Matschie's Tree Kangaroo

Tree kangaroos are folivores, meaning they are generally herbivores that almost exclusively eat leaves. They prefer mature leaves and will occasionally eat fruits, flowers, nuts, insects, bark, birds' eggs, and young birds when leaves are not available.

At the Zoo, tree kangaroos are offered a specialized leaf eater biscuit, leaves, fruits, and vegetables.

This species is only found in the Huon Peninsula of Papau New Guinea and the nearby island of Umboi, where they were probably introduced by humans.

Matschie's tree kangaroos are found in tropical mountain forests.

Predation on tree kangaroos is poorly known, although large birds of prey may hunt them.

As the human population grows in the area, Matschie's tree kangaroos are threatened by hunting and habitat destruction. Forest habitat is converted to agricultural, logging, mining, and oil operations, fragmenting the tree kangaroo populations. Hunting pressure is high in many of the remaining forested areas, with Matschie's tree kangaroos hunted primarily by native people for their meat.

This species has a reddish-brown back with a darker stripe running along its spine. Its limbs, feet, and ear tips are yellow, while its face is white or cream. The thick, dense fur on its back and neck grows in opposing directions, allowing water to run off its body easily. This fur is thick enough to insulate the animal against damp weather, and its coloration provides camouflage for protection against predators.

Adapted for life in trees, tree kangaroos have stocky bodies and muscular front limbs, making climbing easier. Their long, sharp claws on both their front and back feet help them grip tree trunks. Additionally, rough patches of skin on their feet give them extra grip. When climbing, tree kangaroos can spring up two to three feet, wrap their arms around the tree, and use their back feet against the trunk to scale it, with their arms sliding and feet hopping. Their long tail helps them balance as they climb.

Tree kangaroos can descend quickly through the trees, jumping down to lower trees or the ground from heights up to 60 feet without injury. Although they are well adapted for life in the canopy, they move slowly on the ground and can only hop at a maximum speed of about 3 miles per hour.

Breeding in tree kangaroos occurs year-round, and mating takes place on the ground. The gestation period lasts about 45 days, the longest for any known marsupial. After this time, a single joey crawls into the mother’s pouch and firmly attaches to one of the four nipples for its first three months. A little over nine months after birth, the joey will first venture out of the pouch but will continue to return to nurse. By a year old, it becomes fully independent of the pouch. After weaning, the young tree kangaroo will leave its mother to establish its own territory. Male and female tree kangaroos become fully mature at around two years of age.

Matschie's tree kangaroos communicate through visual displays, touch, and vocalizations. Most importantly, they rely on chemical cues in scents to share information.

Tree kangaroos spend about 60% of their time sleeping, often curling up in the trees where they reside. They are generally solitary animals, only coming together during the breeding season. Females do not share their territories, which average about four and a half acres. In contrast, males tend to have overlapping territories that average around eleven acres. The larger territories of males provide them with greater opportunities for breeding.