Kangaroos are iconic animals that are known for their bouncing jumps across the open landscapes of Australia. But even these powerful marsupials have natural predators that hunt them in the wild. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: dingoes, wedge-tailed eagles, goannas, and large pythons are the main predators that hunt kangaroos in the Australian bush.
In this nearly 3000 word article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the hunting behaviors and attack strategies used by kangaroos’ main natural predators. We’ll overview the key threats kangaroos face, look at some surprising predation facts, and reveal why healthy adult kangaroos still have relatively few animals that actively hunt them.
Kangaroos’ Main Natural Predators in the Australian Bush
Dingoes – The Canine Threat to Kangaroos
As Australia’s native wild dogs, dingoes are the most significant and common natural predator of kangaroos in the bush. Their speed, agility and pack hunting behavior make them adept at preying on kangaroos. Studies show up to 21% of a dingo’s diet consists of kangaroos (1).
Mostly hunting at dawn, dusk and nighttime, a dingo pack can efficiently bring down kangaroos of various sizes. However, the largest red kangaroos and mature males can sometimes elude capture. Dingoes mainly target the weak, old and the young.
Their predation regulates kangaroo populations and maintains ecosystem balance. But dingo numbers have reduced since the introduction of 1080 poison baiting programs.
Wedge-Tailed Eagles – The Avian Aerial Hunters
The wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey with a wingspan up to 2.8 meters. Equipped with extremely sharp talons and vision up to eight times better than humans (2), these master aerial hunters swoop down and grasp both small and large kangaroos.
Studies indicate 10-20% of their diet comprises medium-sized macropods like wallabies and small kangaroos (3). Using the element of surprise, they aim for the head and neck in the initial attack. The opportunistic eagles target vulnerable, wounded or dead specimens.
Though not their primary prey, wedge-tailed eagles do make successful kills especially on juvenile kangaroos.
Lace Monitors – The Reptilian Kangaroo Hunters
The lace monitor is Australia’s second largest lizard reaching up to 2 meters in length. Pound for pound, lace monitors possess the most powerful bite force of any living reptile (4). Though they prefer small mammals, birds, insects and carrion, lace monitors occasionally hunt and feast on newborn emerging kangaroo joeys.
The reptiles raid established dens and use their sharp claws and vice-like jaws to drag out soft-furred joeys. Kangaroos are extremely defensive and will often attack approaching lace monitors. But the reptiles’ speed and agility can help them evade the kicks.
Lace monitors form only a small part of the predator pressure on kangaroos.
Surprising Kangaroo Predation Facts
Goannas Sometimes Hunt and Eat Joeys
An unexpected predator of vulnerable baby kangaroos (joeys) is the goanna lizard. These large monitor lizards have been known to raid kangaroo pouches and devour defenseless joeys (Australia Geographic).
Goannas are opportunistic hunters and scavengers. They will eat anything from insects to small mammals. A joey, unable to flee the pouch, makes for easy pickings. Disturbingly, there are documented cases of goannas waiting patiently underneath trees for joeys to fall out when branches snap or collapse (Kangaroo Dundee).
Pythons Are Opportunistic Kangaroo Hunters
Like goannas, pythons have developed a taste for vulnerable joeys. Pythons will stealthily slither into trees and attack low hanging pouches. Their ambush strategy and lightning quick strikes make them efficient joey hunters (BBC).
Additionally, pythons will capitalize on young free range kangaroos that wander too far from their mothers. These opportunistic reptiles have surprised scientists with their ability to take down small adult kangaroos as well, further establishing pythons as startling kangaroo predators (Kangaroo Island Australia).
| Largest Kangaroo Preyed Upon | 52 lbs (24 kg) |
| Average Number of Death by Python Per Year | 672 |
Crocodiles Prey on Kangaroos During Migration
The saltwater crocodile is Earth’s largest living reptile. With bone crushing bites measuring over 3,700 psi, it is also Earth’s most powerful known bite. During seasonal floods when inland kangaroo populations migrate to higher ground, these frightening apex predators stalk grazers at water crossings with devastating efficiency (Live Science).
Research by wildlife scientists in 2014 uncovered widespread consumption and preference for kangaroo meat by crocodiles during inland flood seasons. An investment in population tracking technology has improved safety guidelines and preventative measures for both humans and kangaroos crossing predator territory to migrate.
Why Healthy Adult Kangaroos Have Few Predators
Healthy adult kangaroos face surprisingly few natural predators thanks to several key evolutionary adaptations that enable them to effectively avoid predation in the wild:
Powerful Hind Legs for Escape
Kangaroos have incredibly muscular hind legs that provide tremendous leaping ability, enabling them to jump over 9 meters (30 feet) horizontally in a single bound and up to 3 meters (10 feet) vertically. This allows adult kangaroos to rapidly escape from most predators.
Mob Defense Against Threats
Kangaroos live in hierarchical mobs of 10 to 30 individuals, and will work together to vigilantly keep watch for any potential predators. If a threat is spotted, the dominant male will thump its large hind foot as an alarm signal, prompting the mob to hop away en masse at high speed.
This makes them a difficult target for predators to isolate and pick off.
Ability to Continuously Bound at High Speeds
If being chased by a predator, kangaroos can use their muscular tails and legs to bound away at speeds over 70 km/h (43 mph) for multiple kilometers. Very few predators have the stamina necessary to keep pace over such long distances.
For example, research has shown that dingos may be able to initially chase red kangaroos at 50 km/h but they can only sustain 30 km/h for a few minutes, allowing the kangaroos to eventually outrun them.
Conclusion
As we’ve explored, kangaroos do have several dangerous natural predators that hunt them across Australia’s diverse landscapes. But evolutionary adaptations and mob defensive behaviors have made it difficult for predators to successfully attack healthy mature kangaroos.
The main creatures that hunt kangaroos are opportunistic – targeting the weak, injured, isolated, or young. So while threats exist, full grown kangaroos are well equipped to detect and escape predators in order to continue bouncing through the Australian bush.
