Woman, 94, Battles Rogue Kangaroo

The Australian Outback is home to millions of kangaroos—and some very tough old ladies. Phyllis Johnson, 94, is recovering in a local hospital after being attacked by a fully grown red kangaroo as she was hanging up her washing. The animal rained down kicks before she managed to fight it off with a broom and escape into her home. Police had to pepper spray the animal twice before it could be captured.

Police discovered that the kangaroo had been raised in captivity after being orphaned as a joey. It had been injured after being released into the wild and was recuperating at the home of a local wildlife caretaker, where it escaped its enclosure. Johnson says she doesn't want to see the animal that attacked her destroyed. "I don't want the roo set free in this area again in case it attacks someone else, but I definitely do not want it killed," she tells the Courier-Mail. "I would like to see it given to a zoo or some other such animal park where it can be looked after." (More Australia stories.)