The Real Reason Why Kangaroos Fight (Box) With Each Other

Have you ever seen two kangaroos fighting? They rear up, grapple and kick, and it looks a lot like boxing.

So what are they fighting about?

Kangaroos fight mainly because adult males compete for rank and access to females. Young males also play-fight to build skills, and any kangaroo may defend itself when threatened. Most bouts end without serious injury.

5 Reasons Why Kangaroos Fight

Kangaroos fight for several reasons. Some fights are serious, while others are play.

Kangaroos Fight For Territory

Kangaroos live in loose groups called mobs and don't defend fixed territories the way some animals do. Males do compete over who gets to stay near females.

Kangaroos will fight if they are sleeping and feel threatened, and they will defend themselves against predators such as dingoes and dogs.

Kangaroos are powerful animals. Australian Geographic warns that dogs and kangaroos are a really bad combination, because kangaroos, especially males, may fight back when chased.

There are reports of kangaroos holding dogs underwater when chased into a dam or river, so keep dogs away from kangaroos.

Kangaroos Fight For Food And Water

Kangaroos are herbivores that mainly graze on grasses. The Australian Museum says red kangaroos also eat forbs and shrub leaves.

Competition over good feeding spots and water during droughts can lead to scuffles, but most serious fights are about rank and mating.

Kangaroos Fight For Fun

Yes, kangaroos play-fight. Young males spar with each other in gentle bouts that look like boxing practice.

Researchers think these mild bouts help young males build fighting skills. Joeys also play with their mothers, but this is play, not a lesson in fighting.

Kangaroos Fight For Mating

Male kangaroos fight over access to females. The winners are usually the larger, stronger males, and they get the best chance to mate.

These fights can be intense, but most end when one male backs off. Fights to the death are rare.

Kangaroos Fight For Dominance

Dominance contests are common in the animal kingdom and even in humans, and male kangaroos are no exception.

According to Australian Museum macropod expert Dr Mark Eldridge, males spend much of their life sparring and fighting to keep their place in the social hierarchy. Lower-ranked males challenge the top male for access to females and resources.

How Do Kangaroos Fight?

Male kangaroos grapple with their forearms, pushing and wrestling at each other's heads and chests. In serious fights, a male leans back on his tail and kicks out with both hind legs at once.

Those hind feet carry long, blade-like toenails, so a full kick can cause serious wounds.

It looks like boxing, with some kickboxing mixed in.

Young males start sparring once they are out of the pouch and keep practicing as they grow. As adults, fighting ability helps decide which males get to mate.

Do Kangaroos Fight To Death?

Rarely. Most fights end when one male gives up and retreats. Serious kicks can cause deep wounds, though, and some fights end in severe injury.

Kangaroos are herbivores, but large males are strong and well-armed.

Fighting plays an important role in kangaroo life, especially for males competing to breed.

Do Female Kangaroos Fight?

Females fight much less than males. They may push, kick or swat at other kangaroos or predators, especially when defending a joey, but the dramatic boxing matches are mostly between males.

Males are also much bigger. The Australian Museum notes that male red kangaroos weigh about twice as much as females, up to 92 kg (about 200 lb).

Joeys often play-fight with their mothers once they leave the pouch. This play is how young kangaroos practice moving and balancing as they grow.

Why Do Kangaroos Fight Humans?

Kangaroos rarely attack people. When they do, it is usually a large male that sees a person as a rival or threat, or a kangaroo that has lost its fear of people.

Hand-raised kangaroos can become aggressive as they mature, possibly because they have lost their fear of humans.

If a large male stands up and watches you, don't approach. Back away slowly or walk off at an angle. Warning signs include pawing the ground, pulling up grass, and standing tall on its toes.

If a kangaroo attacks, Eldridge advises dropping to the ground, curling into a ball and protecting your face. Never feed wild kangaroos.

Do Kangaroos Really Box?

Kangaroos have strong tails, good balance and muscular upper bodies, so when two males fight they look like boxers.

Do kangaroos box? Sort of. Males grapple, push and swat with their forelimbs, then lean on their tails to kick. The contests help decide which male is dominant.

It is more like a wrestling match with kicks than a true boxing match.

Would A Kangaroo Beat A Human In Boxing?

Don't try it. A large male kangaroo is strong, and its kicks can cause serious injuries. People should never spar with or provoke a kangaroo.

Large male red kangaroos can stand taller than many people when upright on their toes.

A kangaroo's main weapons are its hind legs, not its forelimbs. That's why their fights look more like kickboxing than boxing.

Check the video below where a kangaroo tried to fight boxing with humans:

Final Words

Kangaroos are marsupials, and their famous boxing is mostly males competing for rank and mates. Young males play-fight to build skills.

Kangaroos should not be used for entertainment, as they were in the past (see the video above). Give wild kangaroos space, and never feed or provoke them.

If you want to know more about animals, check out our main menu at the top and choose what suits your curiosity about animals.

Sources

• Why roos attack and what you should do to avoid it, Australian Geographic
• Red Kangaroo, Australian Museum