Why Kangaroos Hop

Long long ago, kangaroos used to cross the vast steppes of Australia strictly on all fours, just like the wild dogs called dingos, or the majestic lions who once roamed there. The kangaroos were happy to walk like that for centuries. That is, until the first men set foot on the Australian shores.

One day, a tribesman with a painted face and a spear in his hand was quietly prowling around the bush, looking for prey. A kangaroo, who was panting and hiding from the sun’s heat in the shadow of a tree, soon spotted the approaching danger. It was the first time the kangaroo had ever seen a human being.

However, with the man’s careful, sneaky steps and his sharp, pointy spear it was a clear giveaway that he was up to no good. The kangaroo became afraid.

The hunter was now very, very close. The kangaroo knew he needed to flee, and fast. At first, he thought running away would be easy for him. After all, he could run on all four legs and the human only used two.

But when he left his hiding place and the hunter started chasing after him, he quickly realized his mistake. Even though the man only had two legs, they were both much longer and stronger than his and he wasn't far behind.

The man kept chasing him for a long, long time and the kangaroo soon started getting tired. His only chance at that point was to quickly find a new shelter. Maybe, he hoped, the hunter would give up and go away? But the patient, painted man set up his camp right there, to wait through the night under the stars. He'd continue his hunting early in the morning.

The poor, scared kangaroo realized he needed to…