Sydney - A mother in north-east Australia wrestled a kangaroo to save her two-year-old daughter after she was attacked outside their home, it was reported on Friday.
“The kangaroo was about the same size as me, and I thought I could take it on. But it was really strong,” Argie Abejaron told local Queensland newspaper the Fraser Coast Chronicle.
The incident took place on Tuesday. She said she ran outside their Point Vernon home when she heard her older son scream and saw her two-year-old daughter, Mileah, pinned to the ground by the animal.
“I kicked and wrestled the kangaroo, it tried to grab me but I didn't have anything it could hold on to,” Aberjaron said.
The mother suffered bruises and scratches while sparring with the kangaroo. A neighbour's yell distracted the marsupial away from them.
Mileah, who was knocked unconscious, was rushed to a local hospital where she received 17 stitches to her chest.
Abejaron said the doctors had told her that Mileah's scars would likely remain for life.
“One side of her face is scraped and across her body, she just has razor-like marks. There are some marks on her neck too,” Abejaron said, adding she hoped Mileah wouldn't remember the attack.
Mother and daughter have been released from the hospital, but the family has avoided returning to their home.
A wildlife ranger, who visited the area to assess the situation and the aggressiveness of the animals, counted 93 kangaroos surrounding the house.
“Allowing for the building of houses on their habitat is forcing human and wildlife interaction,” Chad, Mileah's father, told the paper, urging some sort of action to be taken.
“We don't want any of them killed, but there is the possibility of having them relocated,” he said.
“Kangaroos were Mileah's favourite animal, but not anymore.”
“She now says, 'naughty kangaroo'.”
dpa