The San Diego Zoo Safari Park announced via a news release on June 1st that a female Matschie's tree kangaroo had been born. This is a significant development, as these kangaroos are currently endangered, with fewer than 2,500 remaining in the wild.
This is the second time this species has been born at the zoo. When they are born they are the size of a jellybean and remain in their mom's pouches for around 8 to 10 months. But when they reach 6 to 7 months and the joey’s become more active they usually start poking their head out of the pouch and become curious to venture outside their mom's pocket.
San Diego’s Joey is now 9 months old and beginning to explore her mom's pouch. She likes to play around with the plants and is trying all kinds of solid foods such as carrots, cucumber, and lettuce, which she loves!
As said in the news release, by Donovan Vila, a wildlife care specialist at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, “We are elated with the birth of this Matschie’s tree kangaroo joey.” “Matschie’s tree kangaroos are endangered, so this joey provides hope for the future of this species,” he said.
This type of kangaroos are native to Papua New Guinea and the Huon Peninsula and sometimes they are found in Australia's rainforest zones.
They prefer to live in high elevations where they spend most of their time eating leaves, fruits, flowers, and any herbivore food they can get their paws on. Because of this diet, they massively contribute to the health and fertility of the rainforest.
Unfortunately, due to deforestation and being hunted by humans for food, they are now on the Red List of Threatened Species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The arrival of this joey brings optimism that we can preserve this breathtaking species from becoming extinct. It's a reminder for all of us to prioritize our ecosystem and advocate for the voiceless, such as animals, against harmful actions like the destruction of their habitat.
For more information on the Matschie’s tree kangaroo visit, https://sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/pr/Matschie%e2%80%99sTreeKangarooJoey2023.
