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Our Wildlife Fact Sheet Eastern Grey Kangaroo Introduction


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Our Wildlife Fact Sheet

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Introduction

One of the most recognisable and well known animals in Australia is the Kangaroo. The Eastern Grey Kangaroo, a large grass eating marsupial, is a familiar sight in Victoria and is one of eight members of the kangaroo family found in Victoria.



Scientific name

Macropus giganteus

Did you know?

Kangaroos can cover up to 6m in one bound.

As a Kangaroo’s speed increases, so does the distance of each hop!

Kangaroos are able to maintain a speed of 20km per hour for long periods of time. For short periods, they can hop at speeds of up to 65km per hour.

Most kangaroos can only move their back legs at the same time.

“Skippy” the bush kangaroo was an Eastern Grey Kangaroo.’

The Kangaroo and Emu are on Australia’s Coat of Arms. It is thought they were chosen as they are the only two Australian animals that can’t move backwards. The Coat of Arms therefore symbolises a nation moving forward.

Kangaroos give birth to under-developed young that are suckled in a pouch on the mother’s belly.

Kangaroos belong to a group of marsupials called macropods, which means ‘great foot’. This group was named because of their large rear feet.

Description

Eastern Grey Kangaroos can be up to 1.5m tall and weigh almost 60kg.

Their fur is grey brown in colour. Their underparts are pale grey or whitish.

They have long ears with a whitish inner fringe and dark eyes.

Males can weigh twice as much as females and have more developed chests and forearms.

Diet

Eastern Grey Kangaroos eat grasses, herbs and occasionally shrubs. Their food is well chewed before it is swallowed and digested.

They mainly feed in areas where grasses are most plentiful.

Habitat

Areas with patches of trees for cover near open grassland provide perfect habitat for Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

During the day they generally rest in the shade and sheltered areas. In the evenings and early morning, they move out into open areas to graze.

Distribution

The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is found in eastern Australia from Tasmania to Cape York Peninsula.

In Victoria, they are widespread in the southern and eastern regions. However, they are not found in north-western Victoria, where they are replaced by Western Grey Kangaroos.


Recorded occurences in Victoria

[Data Source: 'VBA_FAUNA25' and 'VBA_FAUNA100', August 2010 © The State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment]



Breeding

Eastern Grey Kangaroos can breed throughout the year, however most births occur during summer or in response to favourable conditions.

Joeys are born 36 days after conception and climb into the pouch where they suckle until around nine months of age.

Young joeys remain with their mother for approximately 18 months after leaving the pouch.

Females may have a second joey in their pouch while still tending young at foot.

Kangaroos live in groups called mobs. These groups have a dominant male that attempts to prevent other males from mating with receptive females.

Females often stay with other females in groups. Competition between males can occasionally lead to fights.
What you can do to help!

To protect kangaroo habitat, you can help by improving native vegetation on your property. Kangaroos need trees for shelter and resting.

Be aware of road signs indicating Kangaroos in the area and slow down. Kangaroos may be feeding along the road. Be especially careful at dawn and dusk.

If you do see kangaroos or other wildlife when driving, be careful and give them plenty of time and space to move off the road.

Control your dog: dogs can harass and injure kangaroos and other wildlife.

Eastern Grey Kangaroos are one of the most abundant macropods in Australia. In some areas they may be considered a pest. There are a number of ways humans and kangaroos can live together. For more information on living with kangaroos, please visit the DSE website at www.dse.vic.gov.au.



Further reading

Menkhorst, P.W. (ed), (1995), Mammals of Victoria, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

Strahan, R. (ed.), (1995), The mammals of Australia, Reed Books, Australia

Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment

Melbourne, September 2010 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2010
ISBN 978-1-74242-043-1 (online)
This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne.



Printed by Biodiversity Conservation, 2/8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne
For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186. This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
www.dse.vic.gov.au


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