Kangaroo Island Kangaroo

(Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus) - Sooty, large foot

Distribution

Kangaroo Island only!!!

Habitat

Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland with grassy understorey or adjacent grassy areas (eg.farmland). Often seen on the sides of roads (in various forms and shapes!)

Size

Females 1-1.5m; Males 2m or more.

Diet

Grasses, leaves and roots. They only like grass which is green and close to the ground, leaving the longer grass for other grazing animals. Obtain most of their moisture from dew on grass from green grasses and plants.

Breeding

Breeds throughout the year. Newly born joeys weigh less than 1 gram (the size of a jelly bean). The joey will remain in the pouch for 5-9 months. The young will remain with its mother until it is 12-18 months old, sticKangaroo Islandng its head into the pouch to suckle. Can have 3 offspring going at one time (embryonic diapause, in pouch and leaving pouch).

Identification

Smaller, stocKangaroo Islander, darker brown with thicker fur than the mainland Western Grey Kangaroo. The fur is chocolate brown with an almost black tail. Most commonly seen in the late afternoon grazing.

General Info:

The Kangaroo Island Kangaroo is a sub-species of the mainland Western Grey Kangaroo.

In early days of European settlement the distinctive Kangaroo Island Kangaroo were hunted for food and for the Adelaide sKangaroo Islandn trade.

Processed human foods given to these kangaroos can severely disrupt their nutritional balance and continued feeding may lead to malnutrition, poor health and even death (therefore feeding is prohibited in all NP's and reserves on Kangaroo Island).

Wild Guide

Contents

Kangaroo Island Travel Guide

Contents