Wambuwany Stands His Ground

Wambuwany Stands His Ground

Picture if you will: it's early Spring, I'm pottering around the bottom paddock, head down, bit of pruning, checking fruit trees, clearing irrigation drippers, weeding, spraying a few thistles, mmm quite a bit of fresh 'roo dung around, some grass has been eaten down too, hang on what's that grunting noise...whoa!

He's standing two metres high and giving me the eye, he takes a deep breath and as his chest expands his muscular arms open showing claws like eagle talons, then he exhales in a series of deep grunts, I'm blinking, he isn't. Then he starts to sway back on his tail, getting ready to transfer his weight and kick out with those great hind feet, the big toes have nails like daggers, so I back off and he calms slightly but stands his ground.

This is his favourite spot in the olive grove and he's not happy with any disturbance.  His poor condition especially around the hind quarters, reflects the current drought conditions.

This is Wiradjuri tribal land so his local name is Wambuwany.

Big males like this have specially thickened skin on the belly to protect them from kicks by rivals in territorial fights, and will easily kill or badly injure a dog or man who comes too close. I notice the flattened grass where he has been lying up in the shade and realise I'm in his territory, safe from dogs behind the paddock fences and close to water in the gully below. 

If cornered near a river or stream they will clasp a dog in their arms and jump into deep water, the front claws attack the opponent's head and eyes, and they bite. Then the poodles get his scent and race across baying like mini blood hounds, dancing round him like Squirrel Nutkin, me yelling at them to stop, this is too much and he turns his head disdainfully and takes off, up and over the barbed wire fence in a bound and is gone. However this is his territory so he'll be back...