Caught: Sentimental, Decorative Kangaroo Identities in Popular Culture

Abstract

The Château near the town of Chantilly in France is open to the paying public and among the attractions are: a rare book library, an important art collection, and nine small grey kangaroos.¹ I was surprised to discover this zoo since there were no other living exotic animals exhibited; the kangaroos, however, did not seem surprised when I approached. The location meant that these captive kangaroos were an unexpected and pleasing encounter for me. Further, the liveness of the kangaroos contrasted with the deadness of the taxidermied animals inside the Château. Amongst the numerous paintings and sculptures of individual hunting dogs, there are two flat lion skins with heads hanging vertically on the wall either side of a large door in an expansive dining hall. In the social hierarchy of wild animals, the hunting of ‘innocuous’ kangaroos never acquired the status of safari hunting for ‘ferocious’ lions. Consequently the caught kangaroo acquired greater value as a live exhibit than as a decorative wall trophy.