Australian Kangaroos and Koalas

Kangaroos and koalas are typical Australian animals. They are both mammals but they differ from other mammals due to their abdominal pouch called marsupium. The young babies of kangaroos and koalas are carried in this pouch until they are grown up. Hence, both these animals are classified as marsupials. The kangaroos and koalas had been living in Australia for several millennia. When the European settlers arrived in Australia, they asked the natives the name of the hopping animals. The natives replied ‘kangaroo’, which in their language meant ‘I do not understand’. The settlers assumed that the name of the animal was kangaroo and started calling it by that name.

Click on the links below to learn more about them:
Kangaroos
Koalas

Kangaroos

The kangaroos are one of the most famous Australian animals. People come from far off places just to see the kangaroo. The kangaroo is a vegetarian animal or an herbivore, eating mainly herbs, grass and leaves. The kangaroo is known as a macropod due to the long feet and sturdy hind legs. When the kangaroo is not in a hurry, it will move on all the four legs and use its long tail for additional support. However, when the kangaroo has to run, it will rise on its hind legs and hop forward at great speed. However, most kangaroos can move the back legs only at the same time. Usually, the back legs do not move separately.

A male kangaroo is termed as a buck, while the female is known as a doe. A baby kangaroo is named as a joey. The males and females are also called as boomers and flyers, respectively. Some people even call the male kangaroo as the ‘old man’. The kangaroo possesses very good eyesight but it usually recognises only moving objects. Its hearing capacity is exceptional. It can swivel its large ears to any direction and pick up even small sounds.

The kangaroo is a social animal. A group of kangaroos can be as small as two or three and as large as a hundred. When the male kangaroo wants to assert its dominance over other males or when it is competing over the females, it will ‘box’ with the other males. When it punches with the front legs, not much harm is caused. However, when the strong hind legs that contain sharp and long toenails are used for punching, it can be deadly. Most of the time, such a punch will disembowel the opponent.

A female kangaroo is capable of carrying three babies at any particular time. An embryo will be inside her body, awaiting birth. Another young joey will be in the pouch drinking milk from the teat. A third joey, slightly grown up, will be living outside the pouch but will still be drinking milk from the mother. Normally, a young joey will remain in the pouch up to 6 months.

FACTS:

Kangaroos are marsupials.

Marsupial babies are born very tiny and undeveloped. Straight after birth the babies attach themselves to their mother's nipples. The babies stay attached until they develop more completely.

The nipples of most female marsupials are in a pouch on the stomach.

Not all female marsupials have a pouch.

All marsupials are mammals.

Kangaroos, koalas, quolls, and gliders are marsupials

They live in groups called mobs.

Males are called bucks.

Females are called does.

Babies are called joeys.

Koalas

The koala belongs to the same family of kangaroo but differs in several aspects. Unlike the kangaroo, the koala does not possess good eyesight. As such, it depends on its smelling and hearing power to protect itself. The koala is also an herbivore, living on grass, herbs and leaves. Their favourite food is the leaves of the gum trees of the non-poisonous variety.

The koala marks its living territory with its smell. The other koalas normally do not breach this territory. The young koala, called joey, is of pink colour at the time of birth. It is of the size of a normal jellybean when it is born. It remains in the pouch of the mother, drinking milk for about six months. After that, it starts living outside and eating the gum leaves. Normally, the koala baby leaves its mother when it is one year old.

The koala can leap, swim and climb trees with utmost ease. Normally, the koala prefers to stay on a gum tree, though it can move around quite fast on the ground. The major enemy of the koala is the dog, which is why the koala likes to live on the tree. Of late, many koalas are run over by fast moving cars. Further, the dwindling bushland is also contributing to the diminishing number of koalas. The koala can be a friendly animal if approached in the right manner.