pictured) #cbr pic.twitter.com/12fgWEkjIP

— Craig Thomler (@craigthomler) July 25, 2018

Nothing like waking up in the Nation’s capital to find a kangaroo in the back yard. pic.twitter.com/PdppNxcbrt

— Robert Gotts (@CommentatorGen) July 25, 2018

When a Canberran walks to work in the morning they are required to pay respect to our macropod overlords. Good morning skippies. #canberralife pic.twitter.com/2R1z0zJlqq

— Jane O'Dwyer (@msodwyer) May 3, 2018

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Parks and Conservation service director Daniel Iglesias told CNN the increased visibility was due to a food scarcity.

"Canberra is experiencing a perfect storm of hardship for its kangaroos," he said. "New records have been set in Canberra for very cold, frosty nights this winter. This, coupled with very dry conditions with very little rain at all in June and July, means there is very little food for kangaroos."

Australia entered winter in a state of drought.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology's autumn summary, the continent experienced its fourth-warmest autumn ever, with many parts seeing below average rainfall.

The problem is that the food scarcity is driving hordes of kangaroos out to look for their next meal in peak hour traffic, leaving them vulnerable to being knocked over and killed.

Very Canberra start to the morning: hitting a kangaroo on the way to the airport 🙊.

— Ellen Broad (@ellenbroad) July 4, 2018

"The short winter days means people are commuting to work at dawn and home at dusk, bringing motorists and kangaroos together in a potentially deadly way for kangaroos," Iglesias told CNN. "Wildlife rangers are reporting record numbers of roadkill with Canberra on target to record its highest ever tally of 'roos reported killed by collisions with cars."

Kangaroo populations have exploded in Australia in recent years and the animal is regarded as a pest in many parts.

For this reason, Canberra embarks upon an annual kangaroo cull to keep numbers down, according to the ACT Parks and Conservation.

However, some residents feel the issue needs to be further addressed.

It is time to declare a kangaroo plague in Canberra. Enough with the vehicle damage. Vegetation under threat. We need some solutions @canberratimes @abccanberra @Craigallenabc

— Paul Osborne AAP (@osbornep) July 4, 2018

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