Outrage grows as ‘Today’ show’s ‘most Australian’ joke backfires

It’s not every day that a morning TV segment sparks a national debate, but that’s exactly what happened after Channel Nine’s Today show aired a video featuring a beloved local kangaroo being harassed by a large dog. 

What was intended as a light-hearted ‘Australian moment’ has instead left animal lovers, wildlife experts, and local residents deeply upset—and has shone a spotlight on a much bigger issue facing our native wildlife.

The segment, which aired earlier this week, showed the Today hosts chuckling as they described the kangaroo as ‘very menacing’ and called the encounter with the dog ‘the most Australian thing’. But for those who know the kangaroo—affectionately named Nigel by the Rowville community in Melbourne’s southeast—the laughter was anything but funny.

Sue Johnson, a local shelter operator who’s known Nigel for years, was heartbroken. ‘Nigel is a very gentle kangaroo. I’ve known that kangaroo for four years and I know his movements, but I can’t find him,’ she told reporters. Since the incident, Nigel hasn’t been seen, and locals are worried he may have been seriously injured or worse.

While the video may have seemed harmless to some, wildlife experts warn that such encounters can have devastating consequences for kangaroos. Sue Johnson, after reviewing alternative footage, noticed worrying signs: ‘Once the dog has gone, he stands up to turn around and his right leg is swivelling. And it shouldn’t be doing that.’ She fears Nigel could be suffering from myopathy—a stress-induced disease in marsupials that can lead to a slow, painful death.

Helen Round, another Victorian shelter operator, echoed these concerns: ‘One bite is all it takes. The kangaroo [now could face] a slow, agonising death.’

The Today show’s social media post of the segment quickly attracted hundreds of comments, with many Australians expressing outrage at the tone. ‘Everyone forgets that poor roo is simply trying to protect himself,’ one person wrote. ‘This ain’t funny,’ said another. The consensus was clear: this was no laughing matter.

Wildlife experts agree. Professor Euan Ritchie, a wildlife ecology expert at Deakin University, called the video ‘distressing’ and pointed out that both animals were at risk. ‘Large males are very powerful animals with long sharp claws and powerful feet and are quite capable of killing a dog,’ he explained. ‘Of course, there’s also the possibility that the dog will harm the kangaroo, which is protected native wildlife. And then on top of that, there are pedestrians and drivers in the vicinity of the panicked kangaroo and it could potentially hit a car or bystander. Really the whole situation is quite worrying and problematic, and certainly nothing to make a joke about.’

This incident has highlighted a wider issue: many Australians still don’t fully understand the dangers of letting domestic pets interact with native wildlife. Kangaroo expert and documentary maker Mick McIntyre warns that if dogs aren’t kept on leashes, kangaroos will be forced out of our suburbs. ‘When you see a wild kangaroo, give it space, do not harass it,’ he said. ‘The TV commentary made much hilarity. But imagine if that dog had been injured by the kangaroo, their commentary [could] have changed very quickly, blaming the kangaroo. The kangaroo is our national icon and deserves our care and respect.’

Alyssa Wormald, founder of the Victorian Kangaroo Association, put it bluntly: ‘This is presented as a titillating story, but really it is just desperately sad. Not only has this magnificent kangaroo been displaced by suburbia, he is fighting for his life against a dog.’

While the Today show may not have intended any harm, this incident is a timely reminder that our national icons deserve more than to be the butt of a joke. As Australians, we pride ourselves on our unique wildlife—let’s make sure we treat it with the respect and care it deserves.

Have you ever witnessed a similar encounter between pets and wildlife? How do you think we can better protect our native animals? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below—let’s keep the conversation going and work together for a safer, kinder Australia for all creatures, great and small.

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