Kangaroo Island Kangaroo

Kangaroo Island kangaroos get their name from the island off the coast of South Australia that they are endemic to; Kangaroo Island. They are a sub-species of the Western grey kangaroo but because of a prolonged period away from mainland Australia, they have evolved to be noticeably different from their mainland relatives. They have adapted to be shorter, stockier and are chocolate-brown in colour with darker ears, paws, feet and tails.

They are one of the most friendly and placid kangaroos by nature. As an island species, they don’t have predators such as dingoes, unlike kangaroos on the mainland, therefore they are more trusting and curious.

Kangaroo Island kangaroos weigh between 20-85kgs. Females grow to 1.5m tall while males can get up to 2m.

What they eat

Kangaroos are browsers and grazers eating grass, herbs and leaves.

Breeding

Females are pregnant for approximately 31 days. When the joey is born, they’re about the size of a jellybean and crawl from the birth canal up into the pouch where they will remain for at least 7 months.

Like other kangaroos, KI kangaroos can have a joey at their feet and a new joey in the pouch, providing different milk for each. By the time they are 20 months old the kangaroos are mature and able to start breeding.

Location

Found on Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia.

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