Mystery deaths decimating kangaroo mobs in New South Wales, Australia
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339355)
Rockingham, Australia
December 1, 2016 5:22am CST
A recent news item in Australia states that far west New South Wales has been experiencing an epidemic which is wiping out hundreds of kangaroos. The dead roos were all in good condition before succumbing to a mystery disease. Similar events have happened in 1998 and 2010. Some kangaroos become disorientated running towards vehicles on the roads. Others find it difficult to move about.
The affected roos have been mature animals, in good condition and with no wounds whatsoever. Starvation is not an issue. What is even more surprising is that dead animals are being avoided by normal predators and scavengers. Carcases are left untouched by wild pigs, crows, wedge-tail eagles or kites.
Similar conditions of reasonable pasture and some standing water existed in 2010 when the last mass deaths occurred. As there have been no deaths since late October, it is hoped the epidemic is over for the time being.
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22 responses
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
4 Dec 16
how sad :( there's so many thingies that jest seem to remain a mystery. i do hope that such 'tis o'er. most interestin' that the scavengers'd not've anythin' to do with 'em. that's a sure sign 'f somethin' really funky...
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
5 Dec 16
@JudyEv me neither, hon. most distressin' that 't seems they aint been? perhaps a lack 'f fundin' to be used's some sorta 'xcuse? sadly, what effects one batch 'f critters might someday spread to others...that'd jest be awful :( could e'en effect ones food supply.
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@JudyEv (339355)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Dec 16
@crazyhorseladycx At the moment it seems confined to a small, isolated area which is I guess one reason why they are not paying too much attention to it.
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@moffittjc (121540)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Dec 16
So sad to hear that! I never like to see mass deaths of any animals. I wonder if this is something natural that happens to kangaroos every so often, or is the result of something that man is causing? It's too bad that researchers couldn't find the cause after the 1998 and 2010 episodes. I wonder if it is some sort of virus or parasite?
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@moffittjc (121540)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Dec 16
@JudyEv Hmm...this mystery keeps getting bigger and bigger! Really weird that the younger kangaroos were not affected.
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@moffittjc (121540)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Dec 16
@JudyEv I was thinking the same thing you were...whether or not it had something to do with keeping the population in check. Isn't it amazing that other animals know when something is tainted or not? Us silly humans wouldn't know any better and we'd probably try to eat the meat or something. I wonder how animals can sense bad things like that but we can't?
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@JudyEv (339355)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 16
@moffittjc Usually the population would be kept in check by lack of food and/or water. And interesting that the report said no young animals seemed affected.
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@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
1 Dec 16
Oh my gosh how awful @JudyEv . Have they done any autopsies to indicate if it's some kind of poison?
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@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Dec 16
@JudyEv Well dang, you'd think they'd want to know.
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@JudyEv (339355)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 16
@nanette64 It's well away from anyone and anything so I guess they have better things to do - in their opinion anyway.
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@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
1 Dec 16
How strange, especially when the scavengers leave the bodies alone. I hope they can come to some sort of conclusion as to why this is happening.
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@JudyEv (339355)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Dec 16
@fishtiger58 You'd think the natural curiosity of scientists would make them keen to solve the mystery.
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@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
3 Dec 16
@JudyEv I hope that doesn't become a mistake not finding the cause.
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@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
1 Dec 16
That is so odd, they haven't been able to identify what the issue is? Sounds like some sort of virus
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@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
2 Dec 16
@JudyEv I don't get why they don't care, it is a shame
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@JudyEv (339355)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 16
@BelleStarr I guess it's miles from anywhere and there are dozens more roos so they're focussing their attention on something more urgent I guess.
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@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
31 Mar 17
I didn't know about the kangaroos dying of a mystery disease. How sad. I hope that situation is over by now. I see that you wrote this in December 2016. I missed it somehow.
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@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Dec 16
That is a real mystery. It gives the conspiracy theorists something to chew on.
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@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Dec 16
@JudyEv OMG, the aliens are invading in the form of possessed roos!
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@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
1 Dec 16
animals seem to have an instinct about what could be "bad" for them. it sounds like it can't be predicted and can't be contained, either, so the hope is that it's over and doesn't transfer to other species.
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@Hate2Iron (15727)
• Canada
1 Dec 16
I certainly hope that they can come up with an explanation... that really is sad!
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@JudyEv (339355)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Dec 16
It seems to have run its course now, thank goodness. But they still have no idea why it is happening.
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
1 Dec 16
It is interesting that the other scavengers do not touch the carcasses. I wonder if something is poisoning them?
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
1 Dec 16
Wow. Tragic. Kangaroos are so cool.
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