[Pseudoscience-is-malarkey (OP)]

I hear talk about how some Aussies ride kangaroos both recreationally and professionally. Many down under say it is both a myth and impossible to do because kangaroos are too stupid to train and will without thinking, "beat the sh*t out of anyone that gets too close to them", let alone saddle 'em.

[evan_au]

Male grey kangaroos are typically under 70kg, while females typically are under 40kg.

So, conceivably, a small child could ride an adult male kangaroo.
- But I've never seen it done
- It would be dangerous - these males are strong and have a powerful kick (especially aggressive during mating season)
- The tendons in their legs act as a spring, to conserve energy when hopping. If your mass is 50% higher due to a passenger, the spring might break, or at lest be less effective, limiting speed and endurance

[alancalverd]

kangaroos are too stupid intelligent to train

An animal that has successfully populated every environment an entire and mostly hostile continent, including areas that have never been occupied by humans or been considered fit for agriculture, and has evolved to fight off every lethal species you can imagine (including humans), cannot be regarded as stupid. Indeed only native Australian humans (the only marginally successful predator) can come a close second.

Landing on Aussie airstrips requires some preparation. If the strip is occupied by camels, birds or cattle, you overfly a couple of times or radio the base and ask someone to chase them away. If it's a family of roos, you find somewhere else. They own the place.

[evan_au]

Note that kangaroos have a very low center of gravity - you would not be riding high on their backs, but low on their belly (roughly where the joey sits).

I heard about a military helicopter simulator, where one of the conditions was that it would emulate the action of kangaroos, which can give away your position by fleeing from an invisible helicopter.
- In the acceptance tests for the simulator, a helicopter approached a mob of kangaroos, and they bounded away in a very realistic manner.
- Then one of the kangaroos stopped, turned around, and fired a rocket-propelled missile at the helicopter
- It turned out that in simulating the mob of kangaroos, the manufacturer had repurposed an existing model for a platoon of infantry - they changed the icon, lengthened the stride, and dialled up their anxiety. They forgot to disarm them.

If it's a family of roos, you find somewhere else.

Kangaroos are most active around sunrise and sunset, so avoid those times...

[Zer0]

What about the name " Kangaroo "?

Capt. Cook or Gangurru?

🦘
(roo emoji)

[Bored chemist]

" Is it possible to ride a kangaroo?"
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

[wolfekeeper]

I heard about a military helicopter simulator, where one of the conditions was that it would emulate the action of kangaroos, which can give away your position by fleeing from an invisible helicopter.
- In the acceptance tests for the simulator, a helicopter approached a mob of kangaroos, and they bounded away in a very realistic manner.
- Then one of the kangaroos stopped, turned around, and fired a rocket-propelled missile at the helicopter
- It turned out that in simulating the mob of kangaroos, the manufacturer had repurposed an existing model for a platoon of infantry - they changed the icon, lengthened the stride, and dialled up their anxiety. They forgot to disarm them.

On the upside, the pilots avoided kangaroos very well after that.

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