Watch: Australian man under investigation for punching a kangaroo in the face to save his dog

When a young man with cancer received his terminal diagnosis, as one of his last wishes, he decided to hunt for wild boar with his friends. But the group of men also ran into something else they weren't quite prepared for: an ill-intentioned kangaroo.

After one of their trained hunting dogs began chasing the scent of a boar, it was caught and held hostage by the large kangaroo. The dog's owner decided to intervene in an effort to save his dog.  The exchange can be seen below:

The man, 34-year-old Greig Tonkins, also happens to be a zookeeper who takes care of elephants at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in New South Wales. Since the video has gone viral, his employer has been alerted and is currently considering "appropriate action" against him.

A spokesperson for the zoo told reporters, "Good animal welfare and the protection of Australian wildlife are of the utmost importance to Taronga. We are working with Mr. Tonkins to understand the exact circumstances of the event and will consider any appropriate action."

Kangaroos are known for their violent boxing matches and often engage in a standoff as they size each other up before deciding whether to battle. Armed with incredibly strong legs and sharp claws, a kangaroo could easily disembowel a human with one swift kick to the gut. Experts have suggested the kangaroo was caught off-guard as he attempted to size up his opponent and the punch he sustained convinced him to flee.