Well, this is a little terrifying. I would not want to be involved in one of these situations.
Kangaroos are not the cute and cuddly animals we think of. Yes, when they are still in their mother's pouches, the babies are tiny and adorable, but a full-grown kangaroo, especially a male, can be a very intimidating animal.
Kangaroos are native to Australia but can also be found in Tasmania and nearby islands. However, Australia has the most significant number by far. Four species are categorized as kangaroos: the red kangaroo, the eastern gray kangaroo, the western gray kangaroo, and the antilopine kangaroo. According to PBS, red kangaroos are the largest species, and eastern gray kangaroos are the heaviest.
Due to their environment, kangaroos are known for going long periods without water. They have an incredible way of conserving energy, so they can hop at high speeds to travel from one destination to another. Watching kangaroos interact with their offspring can be a tender moment, but they can turn that charm into fear in a matter of seconds. The social animals follow a ranking system within their herds, called mobs, and males often box to establish dominance.
PBS reports:
"The kangaroo is a highly social species and often engages in nose touching or sniffing to build cohesion within the group. Boxing between males in the group is used to establish dominance. The dominant male leads the mob and has exclusive access to the females for mating."
Male kangaroos have had a few viral moments over the last year, as many folks did not realize how muscled and massive they look. When kangaroos are in "fight or flight" mode, they seem to be flexing their muscles, and it's truly nothing like the children's books make them out to be.
Check out this guy; he looks like the Hulk of Kangaroos.
While that video was shared for educational purposes, one social media user shared a video from Australia of two male kangaroos getting ready to square up, making that kangaroo look tiny in comparison. The kangaroo is couched over the grass when it suddenly throws its head back and "transforms" into a standing position, making itself appear much larger than it might be. Standing on its back legs, the kangaroo appears to be puffing out his chest like he is about to establish that he's the dominant animal of the two.
The kangaroo looks massive and scary as is, but then it turns its head toward the camera as if asking the person filming if they want a piece of it. The way this kangaroo puffs himself up does not look natural, and it's freaky, to say the least.
Social media was shocked to see how kangaroos presented themselves and had much to say about the video. Check out some of our favorite comments.
"If I saw a kangaroo with zero knowledge of what it was I would 100% think it's a demon."
"As a kid, we all thought kangaroos were cute and cuddly. This thing looks like it takes lunch money and cusses."
"I've never been more afraid of a kangaroo."
"Why did I ever think kangaroos were just cute, hoppy, harmless creatures that carried their babies in pouches? This is a living nightmare!"
"I think it would make more sense for Kangaroos to be part of the dinosaur family instead of chickens."
"I feel like I grew up in a timeline where kangaroos did not look like this lol."
"The fact he is making himself taller, and it's working is the most terrifying thing I have ever seen."
"I'm convinced that kangaroos represent like half of the mythological creatures ever described."
"Kangaroos look like a combination of deer, horse, rabbit, camel, and t-rex. Seriously."
"Something went really wrong when kangaroos were made because they're actually terrifying."
"I blame Winnie the Pooh for making me think kangaroos were cool. They are the scariest animal out right now."
This one though...