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3. The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo

Episode 3 of 5

Vivienne Parry with the science behind Kipling's stories. So, why does the kangaroo jump? Readings by Samuel West. From 2014.

Vivienne Parry considers another of the animals from Rudyard Kipling's much loved Just So Stories for Children.

Assisted by researchers of 'infinite sagacity', she sets out to discover whether his fantasies contain any grains of truth?

So what about Old Man Kangaroo?

Jon Hutchinson and Maria Nilsson discuss how the kangaroo got his hop and why TV's Skippy is no longer considered Australian - at least, genetically.

Excerpts read by Samuel West.

Producer: Rami Tzabar

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2014.

Available now

15 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Wed 25 Jun 201413:45
  • Wed 7 Jan 201509:30
  • Wednesday09:30