# Aussies: when kangaroos wander around in Canberra, where do they come \*from\*?\[Now on Aussie slang\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494 "2018-07-07T22:33:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/41 "2018-07-10T14:23:08Z")
Back to OP. > [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > …BTW, learning and learning when to use the word “bush” is another of the things I’ve learned from this OP so far… True questions: 1. Is there a difference between “the outback” and “the bush?” 1a. Is “outback” properly written “Outback”/cap “O?” ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/42 "2018-07-10T14:25:38Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I’m pretty sure this OP is just itching to turn into **Ask an Aussie about Famously Weird-Ass Fauna in Oz** Yes, please! ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/43 "2018-07-10T15:20:38Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > [hijack, sort of, due to SerenDipitous[sup]TM[/sup] news story today] > > **Aussies: Why did authorities trap this croc in the first place?** > > **[Rangers capture mammoth crocodile after decade-long hunt](https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/rangers-capture-mammoth-crocodile-after-decadelong-hunt/news-story/0340de36849cee5787f34c5391385976)** > _IT TOOK 10 years but rangers have finally caught the biggest croc in the Katherine River — weighing in at a whopping 600kg_. > > And what the heck does “a ten year hunt” mean? Was it the Great White Croc famous in Aussie myth and lore or something? > > [/hijack] I’ll take this one. I used to work for Parks & Wildlife in the NT. The NT government has had a fairly longstanding practice of removing “problem crocs” from areas frequented by humans. In this case, this part of the Katherine River is frequented by kayaking tourists, fisherpeople, a popular boat tour, even swimmers. (My sister has swum here recently!) Crocs can be deemed problematic if they’re big scary fuckers like this one, or if they act aggressively toward humans or boats. The removed crocs are sold to croc farms for breeding purposes. They can’t just be released elsewhere, as crocs are very territorial, and will travel long distances to return to a favoured home range. As for the ten year hunt, it’s newspaper hyperbole mostly, but there had been sightings and records of a big 'un in this area for a long time, and traps set there regularly without success. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/44 "2018-07-10T15:22:37Z")
Where do kangaroos come from? Well… when a mommy kangaroo and a daddy kangaroo love each other very much, they have a special way of hugging… ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/45 "2018-07-10T15:33:07Z")
[What a fun thread!] ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/46 "2018-07-10T15:37:09Z")
And how the heck do you trap a croc anyway?\* Corral and dart them (as with the Loch Ness croc)? Throw chickens with undigested Quaaludes? Wiki unaccountably is mum. \*Croc Traps: band name. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/47 "2018-07-10T15:45:53Z")
Which part of the country do the big ass crabs that walk on land live? ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/48 "2018-07-10T16:08:03Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > And how the heck do you trap a croc anyway?\* Corral and dart them (as with the Loch Ness croc)? Throw chickens with undigested Quaaludes? Wiki unaccountably is mum. > > \*Croc Traps: band name. [Croc traps](https://newsport.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Croctrapdicko.jpg) are large floating steel mesh boxes baited with (usually) a whole chicken. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/49 "2018-07-10T16:09:10Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Which part of the country do the big ass crabs that walk on land live? Do you mean coconut crab? They live on islands in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Not including Australia. [Coconut crab - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_crab) ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/50 "2018-07-10T16:20:02Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Which part of the country do the big ass crabs that walk on land live? Christmas Island, and Australian Territory in the Indian Ocean. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/51 "2018-07-10T16:26:53Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > Do you mean coconut crab? They live on islands in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Not including Australia. [Coconut crab - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_crab) I don’t think that’s them (though those are horrifying). I have a vague memory from a few years back of some of our Aussie dopers talking some form of giant crab that was invading not just the beach but actually marching (sidling?) on into town and they were everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/52 "2018-07-10T16:38:07Z")
> [@Gleena](#): > > Christmas Island, and Australian Territory in the Indian Ocean. OMG, I guess it is them after all. How the hell do people deal with that? Obvious answer is I guess they’re used to them but I’m just about paralyzed by looking at photos of them :eek: ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/53 "2018-07-10T17:00:35Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I don’t think that’s them (though those are horrifying). I have a vague memory from a few years back of some of our Aussie dopers talking some form of giant crab that was invading not just the beach but actually marching (sidling?) on into town and they were everywhere. I’d have said the more famous arthropod residents of Christmas Island are the 50 million red crabs that migrate annually from the forest to the beach. They’re more impressive for their numbers and behaviour than for their size, about 10cm across. > **[Red crab migration](https://parksaustralia.gov.au/christmas/people-place/red-crabs.html)** > > Christmas Island’s mass red crab migration is one of the most incredible natural processes on Earth. Every year, millions of these large crabs emerge from the rainforest and make their way to the ocean to breed, swarming across roads, streams, rocks... ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/54 "2018-07-10T17:14:27Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > I’d have said the more famous arthropod residents of Christmas Island are the 50 million red crabs that migrate annually from the forest to the beach. They’re more impressive for their numbers and behaviour than for their size, about 10cm across. > > [Redirecting…](https://parksaustralia.gov.au/christmas/people-place/red-crabs.html) Oh, hell no. I’ll stick with the koalas, thank you (I have the San Diego zoo koala cam on and I’ve been looking at the back of one’s woolly, _non-moving_ head for about two hours now.) ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/55 "2018-07-10T17:22:11Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > Do you mean coconut crab? They live on islands in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Not including Australia. [Coconut crab - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_crab) “It is the largest land-living arthropod in the world, and is probably at the upper size limit for terrestrial animals with exoskeletons in recent times…” Cool fact–thanks! Definitely going into my cocktail-party conversation tool kit. Still in play: > [@txjim](#): > > What about dingos? Are they kept away from playgrounds? > [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > … > > 1. Is there a difference between “the outback” and “the bush?” > 1a. Is “outback” properly written “Outback”/cap “O?” ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/56 "2018-07-10T20:01:33Z")
Dingos are almost exactly comparable to coyotes. Do Americans parents worry that a coyote will go on a rampage at a local playground? The few documented cases of dingos displaying aggression toward humans usually have extenuating circumstances. The tragic death of a young kid on Fraser Island, for example, was partly caused by habituation, unwitting tourists feeding wild animals and changing their behaviour. Outback vs. bush: I think outback is less commonly used, and is more likely to refer to more remote, and especially desert regions. Bush, after all, implies some vegetation. Don’t capitalize it, despite the Wikipedia article… :dubious: There are some more idiomatic usages, e.g., “going bush,” to leave civilization. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/57 "2018-07-10T21:19:38Z")
Perfect segue. Another “Ask an Aussie” I thought of today, even before I learned (just now) about “going bush.” Is “walkabout” a fairly normal word out there (solo experience of _wanderlust_, whatever)–I only heard or read it used by a semi-rich American drunk I once worked for, on his way to rich-drunk it merrily around the world for a few months, and I thought he was affected as hell after I went and looked it up for using the damn word in America unless it was exactly necessary. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/58 "2018-07-10T21:54:56Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Perfect segue. Another “Ask an Aussie” I thought of today, even before I learned (just now) about “going bush.” > > Is “walkabout” a fairly normal word out there (solo experience of _wanderlust_, whatever)–I only heard or read it used by a semi-rich American drunk I once worked for, on his way to rich-drunk it merrily around the world for a few months, and I thought he was affected as hell after I went and looked it up for using the damn word in America unless it was exactly necessary. I believe some native American tribes had some similar initiation activity, although the word certainly comes from the Australian term. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/59 "2018-07-10T22:52:28Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Back to OP. > True questions: > > 1. Is there a difference between “the outback” and “the bush?” > 1a. Is “outback” properly written “Outback”/cap “O?” 1. Yes, certainly. While there’s no demarcation line The Outback is Central Australia and remote. There are very few population centres except Alice Springs (pop 25,000), the landscape is generally flat, few trees, no permanent rivers. The only significant industries are mining and grazing. The [Outback](http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiswY_xy5XcAhUtC6YKHQH7B5IQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ntwc.org.au%2F25827842-australian-bush-outback%2F&psig=AOvVaw06mTYFYNXhHLgG8WmD_ODC&ust=1531348069474438) or [this](https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=imgres&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwidsd6YzZXcAhXMkpQKHZOuCMUQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.merriam-webster.com%2Fwords-at-play%2F7-bonzer-australian-words&psig=AOvVaw35fdAj7BZySyPJRsR3BCzv&ust=1531348860877968) The bush extends right to the coastline, varies widely in climate and topography. The bush has trees, scrub, better access to water and people live in the bush. The [bush](http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjx6ZjazpXcAhWDGJQKHVkAC5AQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dianneyoong.com%2Fmurray-river-picnicpoint%2F&psig=AOvVaw0F5htL_zL9oeuLcKfnQGqI&ust=1531349253787239) or [this](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e8/41/b5/e841b501fb1c50b828a4016ebc34398e.jpg) or [this](https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj1oKrIz5XcAhUWFYgKHdkRA8IQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestsydneywalks.com%2Fgovetts-leap-lookout-bridal-veil-falls%2F&psig=AOvVaw123TwQ_nuOzPY3iZJ0zvHW&ust=1531349482126199) ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494/60 "2018-07-10T23:43:38Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Perfect segue. Another “Ask an Aussie” I thought of today, even before I learned (just now) about “going bush.” > > Is “walkabout” a fairly normal word out there … Walkabout started as a shorthand for the behaviour of Aboriginal people in the 19th century, who would leave what they were doing without explanation to attend to social and religious obligations. Because this was usually secret business, even from other indigenous people they would not give warning or say where they had been. Its taken on a more general usage for anyone going off without an apparent reason or plan, so a few old folks I know who like to ramble around talk about it as going walkabout. Or your car keys may have gone walkabout if they are not where you think you left them. As well as outback and the bush, there is also Woop Woop [not to be confused with Wagga Wagga]. You can get a good view of the Never Never from there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussies-when-kangaroos-wander-around-in-canberra-where-do-they-come-from-now-on-aussie-slang/817494.md?page=4)