Member Blog: Joeys hop towards new season
A sign that spring is just around the corner, with a roo-markable baby boom of Kangaroo Island Kangaroos at Healesville Sanctuary.
The four youngsters aged between six and 11 months old have started venturing out of mum’s pouch, so there’s also a spring to their hop.
Newborn joeys begin life at about the size of a jellybean before they continue their development safely tucked away like a little pouch potato for approximately 10-11 months.
All four joeys are offspring of young male Oscar, while mothers Merlot, Pinot, Sherry and Penny are all experienced at raising little ones. The oldest three joeys can now be seen out and about. Keepers have not yet seen the face of the youngest joey in the pouch.
Healesville Sanctuary Mammal Keeper Poppy said the joeys are spending much of their time exploring the paddock, becoming familiar with their surroundings and interacting with other mob members.
“As they are getting older, they are also beginning to do zoomies and vocalise to each other, which sounds like a very tiny yet raspy growl,” said Keeper Poppy.
“I enjoy seeing how these kangaroos interact with each other as a highly social species. We are fortunate to have a multigenerational mob, so it is quite special seeing the older more established members taking care of the younger generation joeys. Our oldest female is Merle who is 14. She is mother and now a grandmother.”
As their name suggests, Kangaroo Island Kangaroos hail from Kangaroo Island southwest of Adelaide, South Australia. They have thickest fur of any kangaroo species, which equips them to cope with Kangaroo Island's harsh winters.
12 Kangaroo Island Kangaroos call the Sanctuary home, make sure to say hello on your next visit!
