Grateful Kangaroo Offers Handshake After Three Men Rescue It from Freezing Lake

Helping animals in need is always a deeply touching experience, even when the creatures receiving help do not express appreciation in the same way humans might. Although they often cannot communicate gratitude through familiar gestures or expressions, there are rare and beautiful moments when animals offer their own subtle signs of thanks. A recent encounter with a kangaroo captured one of these moments perfectly, showing how a simple and gentle action from an animal can have a powerful emotional impact on the people who stepped in to help.

As reported by Daily Mail Australia, a man named David Boyd noticed a kangaroo struggling in the freezing waters of Lake Burley Griffin, located in Canberra. The poor animal was stuck and couldn’t manage to get out of the icy lake by itself.

Without hesitation, two brave bystanders decided to act. They carefully waded into the freezing water, determined to rescue the distressed kangaroo. They approached the animal cautiously, making sure not to scare it further. However, as soon as they got close and attempted to grab its arms to guide it out, the frightened kangaroo began to thrash around, trying to defend itself.

Despite the challenge, the men held firm and were able to secure the animal, carefully leading it out of the cold water. Once on dry land, a third individual stepped in to assist, helping calm the terrified and trembling kangaroo. Though these men were gentle, it’s important to remember that kangaroos, when threatened, can become dangerous. With powerful arms capable of throwing punches like a trained boxer, sharp claws, and a kick that could potentially cause serious injury, including disembowelment, handling them isn’t without risk.

Fortunately, in this case, the kangaroo seemed to understand that the men were there to help, not harm. In a truly touching moment, the animal extended its paw as though offering a handshake, a small but significant gesture of thanks.

“Aww, he’s thanking you,” one of the men capturing the rescue on camera said, clearly moved by the kangaroo’s unexpected response.

According to Daily Mail Australia, the kangaroo was initially in a state of shock, needing about thirty minutes to fully calm down. However, as Courier Mail reported, after a bit of rest and recovery, the animal eventually hopped away, seemingly unharmed by the whole ordeal.

This story serves as a reminder of the kindness people show toward animals and the small, special ways those animals sometimes express their gratitude in return.

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