Red Kangaroo joey orphaned

Being situated on the North Coast of NSW we do not have Red kangaroos, they are found much further inland. You can imagine our surprise when receiving this little fellow in to care. He had been picked up in Queensland by a caring couple finding his mother dead on the road.

 

After a week in care at Wildlife Mountain, we located a wildlife care organisation close to where he had been found, and he was returned to his home territory, where he will spend many months in care, before being released back to the wild.

 

 

 

 

If finding a native animal in distress, please try to locate a wildlife care organisation close to where you found the animal, as all native animals must be returned to their home territory.

 

I must admit it was a great experience caring for this animal, being a kangaroo rather than a wallaby which is what we are used to here on the North Coast .

 

The red kangaroo is mobile and semi nomadic, not restricted by stock fences. It is a social grazing animals in mobs consisting of dominant male, number of adult females and juveniles of both sexes. Can also be large mobs of several hundred.

Males reach 22-86kg ( average 66 kg ) in weight and females 17- 35kg.

The Female reaches sexual maturity at 15-20 months, male 2 years old.

Joey vacates pouch at 9 months, weight 4-5kg, but continue to suckle till 12 months old.

There is only one species of Red Kangaroo despite its wide distribution.  Males are generally brick-red in colour but they can also be blue-grey to pale red with the tip of the nose being naked.  Females are smoky blue and are sometimes called Blue Flyers – in some areas they can also be red.

They hop differently from Eastern and Western Grey kangaroos, with flat backs and head hung low in line with backs, the tail is not curved nor does it swing much.

Distribution is through the central part of Australia in areas of less than 500mm annual rainfall.  The highest densities are in the rangelands of Western NSW.     .

Grazers, they prefer grasses and dicotyledonous plants.  Feeding occurs mainly at night and may extend to late evening and early morning. 

50% fail to survive the first 2 years, 90% die before reaching 10 years and few make it to 20 years.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 23, 2012

 
 
 

©Wildlife Mountain 2000 - 2012

 

We would also like to acknowledge the amazing support and help we have had from the Lismore Vet Clinic who have been an invaluable support to both us and the native wildlife of this region.


All native birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles are proteced under the Wildlife Act 1975, they may not be captured or harmed in any way without an authority issued under the Wildlife Act.

Webmaster Susanne Ulyatt