Australia is a land of natural wonders, where the unexpected can become a reality in the blink of an eye. Such was the case recently when locals near a serene lake were treated to a spectacle that left them in awe.
The scene unfolded on a day like any other, with the sun casting its golden rays upon the tranquil waters. But what happened next was an unexpected sighting.
On Sunday, when the temperature ranged from mid to high 30s across the state, an animal that’s usually seen on land was reportedly spotted swimming near a flock of ducks at Lakeside Park in Pakenham, Victoria.
‘Kangaroo in the lake. Got [to] beat the heat somehow,’ a social media user reportedly wrote on Sunday in a Facebook post.
‘He jumped out of the lake, crossed the road safely and hopped away.’
A different person shared in another post, ‘… He swam to the other side and hopped out, and away he went. It was so hot, no wonder.’
Apparently, it’s not the first time a kangaroo was spotted cooling off in a lake. In December 2023, the land-dwelling marsupials were reportedly filmed hopping around in the water at a lake near Brisbane.
オーストラリアのブリスベンの近くの湖で、日の出頃に、カンガルーが水中に入って、ピョンピョン飛び跳ねている場面。カンガルーは泳ぎも得意で、捕食者に追われると水中へ逃げることもあります ©santiator, gusabellan pic.twitter.com/gjzFobnY4k
— Masayuki Tsuda (@MasayukiTsuda2) December 13, 2023
Kangaroos were also spotted, in a different instance, swimming on the coast. In November 2022, a drone captured a kangaroo swimming in the ocean off Bribie Island.
At the time, Doug Bazley, who was helping the Sunshine Coast Council in tracking turtles, unexpectedly filmed a kangaroo going for a swim.
‘I certainly couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. It was pretty crazy,’ he told ABC at the time.
‘They’re not exactly built for swimming. They don’t have the flippers on, that’s for sure. But I remember growing up out West. Every time we’d have floods, we’d often see kangaroos swimming across the rivers. They’re quite strong swimmers, actually.’
While kangaroos are often seen on land, they can actually swim. In fact, these animals indigenous to the country and New Guinea swim and cross rivers to protect themselves from predators.
To swim, they keep their heads on the surface to breathe while they paddle with their legs.
Have you ever encountered local wildlife in a surprising location? We at YourLifeChoices encourage you to share your own experiences of nature’s unexpected wonders.
Also read: Kangaroo makes an unexpected appearance at Bunnings store in Albany
