The Gray Kangaroo, also known as the "Great Gray Kangaroo", is one of the largest marsupials. They are quite common in Australia and Tasmania. Living in the open forests of Eastern Australia, the Great Gray Kangaroo is very common. They feed on various grasses in the wild. In captivity, they eat hay, alfalfa, clover, timothy, and grain. The Gray Kangaroo's living situation varies from season to season. During the breeding season, male kangaroos ("Boomers") form groups with many females. Afterwards, the males either move off alone or join with several other males. When food is readily available, Gray Kangaroos congregate in groups called "mobs." However, when food is scarce the animals become far more solitary to avoid competing for food. The Gray Kangaroo's reproductive cycle is quite interesting. Female kangaroos ("Flyers") give birth to a pea-sized embryo, after only a few days of gestation. The baby, or "joey," is born with a claw that helps it to crawl the great distance to its mother's pouch. Once in the pouch, the joey suckles on one of four nipples, each of which contains a different type of milk to help its fetal development. After about nine months inside the pouch, the joey emerges. In captivity, male Gray Kangaroos are often quite aggressive when alarmed. Females, however, can be very affectionate towards their handlers. Gray Kangaroos can travel up to 40 miles per hour when in danger. They can travel as much as 26 feet in one hop! Gray Kangaroos don't sweat. To keep cool, they instead lick their wrists and forearms, which cools the blood. It has been reported that the Gray Kangaroo will live up to 20 years. The Gray Kangaroo is one of the largest marsupials. They stand about six feet in height and weigh as much as 200 pounds. They have long forelimbs, which they use to hop. They use their tail as a prop while sitting, and for balance while hopping. Gray Kangaroos are very common in Australia. In fact, they are overpopulated. Their only natural predator, the Tasmanian Wolf, has been exterminated, and they are rather overabundant. Australian farmers have permission to shoot kangaroos in certain areas where they have been deemed a nuisance, because they compete with the farmer's livestock for food. The hide of the Gray Kangaroo used to be highly valued as shoe-leather, although this has become less common. |