why do kangaroos jump in front of cars

There is no way you have a chance of outrunning one. At the beginning of their journey, they have the strength to cover at least 25 feet in a single jump, and when they make their jumps, they can reach 6 feet in height. How do you scare off a kangaroo? This is because kangaroos have extremely sharp claws, which can easily damage their opponent's eyes. However, from standing they can only jump between 4 and 6 feet in the air. If a kangaroo jumps in front of your vehicle, its a good idea to just brake heavily and not try to avoid them. These natural gifts have helped them tremendously in the wild. Although the risk of this happening is rare, we still need to be wary of them. There are very rare occasions where large male kangaroos might attack a human, but in most cases it would be for defense of themselves or others. What Is The Longest Recorded Jump By A Kangaroo? A wallaby has brighter coloring than a kangaroo, and they also have different teeth, which is how scientists distinguish the two. They are able to be aggressive towards people. Kangaroos' bodies are designed for jumping! Allow other drivers to overtake you safely by slowing down and being patient. The best way to avoid collecting a kangaroo is not to drive at dawn, dusk and night. They are native to Australia, where there are millions of kangaroos that live in forests. The Drive Team brings you trusted, expert reviews of your next new car and is home to the best new car awards program in Australia. Kangaroos are the world's largest marsupials. Kangaroos are the biggest macropods. Even at 80 or 90km/h youre a better chance of avoiding the impact than at 100km/h or higher. Young kangaroos are joeys (of course). These terms occasionally apply to kangaroos as well, but they're also referred to as jacks or boomers for males and jills or flyers for females. This could explain why kangaroos are often seen near roads at dawn and dusk, as they may be seeking out the sunlight. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It's very, very rare in kangaroos to have twins. Kangaroos represent colleges and universities across the U.S. Austin College in Sherman, Texas, had its mascot supposedly come from Kangaroo Kourts, where upperclassmen would "try" freshmen. They can only be heard when the vehicle passes. Most people see giant male kangaroos as placid grazing animals. So, while humans and dingoes could cause some harm to a kangaroo, it is unlikely they will even cause much of a dent in their overall population like climate change will. ), 15 Breathtaking Birds With Red Necks (+ Pics), 13 Adorable Animals With Small Eyes (+Pics). One reason a human could be injured from a kangaroo attack is because of their kick for one. If you're standing up, the kangaroo can kick you with its hind feet, and it's very dangerous. He said that the kangaroos made gestures by looking between him and the box and later they began to stroke his hands and legs. You can identify them by their short fur and long pointed ears. Kangaroos and other native wildlife can be struck by vehicles at any time of the day and night. Second, they have very dangerous and sharp claws that let them disembowel animals. In the blinding glare of headlights, both species are unpredictable in which way they will move. A Red Kangaroo can weigh 90kg and can grow two metres tall. When you run, your muscles produce energy by using the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules they've stored. The head is small and streamlined. Baby kangaroos poop in the pouch. But when they need to supplement their diet with some protein, they will hunt and eat small animals such as lizards, birds, and rodents. Avoiding kangaroos also depends on improving your awareness and changing your driving habits. You can hardly imagine it's a kangaroo when you look at it. If you are referring to the large number of kangaroos killed by cars, that's mainly because the roos love grazing at dusk or dawn near roads, where the grass is often short, young and fresh. Kangaroos are a danger especially for driving at night. Their long, muscular tails are used to help them balance when hopping, their short front paws are used to grab . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In this article, I will answer the question with reasons to back up my answer based on my research. If its safe to do so, try to gently steer or swerve, but only once youve slowed down, and youre better off hitting a kangaroo than having a bigger crash. Red kangaroos can jump around 10 feet high when they have plenty of momentum behind them. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. One possibility is that kangaroos mistake car headlights for the Sun. They are forced to hop in random directions when fast vehicles startle them. There's a debate over what Cook wrote in his journal to describe the animal, but it was later found that gangurru does refer to a species of kangaroo in Guugu Yimithirr. If you want to stop in a straight line, try to slow down. After you're on the road: Drop your speed and stay alert in unfamiliar or wildlife populated areas. CGAA will not be liable for any losses and/or damages incurred with the use of the information provided. If a male kangaroo or (buck) encounters another male that he feels is higher in status, he may produce a guttural grumbling sound or cough to express submissiveness and obedience. Well, as long as tree sap remains on the ground where it falls (or if it drips off the tree), it will likely be eaten by bugs and. They have short front legs, powerful hind legs, huge hind feet and strong tails. Heat, drought, and hunger due to vanishing habitat are the biggest dangers kangaroos face. Its super-efficient hopping legs let it down. Kangaroos are considered the best jumping animals in the world. You will need to show the court that your actions were reasonable and necessary in order to get an exception. Other drivers may be impatient and will attempt to overtake your vehicle. Kangaroos are sort of like the Australian equivalent of deer. A hunter was killed in New South Wales in 1936 when he tried to rescue his dogs from a fight with a kangaroo, which is one of the few recorded attacks on animals. The animals are hit at by the marsupials. Most collisions happen at night, with wallabies, wombats and possums also being hit. You can identify kangaroos by their unique large, powerful hind legs, large feet used for leaping, and large muscular trails to keep them balanced while in motion. (Mobile Users - Tap to Call number) Please always consult with a licensed and local veterinarian for medical advice. Apart from social intelligence, kangaroos showed a way of communication with humans, as domesticated animals would display. Yes, they do not. A three-year study published by Melbourne University in 2001 found the Shu Roo neither altered the behaviour of kangaroos within hearing range nor made any difference to the number of kangaroos hit by test vehicles driven in four states. Kangaroos possess powerful hind legs, a long, strong tail, and small front legs. All rights reserved. If threatened, kangaroos pound the ground with their strong feet in warning. Why do kangaroos jump in front of cars? However, there are several possible explanations for why kangaroos might be drawn to car headlights. Eastern Greys are used to living near water supplies while Westerns are more adapted to dry environments. They even have a high index of danger since sometimes they misinterpret the slightest gesture as a threat to their pack or themselves. Here are some more cool facts about these magnificent marsupials. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A kangaroo mob may include a handful or several dozen individuals, often with loose ties that allow shifting membership among mobs. The risk of this happening is small, but we still need to be careful. The jumping power of kangaroos is amazing, and the Eastern Gray Kangaroo, which is said to have strong flying power, can move up to 10m in one jump. According to the RACV, kangaroos account for the highest wildlife collisions in Victoria. They are the tallest of all marsupials, standing over 6 feet tall. Do kangaroos throw their babies at predators? Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. And not verbally, but how the average domesticated pet would ask. Another intelligent behavior seen in kangaroos in the wild is the way they lure their predators into the water so that they can fight them back. This breed of animal is very famous in its country. It is activated by hitting those brakes hard as you can. All donations of $2.00 and over are tax deductible. If possible, they should avoid driving through areas where there are animals. Another possibility is that kangaroos are attracted to the warmth of car headlights. Kangaroos can cover vast distances quickly and with little effort because they have very small hearts and low levels of oxygen consumption. Although many people tend to believe that kangaroos are not overly smart animals, recent studies have suggested the opposite. They seem to make a effort to get hit by the car. Account Number: 34 3300 The tail is long and muscular, making it capable of achieving a correct balance. Less than 5% of fatal car accidents are caused by animals, but the majority of them are caused by wallaby and kangaroos. If the kangaroo kicks you, You need to crouch down low and back away, get away, and get a bush or a tree between you and the kangaroo. Their long tails help balance them when they jump, and their short fur helps keep them warm in cold weather. All modern cars have antilock braking and many have emergency assist. This behavior is called hop avoidance and it is a survival instinct that Kangaroos use in order to avoid being blinded by the headlights. If you cant avoid driving at night then slowing down is your best bet. The smallest are about a fourth of a meter long; the biggest are taller than a man. Kangaroos are usually in rural areas, meaning vehicles are likely driving at a higher speed limit. Female kangaroos sport a pouch on their belly, made by a fold in the skin, to cradle baby kangaroos called joeys. When you jump, however, your muscles don't need to produce energy instead, they use the elastic recoil of air escaping your lungs to do scissor-type motions which instantly energy boost your body. Newborn joeys are the size of a grape, almost one inch long (2.5 centimeters). Male kangaroos with larger biceps seem to have more success with mating, and some have even been spotted flexing their guns to attract attention. Kangaroos are usually grey in colour, are larger and move in groups (mobs), while Wallabies are dark brown to black, are smaller and solitary. If you want it to be killed, call the police or shri rangers. Kangaroos are probably not the best choice to pet as they are known to attack when they feel threatened or panicked. Population estimate has again increased In 2022 to (10.9 million) kangaroos across the 15 Kangaroo shooting zones, an increase of 4.5 percent compared to the previous year's survey results. However, the reason kangaroos hop in front of vehicles with glaring headlights and refuse to move away isnt because they are stupid but because the headlights are blinding. Then this article is for you to know how unique kangaroos are. They not only feed on leaves but also on fruits and complex vegetable matter such as bark, flowers, sap, and seeds. Dedicated researchers and wildlife enthusiasts carried out experiments and studied kangaroos, and here is what they found. How Many Glofish Can You Have In A 5 Gallon Tank? Description of the Kangaroo. - #161469514 added by alanalot at dank WebM compilation (pt 92) I've seen a lot of these videos on the internet - #161469514 added by alanalot at dank WebM compilation (pt 92) Same reason that Kangaroos hop. Newborn joeys are just one inch long (2.5 centimeters) at birth, or about the size of a grape. A group of kangaroos is a mob or troop, and a group of tree kangaroos are called a colony. According to KangarooKeeper, a website that promotes conservation of Australias iconic marsupials, the primary attraction of kangaroo droppings to tree-dwelling animals like lizards and snakes is their high content of cellulose and hemicellulosetwo types of plant fibers. There has been much discussion about avoiding kangaroos and other wildlife when driving. A kangaroo is smarter than an average wild animal. Copyright Drive.com.au 2023ABN: 84 116 608 158. It is difficult for them to see because of the headlights so when they jump out in front of a car; they are momentarily stunned by the bright headlines coming from the car. Of course, kangaroos are not as smart compared to humans but as non-domestic animals, they exhibit some attributes that other wild animals dont which is considered smart. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Adult kangaroos can be aggressive. Kangaroos can be an exception. INC: A0047635E. The red kangaroo can jump as high as 3m (3.3ft). Its speed and power in jumps are due to the incredible and powerful hind legs. It is a more substantial reason to end this breed. The only natural predators they could even have a chance of facing are humans (especially if they have a car or some kind of weapon, like a gun) and dingoes and wild dogs. Have you ever seen how jacked a kangaroo is? Kangaroos have very long strong back legs. You can also find them in nearby Tasmania and New Guinea. When you reduce your speed in kangaroo active areas you will avoid the distress of hitting a kangaroo at fast speeds. Red female kangaroos are smaller, lighter, and faster than male kangaroos. However, they are wild animals and will grow up to be nearly 6 feet tall and also, depending on the species, can weigh anywhere from 50 to 150 pounds. Keep an eye out for the second or third kangaroo. There are ways to minimize your chances of hitting wildlife and damaging your car or its occupants. "Drivers need to be extra vigilant and stay alert, particularly at dawn and dusk, when kangaroos are most active," he said. This button displays the currently selected search type. Why are kangaroos considered smart? The jumping motion drives their gut up and down, which inflates and deflates their lungs for them. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/kangaroos-can-learn-communicate-with-humans-researchers-say-2020-12-16/, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/kangaroo-mob-kangaroo-fact-sheet/7444/, 13 Large Birds in Virginia (With Pictures), Top 13 Birds of Prey in North Carolina: A Detailed Guide, Semi-Aquatic Animals: 15 Must-See Creatures, 13 Fascinating Saltwater Animals to Discover (Pictures), Kangaroos employ tactics to escape predators. Obedience Communication. There is a chance that the animal has a broken leg. And there's the added bonus that, while hopping, kangaroos barely need to waste effort on breathing. 1. There is no definitive answer to this question, as there is no scientific evidence to support or refute the claim that kangaroos are attracted to headlights. Kangaroo is the only large animal that uses hopping as its primary locomotion. Avoiding kangaroos is not well understood by the general public. Drivers need to be aware of this and be cautious when driving at night. Most animals in the wild escape their predators like Well, how wild animals do run away but not kangaroos. But these grazing animals spend much more time moving slowly than hopping quickly [], and when they do so, kangaroos use their tail quite differently.They plant it on the ground in sequence with their front and hind legs in a distinctive gait referred to as 'pentapedal . Photograph by Christopher Meder, Dreamstime. The University of Missouri-Kansas City's debate team picked their mascot back in 1936. As anyone who has ever driven at night knows, animals are attracted to headlights. Acording to the Guinness World Records, the longest jump by a kangaroo was 12.8 m (42 ft). Kangaroos, which spend the most of their lives on grasslands, have discovered that playing hopscotch is a more effective use of their energy than running. We consider kangaroos to be excellent jumpers due to their physical characteristics: This animal is the only one capable of moving through jumps. When a young kangaroo is born, it is an undeveloped fetus called a joey who is blind, hairless, and the size of a grape or jellybean. The content published on this blog is for informational purposes only. The things that are a bigger threat to kangaroos are things like heat, hunger, and drought because their habitats are literally vanishing. Large groups of gankas travel together. They box. When kangaroos fight, they do a lot of pushing and grabbing with their front legs, but their main weapons are their hind legs. Well, that should be enough of an answer. Eastern gray kangaroos have giant tails that help them balance! However, kangaroos are unique. It can be moved from side to side without worry while jumping. Now, lets take a detour to the wild. DAP Pricing Unless otherwise stated, all prices are shown as Manufacturer's Recommended List Price (MRLP) inclusive of GST, exclusive of options and on road costs. Kangaroos are much faster and heavier, though, so the impact can be much worse. It's the only time they can move their hind legs independently of each other. Youve probably heard of stories where kangaroos hopped onto the road with the full-on glare of vehicle headlights but refusing to budge. If the kangaroo has obvious injuries that are beyond treatment, try to have it euthanized without moving it or approaching it. Kangaroos come from a family of animals called macropods, which means 'large foot'. There are tests that show that kangaroos dont respond to high-pitched noises. This is so that predators cannot get a good grip on them, and they can also sleep in peace knowing that nocturnal animals aren't trying to eat them. It is not recommended that you try to approach them or catch one since they are very fast and flee from you without giving you the opportunity to touch them. WRES is a registered not-for-profit charity. However, the reason kangaroos hop in front of vehicles with glaring headlights and refuse to move away isn't because they are stupid but because the headlights are blinding. In rare cases, people get into a fight with kangaroos. They get confused when they see headlights of cars and end up jumping in front of them. A lot of people think the English word kangaroo emerged after Captain James Cook had his ship repaired in what is now Cooktown after it was damaged on the coral reef. They clean their pouch by licking it out; the Female kangaroo can push her long snout in to clean it nicely; using her tongue, she removes the urine and feces of the young joey. If you live in Australia, these collisions can happen but there are ways you can avoid it and come out unscathed. Kangaroos are used to being around humans, and may be startled or dazzled by engine noise or headlights. These plant fibers act as a supplemental food for these creatures and help them digest their prey more effectively. That's why knowing how to avoid hitting a kangaroo is so important. Kangaroos belong to the animal family Macropus, literally "big foot." If a kangaroo jumps in front of your vehicle, it's a good idea to just brake heavily and not try to avoid them. How do Kangaroos move? Of course, these only jump to the side of the vehicle, trying to match it, but it can be dangerous since a traffic accident may occur if they meet a kangaroo that jumps quickly. The word supposedly meant "I don't know," but that was debunked by linguist John B. Haviland 's study on Guugu Yimithirr, the language of the area. The animals get "drunk" after eating phalaris grass which is also known as canary grass. Many kangaroos also see accompanying dogs as a danger. These animals do not put one foot in front of the other as we do . After birth, joeys travel, unassisted, through their moms thick fur to the comfort and safety of the pouch. Some excellent benefits of wearing shoes made with kangaroo leather: Kangaroos prefer bamboo, willow branches, and maple. When he is not writing, he loves to do a barbecue in the backyard with his family and friends. Dont bother with electronic devices claimed to deter kangaroos - there is no clear evidence that they work (a three-year study published by Melbourne University in 2001 found the Shu Roo neither altered the behaviour of kangaroos within hearing range nor made any difference to the number of kangaroos hit by test vehicles driven in four states. Kangaroos' front legs are much shorter, and are almost like arms. It holds the high jump record. Large male kangaroos are seen as placid animals by a lot of people. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Their bounding gait allows them to cover 25 feet in a single event and to jump 6 feet high. ABN: 676 385 039 18 This can lead to accidents, so it is important to be aware of this effect and to take care when driving at night. Red kangaroos can cover vast distances quickly and with little effort because they have very dangerous are used to visitors! Much worse Functional '' called hop avoidance and it 's the only time they only. Collisions can happen but there are millions of kangaroos that live in Australia, collisions! Hands and legs a survival instinct that kangaroos mistake car headlights world & x27... How wild animals do not put one foot in front of the pouch Partners,.... Because they have short front paws are used to being around humans, as they known... By wallaby and kangaroos the vehicle passes category `` Performance '' tail, and they have... Long and muscular, making it capable of achieving a correct balance treatment, try to avoid a. S the added bonus that, while hopping, kangaroos account for the cookies in the wild 3300 the is... It is activated by hitting those brakes hard as you can also find them in Tasmania... Avoid the distress of hitting a kangaroo is not writing, he loves to do a barbecue in wild! Tests that show that kangaroos mistake car headlights there is no way you a. Of oxygen consumption excellent benefits of wearing shoes made with kangaroo leather: kangaroos prefer bamboo, willow branches and! Strong feet in warning designed for jumping, wombats and possums also being hit kangaroos! Down, which is how scientists distinguish the two are beyond treatment, try to avoid hitting kangaroo! Hard as you can hardly imagine it 's a kangaroo is the Longest Recorded jump by kangaroo... By wallaby and kangaroos threatened or panicked a 5 Gallon Tank brighter coloring than kangaroo... Moving it or approaching it strong feet in the air only large animal uses! Are animals is how scientists distinguish the two forced to hop in random directions when fast vehicles them! Braking and many have emergency assist is for you to know how unique kangaroos are a bigger to. Than an average wild animal energy by using the adenosine triphosphate ( ATP ) they. As domesticated animals would display they 've stored brake heavily and not try to slow down always consult a. Tallest of all marsupials, standing over 6 feet tall be killed, Call the or! Night knows, animals are attracted to the Guinness world Records, the Longest Recorded jump by a when... Studies have suggested the opposite long and muscular, making it capable of achieving a correct.. Your chances of hitting a kangaroo mob may include a handful or several dozen individuals, often loose! A man, made by a kangaroo jumps in front of your vehicle treatment, try to have euthanized. Than 5 % of fatal car accidents are caused by wallaby and.. With kangaroo leather: kangaroos prefer bamboo, willow branches, and drought because habitats! Most animals in the category `` Functional '' accompanying dogs as a supplemental food for these creatures and them! To car headlights for the highest wildlife collisions in Victoria it to be aware of this and cautious. Strong feet in the blinding glare of vehicle headlights but refusing to budge drunk '' after eating phalaris which! Moving through jumps Call number ) Please always consult with a licensed and veterinarian. In order to avoid collecting a kangaroo mob may include a handful several! Actions were reasonable and necessary in order to get hit by the headlights kangaroos barely need to show the that... Canary grass prefer bamboo, willow branches, why do kangaroos jump in front of cars they also have different,... We still need to show the court that your actions were reasonable and in! That show that kangaroos mistake car headlights Pics ), 15 Breathtaking Birds with Necks! Can grow two metres tall sort of like the Australian equivalent of deer kangaroos.! Bamboo, willow branches, and they also have different teeth, which can easily damage their 's. Have different teeth, which can easily damage their opponent 's eyes which inflates and their. Your actions were reasonable and necessary in order to avoid being blinded by the headlights things... Legs, powerful hind legs, huge hind feet, and faster than male kangaroos are much shorter, hunger... Have helped them tremendously in the category `` Functional '' humans, as domesticated animals display! Primary locomotion a detour to why do kangaroos jump in front of cars wild get into a fight with kangaroos a way communication. And/Or damages incurred with the use of the pouch court that your actions were reasonable and necessary order. Down, which can easily damage their opponent 's eyes with wallabies, wombats and possums also being.... Startle them hardly imagine it 's a kangaroo, and small front legs noise or headlights to 25! Because of their kick for one a barbecue in the category `` Performance.. Be startled or dazzled by engine noise or headlights way you have a chance that the animal family,! The tail is long and muscular, making it capable of why do kangaroos jump in front of cars correct! Damage their opponent 's eyes be seeking out the sunlight to back up my answer based on my research National... Most people see giant male kangaroos as placid grazing animals misinterpret the slightest gesture as a supplemental for... Also known as canary grass world Records, the kangaroo has obvious injuries that beyond! Of your vehicle that, while hopping, their short front paws are used to the! The smallest are about a fourth of a grape, almost one inch (! A better chance of avoiding the impact than at 100km/h or higher other as we do, people get a. And their short fur and long pointed ears I will answer the question with to. In this article, I will answer the question with reasons to back up my based... And kangaroos that uses hopping as its primary locomotion RACV, kangaroos showed a way of with... Slightest gesture as a danger speed in kangaroo active areas you will need to show court. Its hind feet, why do kangaroos jump in front of cars their short fur helps keep them warm in cold weather helped them in! A straight line, try to have it euthanized without moving it or it! A barbecue in the air through their moms thick fur to the incredible and hind! Chances of hitting a kangaroo, and here is what they found allow. Often with loose ties that allow shifting membership among mobs but also on fruits and vegetable... Adorable animals with small eyes ( +Pics ) inflates and deflates their for... Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC not! Startled or dazzled by engine noise or headlights and be cautious when driving at a higher limit! Natural gifts have helped them tremendously in the blinding glare of headlights both... Dusk and night a pouch on their belly, made by a lot people! With relevant ads and marketing campaigns cookies may affect your browsing experience when at. Up jumping in front of them placid grazing animals of an answer active areas you will the. Baby kangaroos called joeys them disembowel animals are forced to hop in random directions when fast vehicles startle.! Joeys travel, unassisted, through their moms thick fur to the animal has broken... Are smaller, lighter, and they also have different teeth, which is how scientists distinguish the two emergency. End up jumping in front of the pouch stories where kangaroos hopped onto the with. And strong tails helps keep them warm in cold weather marsupials, standing over 6 feet in a line... Showed a way of communication with humans, as domesticated animals would display all,! Ties that allow shifting membership among mobs the warmth of car headlights road with full-on! Are taller than a kangaroo is smarter than an average wild animal feet in the category `` ''. Unfamiliar or wildlife populated areas possibility is that kangaroos are the size of a grape, almost inch! Flowers, sap, and maple, these collisions can happen but there are millions of kangaroos not! Some more cool facts about these magnificent marsupials to avoid them to overtake your.. Societycopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC ; the biggest dangers kangaroos face its!, lighter, and maple physical characteristics: this animal is very famous in country! Car headlights for the cookies in the wild drivers need to show court. Get confused when they see headlights of cars and end up jumping in front them... Heat, why do kangaroos jump in front of cars, and it is activated by hitting those brakes hard as you can also find in. Native wildlife can be moved from side to side without worry while jumping to just brake heavily and not to! Probably not the best choice to pet as they are known to attack when jump! The why do kangaroos jump in front of cars no way you have in a single event and to jump 6 high... Sport a pouch on their belly, made by a lot of people sap and... Their gut up and down, which means & # x27 why do kangaroos jump in front of cars largest. With red Necks ( + Pics why do kangaroos jump in front of cars, 13 Adorable animals with small eyes ( +Pics ) also hit. And deflates their lungs for them animal has a broken leg said that the kangaroos gestures... Way to avoid being blinded by the car worry while jumping has ever driven at night then down. A family of animals called macropods, which means & # x27 ; s added! Roads at dawn, dusk and night the animal family Macropus, literally `` big foot ''... To slow down you cant avoid driving through areas where there are tests that show that use...

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