Zoo keeper who punched kangaroo in video which shocked the world 'won't be fired' despite sacking calls

[OriZ 3,157]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/zoo-keeper-who-punched-kangaroo-9403791

There's a video in the link...brave dude to go up against a roo like that...personally even though I love animals, I don't get the backlash. Bottom line is the kangaroo already forgot all about it and all 3 parties are alive, better ending than any other possible one I would say no?

[Dakine10 5,452]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/zoo-keeper-who-punched-kangaroo-9403791

There's a video in the link...brave dude to go up against a roo like that...personally even though I love animals, I don't get the backlash. Bottom line is the kangaroo already forgot all about it and all 3 parties are alive, better ending than any other possible one I would say no?

He's probably lucky he startled the kangaroo cause it didn't look hurt, just kind of stunned. They can do a lot of damage if they attack. I think he should face any legal ramifications for his actions, if there are any. Kangaroo's are a protected species and if you get yourself in a situation where you get involved with one, that's your fault.

His job should be at his employers discretion. Obviously he wasn't doing this out of cruelty so I don't think he should lose his job over that. If it becomes disruptive to his employer, I think they have a right to say they have to move on.

[OriZ 3,157]

He's probably lucky he startled the kangaroo cause it didn't look hurt, just kind of stunned. They can do a lot of damage if they attack. I think he should face any legal ramifications for his actions, if there are any. Kangaroo's are a protected species and if you get yourself in a situation where you get involved with one, that's your fault.

His job should be at his employers discretion. Obviously he wasn't doing this out of cruelty so I don't think he should lose his job over that. If it becomes disruptive to his employer, I think they have a right to say they have to move on.

Well that's exactly it. Kangaroo wasn't hurt, dog wasn't hurt, human wasn't hurt, move along people. Probably the only reason this man is still alive is because he struck first and stunned the kangaroo. I don't think he should face any ramifications, any more than he would have to if he was defending himself against anothe human. This was self defense, it was the dog or the roo and then the man or the roo, and I find it funny that all the animal activists coming out against this seem to think one animal(the kangaroo in this case) matters more than the other(the dog).

[bcking 3,157]

Agree with Oriz. As silly at it sounds, he was acting in self defense against a wild animal. A wild animal who left the scene and likely couldn't care less about what happened at this point.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Well that's exactly it. Kangaroo wasn't hurt, dog wasn't hurt, human wasn't hurt, move along people. Probably the only reason this man is still alive is because he struck first and stunned the kangaroo. I don't think he should face any ramifications, any more than he would have to if he was defending himself against anothe human. This was self defense, it was the dog or the roo and then the man or the roo, and I find it funny that all the animal activists coming out against this seem to think one animal(the kangaroo in this case) matters more than the other(the dog).

I don't know the exact law as it applies to Kangaroo's. I'm thinking of laws here that I know. I found out in Hawaii that if a green sea turtle swims up to you, you are breaking the law. You have to move away (20 feet I think maybe more), but the natural reaction of course is to watch in awe. I've seen a few people get fined this way. Used to be $500.

So if Australia has a similar law, then I think he is at fault for letting his dog get involved and then having to approach the kangaroo. None of that was the kangaroo's fault. I agree the outcome given the circumstances was probably the best you could hope for.

[OriZ 3,157]

I don't know the exact law as it applies to Kangaroo's. I'm thinking of laws here that I know. I found out in Hawaii that if a green sea turtle swims up to you, you are breaking the law. You have to move away (20 feet I think maybe more), but the natural reaction of course is to watch in awe. I've seen a few people get fined this way. Used to be $500.

That is utterly ridiculous. lol

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

That is utterly ridiculous. lol

Agree. Pen and Teller have one of the most honest shows out there. The title is not family friendly buts it starts with Male cow.

They examine a lot of things, like the endangered species act.

Edited December 9, 2016 by Nature Boy Flair

[bcking 3,157]

I don't know the exact law as it applies to Kangaroo's. I'm thinking of laws here that I know. I found out in Hawaii that if a green sea turtle swims up to you, you are breaking the law. You have to move away (20 feet I think maybe more), but the natural reaction of course is to watch in awe. I've seen a few people get fined this way. Used to be $500.

So if Australia has a similar law, then I think he is at fault for letting his dog get involved and then having to approach the kangaroo. None of that was the kangaroo's fault. I agree the outcome given the circumstances was probably the best you could hope for.

That is crazy. Though I do wish there were stricter laws about touching turtles. I was in the Gili islands this summer and guides were literally grabbing turtles and bringing them to huge groups of tourists so they can all "pet" the turtle. It was horrible.

[OriZ 3,157]

Agree. Pen and Teller have one of the most honest shows out there. The title is not family friendly buts it starts with Male cow.

They examine a lot of things, like the endangered species act.

We considered seeing them this past May when we were in Vegas but ended up going with Copperfield, a decision I will regret for the rest of my life or till the day I see Pen and Teller.

That is crazy. Though I do wish there were stricter laws about touching turtles. I was in the Gili islands this summer and guides were literally grabbing turtles and bringing them to huge groups of tourists so they can all "pet" the turtle. It was horrible.

That is also ridiculous. There has to be a balance. I'm all for protecting species and not touching them, but making people move out of the way because the turtle is swimming their way is a little over the top for me. As a scuba diver, one of the first things you're trained to do is NOT touch anything. I pay more attention when I dive to where my feet are and making sure I don't hit any corals or blow any sand up, than I actually pay attention to what I'm supposed to be looking at and enjoying.

[eieio 1,594]

They are soooooo protected. They shoot them like vermin.

Edited December 9, 2016 by eieio

[bcking 3,157]

We considered seeing them this past May when we were in Vegas but ended up going with Copperfield, a decision I will regret for the rest of my life or till the day I see Pen and Teller.

That is also ridiculous. There has to be a balance. I'm all for protecting species and not touching them, but making people move out of the way because the turtle is swimming their way is a little over the top for me. As a scuba diver, one of the first things you're trained to do is NOT touch anything. I pay more attention when I dive to where my feet are and making sure I don't hit any corals or blow any sand up, than I actually pay attention to what I'm supposed to be looking at and enjoying.

I do the same thing scuba diving! It actually kind of takes the fun out of it sometimes because I'm just so bothered. I then freak out and my bouyancy gets off since I end up taking bigger breaths. I probably just don't do it enough.

I'm fine with swimming close to a turtle. I don't see how that creates an issue. Just don't reach out and touch. I also really hated that a lot of the snorkel groups would have guides throwing food in the water. It destroys marine diversity which is really sad. They don't realize they are essentially killing their own business.

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

We considered seeing them this past May when we were in Vegas but ended up going with Copperfield, a decision I will regret for the rest of my life or till the day I see Pen and Teller.

That is also ridiculous. There has to be a balance. I'm all for protecting species and not touching them, but making people move out of the way because the turtle is swimming their way is a little over the top for me. As a scuba diver, one of the first things you're trained to do is NOT touch anything. I pay more attention when I dive to where my feet are and making sure I don't hit any corals or blow any sand up, than I actually pay attention to what I'm supposed to be looking at and enjoying.

No stand your ground rule with Turtles huh ?

[OriZ 3,157]

I do the same thing scuba diving! It actually kind of takes the fun out of it sometimes because I'm just so bothered. I then freak out and my bouyancy gets off since I end up taking bigger breaths. I probably just don't do it enough.

I'm fine with swimming close to a turtle. I don't see how that creates an issue. Just don't reach out and touch. I also really hated that a lot of the snorkel groups would have guides throwing food in the water. It destroys marine diversity which is really sad. They don't realize they are essentially killing their own business.

Yeah it can take the fun out of it especially if it makes you miss something! I actually try to control my bouyancy via breathing rather than messing around with the inflator all the time. The less I touch it till it's time to leave, the better. If I feel I'm getting too close to the bottom or a coral, I take a deep breath and hold it in. After a few seconds once my nitrogen filled lungs lift me up a bit, I exhale. Same thing if I feel I'm too high- empty the lungs completely for a few seconds till I'm far enough down. It also slows my breathing to the point where I actually breathe slower underwater than I do on land and have a pretty good air consumption. I always hate it when I'm with groups and we have to get out early cause some dummy is already out of air and I'm still at 1,000 lol

Food in the water - big no no. Although in my course almost 10 years ago we did sit on a wreck at 110 ft deep and eat a watermellon underwater.

[bcking 3,157]

Ya I usually do that as well...then it throws me off when I look to my left and run into a coral and then my breathing gets off and I freak out.

Watermelon thing sounds fun.

[Dakine10 5,452]

We considered seeing them this past May when we were in Vegas but ended up going with Copperfield, a decision I will regret for the rest of my life or till the day I see Pen and Teller.

That is also ridiculous. There has to be a balance. I'm all for protecting species and not touching them, but making people move out of the way because the turtle is swimming their way is a little over the top for me. As a scuba diver, one of the first things you're trained to do is NOT touch anything. I pay more attention when I dive to where my feet are and making sure I don't hit any corals or blow any sand up, than I actually pay attention to what I'm supposed to be looking at and enjoying.

There was no balance. That's what led to the laws being passed. Unfortunately the turtles share the same areas as sun bathing tourists. Sad to see stories of groups of people throwing fish pellets at, or trying to hitch a ride on a turtle. If people could be a little more responsible, I doubt laws like this would ever come into existence.