Saturday, December 13, 2008

Lessons of the Kangaroo Family: Be Fearless (2 of 2)



The Aboriginal Peoples of Australia named Kangaroos by color, size, sex, and habits. The English word “Kangaroo” is the corrupted form of the Guugu Yimidhirr word “gangurru” for Eastern Grey Kangaroo. Meanwhile, “Pademelon“, the name for a small shy kangaroo living in the wet forests, came from the Dharuk word “badimaliyan”. Important to these peoples, Kangaroos feature widely in their sacred art, and are totems for some of their Tribes.

Among Australians, Kangaroos are both treasured and despised. One of the living symbols of Australia, Red Kangaroo is on the Australian Coat of Arms. Meanwhile, an Eastern Grey Kangaroo was awarded the RSPCA National Animal Valor Award for saving a farmer’s life.

However, many ranchers regard Kangaroos as pests because They eat scare resources meant for Cattle and Sheep. Many roads have Kangaroo-crossing signs to warn motorists. In addition, many cars have ‘roo bars’ to minimize any damage caused by a collision.

Not afraid of danger, Members of the Kangaroo Family hop everywhere over the Australian countryside. Tree-kangaroos leap across the rainforest canopies, while Rock-wallabies ascend up rock faces. Be fearless as Kangaroos are, but watch where you leap or you may get hit by an on-coming car.

Wisdom of the Kangaroo Family:
Leaping Over Obstacles
Let Your Instincts to Guide You
How to Conserve Energy

Kangaroo Family: Macropodidae
Subfamily: Sthenurinae Banded Hare-wallaby
Subfamily: Macropodinae
Dorcopsis
Dorcopsulus
Hare-wallaby
Wallaby and Kangaroo
Nail-tail Wallaby
Rock-wallaby
Quokka
Pademelon
Swamp Wallaby

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008

From Universal Class, fun self-paced classes taught by me:

Finding Your Animal Teachers

Animals For Everyone: Mammals

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