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The Gray Kangaroo and Its Environment

Gray Kangaroos are native to Australia. Millions roam the forests, scrub and grassy plains of that country and Tasmania. Kangaroos are the largest marsupials in the world. They gather in groups called "mobs." A male kangaroo is referred to as Boomer, the female is called Flyer and a baby is a Joey. Gray Kangaroos hop along at about 12 miles-an-hour, but can exceed 35 miles-an-hour in short bursts. Gray kangaroos fall into two species: eastern and western.

Eastern Gray Kangaroo
- Nearly nine million eastern gray kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) inhabit the eastern third of Australia. They primarily dwell in the damp forest along the coastline. Grays generally forage dusk to dawn, feeding on grass, herbs and shrubs. They spend lazy days resting in the shade. Eastern grays are typically heavier than other kangaroos. They are light gray, or brownish-gray, with a cream colored belly. The forester kangaroo is a subspecies of the eastern gray. It inhabits Tasmania.
Western Gray Kangaroo
- Western gray kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) primarily inhabit the forests, scrub and grassland of southern Australia. The population is about one-fifth that of the eastern gray. Western grays vary in color from grayish-brown to dark-brown. Females are vocal -- communicating with their joeys through a series of loud clicks. Male western grays emit a foul, curry-like odor. Like eastern grays, western grays are nocturnal. They feed on grass, bark, shrubs and herbs. The type of digestive track they have allows them to get more nutrition through bacterial fermentation.
Behavior and Offspring
- Male kangaroos sometimes spar over a mate -- leaning back on their tail and boxing with their hind legs. Kangaroos have one baby at a time. The newborn joey crawls from the birth canal to its mother's pouch, where it nurses, sleeps and grows. Gray kangaroo babies don't leave the pouch for up to one year. They'll occasionally dive back in -- especially when they feel threatened. Eastern and western grays live eight to 10 years in the wild.
Main Threats
- In some areas, gray kangaroos are hunted for their meat and skin. Other predators include foxes and wild cats. Kangaroos are also falling victim to a shrinking habitat brought on by modernization and development. They face competition for food from other herbivores, including sheep and cattle. Despite its foes, the gray kangaroo as a species isn't threatened. In 1995, eastern and western grays were removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List, where they were noted as "threatened." The forester kangaroo remains on the list, classified as endangered.

Animals & Science