RED-BELLIED PADEMELON
Thylogale billardierii
These robust little macropods are solitary individuals that will often occupy the same habitat as many others of their kind. Though quite reclusive during the day, when they feel comfortable, they’ll venture out into more open spaces to feed. They can be seen lurking deeper in the bushes of the Wallaby Walk but may not feed from your hand.
Once found on mainland Australia, they are restricted now, though in abundance, to the forests of Tasmania. To cope with the cooler climate, particularly at night, they have a thicker fur coat than the more northern species.
This wallaby is extinct on mainland Australia because of predation by introduced red foxes.
DIET
Pademelons are nocturnal herbivores and will devour a variety of plants, from herbs, shrubs, shoots and grass, to some nectar-bearing flowers.
BREEDING
Joeys are born after a 30 days gestation period which can occur across the year. Typically though the joeys are born in the early stages of winter just before the real chill sets in. This allows development to occur just in time to take advantage of spring where for the first 6 months they’ll eventually start peeking out and venturing from the pouch to be weaned at 1 year old and become independent.
