Overview

Almost every animal carries a symbolic meaning for humans - in the case of the kangaroo it is that of peculiarity and strangeness, a reputation that throughout history has led to a troubled relationship betweenmankind and marsupial. Written in a lively and approachable style, Kangaroo relates the story of this odd, yet much-loved creature in Australian and global history, with a particular focus on how the image of the kangaroo has been used and abused. As well as describing the physiology and lifecycle of this unique animal, John Simons outlines the kangaroo in indigenous Australian culture. He looks at the fate of the kangaroo on first contact with Europeans, and considers the wider kangaroo diaspora, including zoo animals and wild populations across Japan and the USA.

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9781861899224

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Reviews

This study, part of a terrific series, is an entertaining, informed, concise but comprehensive introduction to the beast. . . . It's the symbolic power of the animal, the way it has become so emblematic of the country here and internationally, from the idealised depictions in Skippy to boxing kangaroos and almost infinite commercial use, to darker depictions in literature and film of kangeroo culls, that preoccupies much of this finely illustrated text. --The Age Kangaroos signify the other and, indeed, much about them is outlandish. The species is subject to ignorance, but as Simons argues, it has much to teach us. A thorough and entertaining read about a species too many here take for granted. --Sydney Morning Herald

Author Information

John Simons is Executive Dean of Arts at Macquarie University, Australia, and Fellow of the Zoological Society of London and the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. His previous books include Animal Rights and the Politics of Literary Representation (2002) and Rossetti's Wombat (2008).

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