| Kangaroo, Tasmanian Forester | |||
| Genus | Macropus | ||
| Species | giganteus | ||
| Subspecies | tasmaniensis | ||
| Status | Endangered | ||
| Habitat | Grasslands | ||
| Distribution | Australia (Tasmania), New Zealand, New Guinea, and the nearby islands | ||
| Height | 15-120 inches (38-305 cm) | ||
| Weight | 18 ounces to 150 pounds (510 g to 68 kg) | ||
| Breeding | Mother kangaroos give birth to her baby soon after they first become pregnant. The newborn animal is called a joey, and looks like a hairless baby mouse. It crawls up the outside of its mother's furry belly and into her pouch, where it attaches itself to one of the mother's four nipples. Through this, it receives milk so it can grow. | ||
| No. of Young | 1 | ||
| Conservation |
Kangaroos are being shot by ranchers and farmers because they share the land with cattle. The landowners don't want their livestock to have to compete for food with the kangaroos.
Kangaroos are also killed for their hides, and their meat used to make dog food. | ||
| Interesting Facts |
All kangaroos belong to the marsupial family, meaning they have hair, are warm-blooded, and produce milk like mammals.
The long, thick tails of kangaroos help the animals balance. | ||
| Animal Communication Panel | |||
|
|
 Back
|
|