Eastern grey kangarooThe Eastern grey kangaroo lives in small groups but may congregate in large numbers when feeding.
It is usually active from late afternoon until early morning, resting in the shade of trees and shrubs during the day.
Strong, muscular legs propel the animal across the grasslands at speeds of 60kph. They are able to clear lengths of 8 metres and heights of 3 metres.
Eastern grey kangaroos generally give birth to one infant at a time but twins have been reported.
Western grey kangarooThe Western grey kangaroo looks much like the Eastern grey kangaroo, and for many years was treated as a subspecies.
They vary in colour, being anywhere from greyish-brown to chocolate brown.
The muzzle is covered in fine hair.
Western grey kangaroos are also very vocal. The mothers communicate to their joeys with a series of clicks.
What are the main threats?
- habitat loss
- altered fire regimes
- introduced predators
- climate change.
These are the main drivers of decline affecting many other mammals in Australia as well, and have resulted in this continent having the worst rate of mammal extinctions worldwide.