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1s when people from other parts of the
2s world think of Australia they often
5s imagine kangaroos hopping down the
8s streets as common as squirrels or
10s pigeons in other
12s countries it's a Charming if somewhat
15s amusing image the idea of Aussie keeping
19s kangaroos as pets as if a might just be
22s another member of the family lounging on
24s the sofa or hopping around the
27s backyard let's Muse over this quirky
30s stereotype for a moment first off the
34s idea of kangaroos as household pets is
36s more myth than reality in truth
40s kangaroos are wild animals and like most
43s wild animals they belong in their
45s natural habitat they're not domesticated
48s like dogs or cats and they have their
50s own needs and behaviors that don't quite
52s fit in a typical home
54s setting that said kangaroos are indeed a
58s common sight in many parts of Australia
60s but not usually in the urban
63s streets they're more often seen in rural
66s areas Grazing In Fields bounding across
69s the Bushland or sometimes to the
72s frustration of farmers venturing into
74s crops and
76s Gardens in some Suburban areas that
78s border on their natural habitats you
81s might catch a glimpse of a kangaroo at
83s dawn or dusk but it's hardly an everyday
86s occurrence in the city
88s streets the president pres of kangaroos
91s in certain areas can sometimes lead to
94s surprising
95s encounters imagine driving down a
97s country road at dust and a kangaroo
100s suddenly bounds across your path it's a
103s reminder to drive carefully and keep an
106s eye out in kangaroo prone
109s areas these encounters while sometimes
112s startling are part of the Australian
115s experience a reminder of the wildlife
117s that shares this land with us
121s but back to the idea of kangaroos as
124s pets in Australia wildlife conservation
127s and Animal Welfare laws generally
129s prevent people from keeping native
132s animals like kangaroos as pets there are
136s wildlife sanctuaries and carers who look
138s after injured or orphaned kangaroos
141s nursing them back to health with the
143s goal of returning them to the
146s wild these caretakers form a unique bond
149s with the kangaroos
151s but it's always with the understanding
153s that these animals are and always will
155s be Wild at
158s Heart this doesn't mean that Australians
161s don't have a special affection for
164s kangaroos they're a national symbol
166s after all featured on our coat of arms
168s and various
169s emblems kangaroos are even a part of our
172s cultural identity a symbol of the unique
176s and diverse Wildlife that makes
177s Australia
179s special
180s and what about those kangaroos hopping
182s down the street well while it's not the
186s norm in some rural towns where the
188s Bushland meets civilization you might
191s indeed see kangaroos venturing into
193s urban areas it's not unlike the way deer
197s in other countries might wander into
199s Suburban spaces these sightings are a
202s reminder of the delicate balance between
204s human habitation and wildlife habitats a
208s balance that Australians are constantly
212s navigating in a way The Stereotype of
215s kangaroos as pets and as common Urban
218s dwellers is a bit like a playful
220s exaggeration of the Australian way of
223s life it speaks to the closeness
225s Australians feel to their natural
227s environment to the sense of living in a
230s land that's still wild and Untamed at
233s its
235s edges this blend of urban life and wild
238s nature is one of the things that makes
240s Australia
241s unique in few other places can you find
244s a stark contrast between the bustling
247s City and the vast open Wilderness where
250s kangaroos Run free it's a reminder of
253s the diverse and often surprising nature
255s of life in
257s Australia so while you're unlikely to
261s find a kangaroo as a pet in an
262s Australian home we'll see them hopping
265s regularly through the downtown streets
268s they remain an integral part of the
270s Australian landscape and
272s Imagination they represent the Wild
275s Heart of Australia a land where nature
277s is always just around the corner full of
280s Wonders and waiting to be
283s explored