The Kangaroo

Kangaroo

      The kangaroo is probably the most well-known Australian animal. It is also the largest mammal that can hop!

      Kangaroos live in large groups called mobs. Male kangaroos are called bucks, females are called does and babies are called joeys. It is not uncommon to see a mob of kangaroos resting in the shade of trees during the day, particularly during the hotter months. They may also keep cool by giving themselves a spit bath by licking the fur on their arms.

      Kangaroos are marsupials, meaning they raise their young in a pouch. When a joey is born it is pink, blind and hairless and the size of a jellybean! To continue to grow and become stronger, the joey must drink milk from inside its mother’s pouch. The joey will live in the pouch for about a year but after that time will still stay close to mum, as there is still a lot to learn.

      Have you ever wondered why the joey doesn’t fall out of the pouch while mum is bounding along? Female kangaroos have strong muscles that control the size of her pouch and the size of the pouch opening. This means she can pull the pouch tight against her body when she wants to keep the joey in or she can relax the opening to allow the joey to get out. Very clever!

      Kangaroos are herbivores, which means they eat only plant material, not meat. They particularly like to eat grasses, leaves and the shoots of small trees. Kangaroos are crepuscular, meaning they are most active before dawn and in the evening – this is when they do most of their feeding.

      Surprisingly, kangaroos are very good swimmers. They will very rarely swim though, usually only if they are being chased and they have no other choice. Kangaroos also have a great sense of smell as well as good eyesight and hearing – this gives them a better chance of keeping themselves safe from predators.