Eastern Grey
Kangaroo
Hunted for its skin and meat

Order: Marsupialia    Family: Macropodidae    Genus & Species: Macropus giganteus

Native to eastern Australia over a range that extends through Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.  Also found in localized parts of Tasmania.   Despite being hunted for its skin and meat, numbers remain stable throughout its range.

Habitat
The eastern grey kangaroo is found on coastal heaths, in temperate woodlands, subtropical and cool mountain forests, dry inland scrub and dense stands of dwarf eucalyptus, which is known as mallee scrub.  Trees are important to the grey kangaroo, and in all parts of its range it seeks out the shade they provide from the blistering heat of the summer sun.  It may be found on open, grassy plains while feeding, but always returns to areas with tree cover to rest.
Wherever possible, the grey kangaroo also tends to live close to a water source, despite having the ability to go for long periods without drinking.		         In all parts of its range it seeks out the shade

They often move around in groups called mobs
Behaviour
The eastern grey kangaroo is active mainly at dusk and through the night, although it may make occasional, short forays from its resting site during the day.   It is one of the most social of the larger marsupials and often moves around in groups, called mobs, of about a dozen animals.
Mobs are largely made up of adult females and their offspring, but as females are capable of breeding all year round, roaming males constantly move to and fro between the mobs, investigating  the females and occasionally joining them for a time.  In times of drought, with the resulting shortage of food, the mob structure breaks down and the grey kangaroo is more likely to become solitary and to avoid direct competition for the same scarce resources.

Feeding
In the moister parts of its range near the coast, the eastern grey kangaroo browses the various species of eucalyptus tree growing on the rich soil.  In drier, more arid areas, it feeds on dwarf acacias, mulga and mallee shrubs.  More commonly, though, the eastern grey kangaroo seeks out the grasses among the open woodland.   Emerging from its daytime shelter towards dusk it begins a feeding session that may last all through the night until sunrise.
They tend to live close to a water source
While grazing, the kangaroo moves slowly along by using its tail and forelegs for support while swinging its hindlegs forward.  Between each pace, which takes it about 1.5m, it often pauses to chew its food thoroughly before swallowing.  Digestion of the low quality food is aided by populations of bacteria in the kangaroo's gut.  The bacteria cause the plant material to ferment, releasing nitrogen and other nutrients.

The joey has the longest pouch life of any marsupial		 Breeding
Breeding occurs throughout the year, increasing slightly during the summer.   The female is receptive for only a few days and receives a lot of attention from males.
After mating there is a 36 day gestation period before the newborn kangaroo, known as a joey, is born.  At 800mg, it weighs about the same as a pea.  It uses a well developed claw to make its way to the mother's pouch to suckle.
The joey has the longest pouch life of any marsupial, about 300 days.  The first sign that the joey is ready to emerge into the outside world is often an ear flopping over the lip of the pouch.  For the next few days the young kangaroo cautiously assesses its surroundings before venturing out for good.

Welcome Page