Red kangaroo – Macropus rufus

The red kangaroo is the largest of all kangaroos, it is native to Australia. It is also the largest extant marsupial.

This species may weigh up to 90 kg and measures between 1 to 2 m. As the name suggests, it is red. Its fitted back legs with large paws allow it to adapt to big jumps and long powerful tail allows it to jump and maintain balance. These legs are dependent on each other and must move together in the same direction. The front legs are used to hold its food and put it in its mouth and it is the back legs that allow it to jump. Like all other kangaroos, unlike the male, the female has a pouch at its stomach which is used to shelter and protect its young.

Before mating, the male fights with other kangaroos using its claws and it is the winner who will have the right to mate with the female. A male fertilizes several females. The female gives birth to a small kangaroo per year. At the time of its birth, the small will look like a bean. It will cling to its  mother belly hair then it will move to its pouch. Only after about 200 days it will come out slowly and eat plants. This is after 1 year it will be totally dependent.

Kangaroos live in deserts and grasslands of Australia, but some are also found in nature reserves and zoos.

As they are herbivores, they feed mainly on flowers, leaves and herbs.