This was published 5 years ago
Roger the ripped kangaroo dies at Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs, age 12
All muscle: Roger, the alpha male.Credit: Instagram/thekangaroosanctuary
Roger, the 'buff kangaroo', from The Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, has died at the age of 12.
The muscle-bound animal stood 2.007 metres from tip to tail and weighed in at 89 kilograms, putting him a head above the rest of the kangaroos at the sanctuary.
He had certainly come a long way since he was picked up as a tiny orphaned joey sitting on the side of the road beside his dead mother back in 2006.
Chris Barns at the Alice Springs Kangaroo Sanctuary.Credit: David Whitley
Roger made headlines in 2015 when he was pictured crushing a metal bucket with his paws.
Sanctuary manager Chris 'Brolga' Barnes announced Roger's death on Facebook on Saturday.
"It's a very sad day here today. We have lost our beautiful boy, Roger," he said.
Roger the kangaroo made headlines around the world for his workout regiment, which includes crushing metal buckets.Credit: Instagram/thekangaroosanctuary
"Ten years ago I built this sanctuary to house Roger and a couple of his wives ... I built it so they'd have a place to live. Roger was our alpha male for many years, and he grew up to be a kangaroo that people from all over the world have grown to love as much as we love him.
"So we will reflect on his life today and for the years to come. He will always be here, and we've laid him to rest out here so he can be with his family.
In 2016, Barnes spoke to Traveller about Roger's strength.
"He's a big boy, and very aggressive," he said while showing off several scars.
"That's Roger," he says pointing at one scar. "That's Roger too. There are another six stitches on my groin. They're Roger."
"Basically he's just a fighter," he said. "It's natural for an alpha male. He likes to see the threat go, so will always come out to confront you. If he grabs you, he doesn't let go. You can't get out easily. It's a chokehold. As for a well-placed kick, it can disembowel you."
Roger's fame spread as far as Japan, where plastic toys of the kangaroo in various poses were available from vending machines.
with Stuff.co.nz
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