Tributes pour in for Roger Australia's muscle-bound kangaroo

Roger, the muscle-bound kangaroo who won global fame for his size and strength, has died at the age of 12.

The animal, who was 6ft 7in and weighed 14 stone (89 kilos), first came to the world's attention in 2015 when “images of him crushing a metal bucket in his hands using his huge muscles went viral”, says the BBC.

The Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs, Australia, where Roger was cared for, said it was a “very sad day”.

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Roger was a joey when his mother was killed by a passing car near Alice Springs in 2006. “His luck turned when Chris Barns drove by and gave him a new home”, says The Guardian.

In a tribute video posted to Facebook, Barns said Roger inspired him to build a sanctuary to house the rapidly growing kangaroo and “a couple of his wives”.

He added: “Roger was our alpha male for many years, and he grew up to be a kangaroo that people from all over the world have grown to love as much as we love him too.”

“He will always be here - we've laid him to rest out here, so he can be with his family.”

“Roger was as muscular as they come,” Barns told the BBC.

The sanctuary often posted pictures and videos of Roger kickboxing and flexing his pectoral muscles. However, Roger mellowed in old age, becoming less aggressive and letting Barnes and other sanctuary staff pat him.

News of the animal’s death brought an outpouring of grief from the Australian public.

“He always brought a smile to my face. Such a proud strong boy,” the Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia wrote.

Among “more than 2,000 comments on the sanctuary's Facebook page”, says Sky News, Debbie Radde said there would be “many tears shed in Australia”.