Four fresh faces have arrived at Kyabram Fauna Park, with the resident kangaroo mob welcoming the birth of two Kangaroo Island joeys and two eastern grey joeys.
Mammal keeper Jessica Lyne said that while three of the new mob-mates were exploring the world outside their mum’s pouch, there was still one youngster enjoying a free ride.
“We’re thrilled to have two healthy females and one male,” Ms Lyne said.
“We haven’t been able to identify the sex of the youngest, as they are still spending most of their time tucked away in Mum’s pouch.”
Of the two closely related subspecies, Kangaroo Island joeys tend to reach independence earliest, at approximately eight months old, while eastern grey kangaroos may take slightly longer before making the leap.
Kangaroo Island kangaroos are a relatively small and delicate subspecies, known for their long eyelashes and easy-going temperaments. They can be distinguished from the eastern grey kangaroos by their red-brown fur.
Park visitors can see the macropods up-close at the kangaroo walk-through trail. The large woodland setting allows the kangaroos to comfortably undertake their parenting behaviours.
“At the start, Mum will take her joey to a secluded area to get them used to being out of the pouch. We’re now seeing the pairs coming back to the mob and spend time with the rest of the family,” Ms Lyne said.
“As kangaroos tend to hang out in large groups, they do need a wide-open space for things like grazing and resting.
“Their habitat also includes a water body that gives them the opportunity to retreat if they need to, have a drink or take a refreshing dip.”
For more information about seeing the animals at Kyabram Fauna Park, visit zoo.org.au/kyabram