Scientists Have Identified Australia’s Most Frightening Predator

Kangaroos and wallabies are more fearful of human ‘super predators’ than they are of dogs, devils, or wolves.
Australia is devoid of large, fearsome carnivores such as lions and wolves. Consequently, native marsupials like kangaroos and wallabies exhibit relatively little fear toward dogs and other introduced predators, likely due to their evolutionary inexperience with large mammalian threats. This, however, overlooks the 50,000-year-long presence in Australia of the world’s most fearsome predator – the human ‘super predator.’
A new study conducted by Western University biology professor Liana Zanette, in collaboration with Calum Cunningham and Chris Johnson from the University of Tasmania, demonstrates kangaroos, wallabies, and other Australian marsupials fear humans far more than any other predator. The findings of the study were published recently published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.