Wallaby Kangaroos

Wallaby Kangaroos

Since the 2014 season, wallaby kangaroos have also numbered among the animal inhabitants in the Eifelpark Gondorf, the family-friendly wildlife park near Bitburg. They live in an enclosure on the Purzelgasse which was once home to the petting zoo. Two females and one male have plenty of space for springing about or they can just settle down cosily on the straw bedding in their home.

Appearance
Wallabies reach an average body length of 40 to 80 centimetres, have a tail length of 60 to 70 centimetres and weigh between 12 to 25 kg, whereby the males are much heavier than the females. The coat is usually brown or grey. As with most kangaroos, the hind legs are significantly longer and stronger than the front legs. The long, muscular tail serves to maintain balance during big jumps and is used as a support while grazing. Externally, the wallabies and kangaroos actually only differ in size.

Habitat
Wallabies mostly live along the coasts of Australia, but can also be found in New Guinea. Wallabies usually live as loners in forested or bush-rich areas, although there are some species which live together in groups. Due to their small size, they are more likely to inhabit bushy and wooded areas than the larger species.

Nutrition
Wallabies are herbivores, they mainly feed on herbs, bark, grasses, buds, leaves and ferns; furthermore, they have the ability to get the moisture they need by eating roots.

Reproduction
Wallabies reproduce in the same way as all other kangaroos, the babies are carried for 33-38 days. After birth, the young weigh less than 1 gramme and are naked, blind and deaf. Over time, the hind legs form and the young wallabies climb into the mother’s pouch within just a few minutes. There, the young suckle from one of the four teats; they remain in the pouch for about six months.