UPDATED: 6:08 p.m. July 29, 2008
Zoo Atlanta kangaroo comes out swinging at keeper


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/29/08

Zoo Atlanta officials were keeping a sharp eye on Charlie the kangaroo Tuesday, two days after he grabbed a zookeeper trying to clean his exhibit area at the Grant Park attraction.

The incident, which officials said lasted only about 10 seconds, was caught on a camera phone over the weekend and posted on YouTube.

See video of attack
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Neither the zookeeper nor Charlie were hurt, said Lisa Smith, curator of large animals for Zoo Atlanta.

Officials said Charlie, who stands as much as 6 feet tall when fully upright, had been showing increased levels of aggression because his female partner, Uluru, is ovulating.

"The male kangaroo got a little too frisky with the zookeeper and grabbed her around the neck," Smith said.

Smith said Charlie, who is 6 years old and weighs about 141 pounds, is the breeding male of Zoo Atlanta's half-dozen kangaroos. He and Uluru, who is 12, had a joey in January, and the young kangaroo just emerged from Uluru's pouch during the last week, a signal that she is ready for breeding, Smith said.

The video shows the zookeeper standing in the kangaroo exhibit near Charlie when he grabs at her neck and shoulder. The keeper, who is holding a shovel and other cleaning equipment, bounces back as Charlie hops to kick her in the legs a couple of times.

A second zookeeper, who is standing nearby, intervenes by pulling the animal's hands off the first zookeeper. Charlie then hops away, stopping to cast a wary eye before moving toward the rest of the kangaroos.

Smith said zookeepers will refrain from cleaning Charlie's exhibit area with him in it until after the breeding period has ended, which could be another four to five days. Instead, they will bring him inside the building by luring him with his favorite snacks -- peanut butter sandwiches and leaf-eater biscuits. They will then go into the exhibit and clean.

Smith said the exhibit is cleaned every day.

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