How would you react if a kangaroo started coming to you every day to lie on the couch? And this is not the plot of a comedy movie, but a very real case.The hero of our story is a giant kangaroo named Rufus. He is a member of one of the largest kangaroo species found in eastern Australia.
Rufus was rescued when he was barely eight months old. Since then he has been living in the south of the country and lays on the couch for days, earning him the nickname “couch expert” among the locals.The owners Kim and Neil are always happy to have a guest.
They run their own animal shelter in Boston called Patch Kangaroo. It is designed specifically for animals that have fallen out of their mother’s bag and been abandoned.
The rescued orphans settle in fairly quickly and, uninhibited by humans, scurry around the shelter grounds.
But not Rufus. This animal is a real lazybones. Once he got human companionship, he immediately fell in love with peeking through the windows of the house. And one day, when the door was open, he went inside, noticed the couch and lay down on it. Since then, this procedure became a daily routine. The kangaroo comes in, lies down, cuddles with the owner, pretends to watch TV, and then goes to sleep peacefully.
The owners used to fight each other for space on the couch, but with the arrival of the kangaroo, the fighting has stopped. Rufus is kept company by his dog, Zarla, with whom he has become fast friends. You might think this is an idyll, but Australian law is very strict about wild animals. And by law, Rufus is not allowed to lie on the couch. He’s not even allowed in the house.
So the owners are forced to limit the lying down time and kick the kangaroo out the door. He does not go himself, so we have to take him out in his arms. And so every day.However, Rufus does not resist and always kisses his mistress goodbye.