When you think of kangaroos, you most likely think Australia. It is no surprise as the kangaroo is an iconic symbol of Australia. This oddly proportioned animal with large powerful hind legs and feet for jumping paired with it’s small head and arms as well as a long tail for balance, can be found as a symbol on Australia’s coat of arms, currency, their major airline, and the Royal Airforce to name several of the places this creature pops up in Australian culture. One of my favorites is the Christmas story of Santa and his six white boomers. Boomers is another name for male kangaroos. They can also be called bucks, jacks or old men. Whereas females can be referred to as does, flyers, or jills. The infant kangaroo is referred to as a joey.
Kangaroos are fun and fascinating animals and can be spotted in the wild, found randomly within neighborhoods, on golf courses or on streets. You can also visit them in sanctuaries, zoos, and wildlife parks. One of the fun things to do while visiting Australia is being able to feed them by hand. There are many opportunities to have a kangaroo encounter throughout Australia. Several of my favorites have been Featherdale Wildlife Park, Cleland Wildlife Park, Kangaroo Island, and Kosciuszko National Park.
How many types of kangaroo are there?
There are four species of kangaroo. The red kangaroo, the eastern grey kangaroo, the western grey kangaroo and the wallaroo. Also related to kangaroos, but smaller are the wallabies.
How high can a kangaroo hop?
Kangaroo have been known to leap in the air up to 25 feet.
What do you call a group of kangaroo?
A group of kangaroo is referred to as a mob, troop, or court.
How large can a kangaroo get?
Red kangaroos are the largest of the species. They can be up to 6 feet tall and way nearly 200 pounds
Are kangaroo aggressive?
Kangaroo males act like any other male animal in the wild and will be aggressive when protecting their mob or territory. They would only show aggression towards humans when threatened. It is advisable not to approach to closely in the wild and save the close up encounters for the parks and zoos.
How many females will a male kangaroo have?
Up to 20 females can belong to a single male’s mob.
Do kangaroo migrate?
Kangaroo will stay put for the most part as long as there is plenty of food. However, they will travel if they are in need of more food source. They mostly graze on grass and vegetation.
How long does a joey stay in a mother’s pouch?
A joey will usually stay inside the pouch for up to 9 months.
Do they really eat kangaroo?
Yes, wild kangaroo are shot for meat, their hides, and to protect grazing land. It is quite delicacy and a nice low fat protein alternative. I eat it on almost every trip and it is not nearly as gamey as our venison can be.
Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.
She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds. Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind. She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember. With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.
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