An otherwise quiet town in Australia is being hounded by a mob of aggressive kangaroos, forcing some people to stay indoors out of fear.
Maaroom, on the Fraser Coast region of Queensland, has a population of around just 219 people.
Over the past year the scenic place has seen numerous attacks by kangaroos, including in July when a 67-year-old woman was ambushed by one while she was out for an evening walk.
The victim reportedly needed hospital treatment for a broken femur, scratches and bite marks after the large marsupial knocked her over and repeatedly kicked her.
The animal eventually turned its attention to a man who had come at it with a stick, before the kangaroo chased him away.
Another reported kangaroo attack in the town resulted in one person suffering a spinal injury and their friend receiving numerous cuts on the arm.
Residents have been warned by wildlife officials to stay away from the invading eastern grey kangaroos in the area.
The town's neat and tidy coastal lawns are sometimes taken over by more than 15 kangaroos at a time.
Karen Sutcliffe, Maaroom Caravan Park manager, told ABC News : "There are too many to count, really. They're constantly hopping around the park in between caravans."
She said residents are now walking around with big sticks to protect themselves and added: ""They're just so quick you don't know where they are."
The park manager enjoys fishing in the afternoon but admitted she is too scared to go "just in case a kangaroo gets me".
Resident Mark Sidaway suggested that more rain in the area over the last two years has led to quicker-growing grass and encouraged the marsupials' breeding habits.
"They've multiplied because we have provided a Sizzler smorgasbord for them," adding that if people don't regularly mow their lawns it will attract the kangaroos.
Frank Mills, Department of Environment and Science manager for southern wildlife operations, observed that Maaroom's problem appeared unusual compared with other communities harassed by kangaroos.
He said: "We've counted more than 60 to 80 kangaroos on any given day within the town itself and the local forests that surround that wouldn't support that many kangaroos."
Mr Mills added that most of the attacks in Queensland are carried out by male kangaroos and mostly over territory or mating displays.
The department has had seven reports of attacks in the past 12 months, but it also been told of people allegedly feeding the animals.
The wildlife manager said this "can have a negative effect and encourage human interaction."
Conversely, there have been reports of others using "gel-blaster" to scare the animals away.
Elsewhere in Australia, a man was apparently attacked and killed by his pet kangaroo on September 11 - the first fatal attack by a kangaroo in the country since 1936.
Police said they were forced to shoot the wild animal dead so paramedics could reach and treat Peter Eades, 77, at his property near Albany, Western Australia.
However, the well-known alpaca breeder reportedly had extensive head injuries and died at the scene.
