Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo - Animal Fact Sheet


EASTERN GREY KANGAROO (Macropus giganteus)
Range:	Native to the eastern third of the Australian Continent from Queensland to southern Victoria, Tasmania (an island off Australia) and Papua New Guinea. Average home range is 2 sq. miles.
Habitat:	Ground dwellers in open woodlands and grasslands. They live in social units ("mobs"), consisting of a mature male (leader), 2-3 younger males and 2-3 females with their joeys. No real enemies except dingoes. The eastern gray numbers 2-8 million by various estimates.
Diet:	Herbivorous. Graze on specific shrubs, spinifex, leaves and grass. Feed mostly at night, but can sometimes be seen in the early morning or late afternoon.
Approx. Dimensions of Adult:	Height: Full grown males ("Boomers") and females ("Fliers") are 5-6 feet tall Weight: Full-grown males weigh about 135 lbs.; females weigh about 72 lbs. Small deer-like head with pointed snout, large upright ears that turn from front to back and a strip of light colored fur running down the muzzle between the nostrils. The fur is generally steely grey, course and curly, with lighter under parts, legs and underside of tail. The tail is 4 feet in length and very strong. Used for balance while hopping and a prop while standing at rest (Tripod position). The hind feet are 18 " long and very broad. The forelegs are short and end in small, hand-like feet with five digits (no thumb) that are used for grasping objects. The fourth toe is longer and clawed. Possess excellent hearing and sense of smell.
Lifespan:
Reproduction:	Prolific breeders. Population can increase four-fold in five years if adequate access to food and water. There is no particular breeding season, but births peak during the summer. The females have front-opening pouches that contain four teats (nipples). At about one month, the lima bean sized embryonic young emerges from its mother's body. It "swims" through the mother's fur and disappears into the pouch in about 3 minutes. The newborn immediately latches on to a teat, which swells inside its mouth. Due to its inability to suck, muscular action from teat squirts milk into the baby's mouth. The baby ("joey") spends 7-8 month growing in the mother's pouch, then becomes active outside, returning only to feed until 18 months of age. It is possible for a female kangaroo to be suckling a pouch young, a larger young one outside the pouch and be carrying an embryo all at the same time.
Very aggressive and will attack. This is the only large mammal that can hop, as a means of locomotion. An elastic tendon is attached to the heel, acting like a "pogo stick". With each bound the tendon is stretched and then snaps back into position, pulling the toes down and pushing the animal into the air. Very little energy is expended, allowing the kangaroo to maintain a cruising speed (20-mph) for long distances without tiring. A single stride could be as much as 20 feet. Their hopping and breathing are synchronized, working like a piston in a car engine. The tail is relied on for balance and kicking. Females summon their young with a "clucking" sound. When a kangaroo senses danger, it alerts its cohorts by thumping its feet on the ground. Farmers and ranchers view the kangaroo as a nuisance and impediment to cattle production because it competes for food and water with livestock. Shooting by licensed cullers kills vast numbers of kangaroos every year, as do automobiles. The meat is served in upscale restaurants throughout Australia and elsewhere. It is considered a lean, high quality source of protein, rich in vitamins and minerals, including zinc and iron. The hide is sold all over the world in the form of boots, belts and hats. It's fur is exported to markets in Europe, the U.S. and Asia.