Eyewitness to Australia:
Kangaroos Close Up
The U.S. has its American Eagle-- a natural, national symbol.
And in Australia, the most recognizable icon can fly, too-- not unlike an Olympic athlete-- but only when it's hopping.
News Specialist John Daley reports from Sydney.
On our first day in Australia, we checked out a spot not far from Syndney, where you can get really coze with kangaroos. Fittingly, it's nickname is Skippy's Park.
Everyone knows that nothing says "Australia" like kangaroos.
You know that they jump like crazy and have a convenient carrying pouch for their young. But what you may not know is that they have plenty of personality.
They are cute and cuddly. And, by turns, Roos are downright rambunctious--rasslin' with our Shelley Osterloh over puffed wheat in a paper bag.
Watarah Park, outside Sydney, is an Aussie landmark where you can see dozens of kangaroos cavorting.
Naish Hogan/Watarah Park Owner/Manager: "They're just unique animals. They're different, quite different to other animals I've encountered around the world."
Watarah Park is famous Down Under.
In the 60s, it was home to tv's "Skippy"--Australia's version of "Flipper."
Now, the park is home to Skippy's descendents, like 5-month-old "Blueie".
And it's a home away from home for the owner's 10 year-old daughter Louise.
Louise Hogan: "I don't think there's much of an animal that ever comes close to doing what they do. And they're very peculiar-looking things."
Kangaroos are fun-loving, good natured and curious.
It's like that ad: Kangaroo. Austrialian for Australia.
Naish Hogan/Watarh Park Owner/Manager: "I think the animals in many ways have similar dispositions to the people. Australian's generally are fairly easy-going. At least kangaroos certainly are."
It's interesting to note that the conditions for the pair of Australia's national symbols, koalas and kangaroos, could not be more different.
Koalas inhabit roughly the same area as humans and their status is endangered.
Kangaroos here are as common as deer are in the United States, and they're doing just fine.
