Animal Diaries Archive

Best Of Friends

6 May 2005

Due to our recent baby boom in Grey Roo Heaven, two of our first time mums Booboo and Iluka have formed a very close friendship. Booboo and Iluka are both Eastern Grey Kangaroos. One afternoon our kangaroo keepers observed a rare behaviour, Iluka and Booboo were grooming each other's joeys within the pouch. This is a non-agonistic behaviour, meaning it is not an aggressive behaviour, and had never been observed between any other kangaroos at Australia Zoo.

Kangaroos are very protective of their joeys and will typically chase away any other kangaroo that attempts to nuzzle their pouch. When this behaviour occurs it is generally observed between siblings or mother and daughter. However Booboo and Iluka are not related, they are just best friends and spend each day together.

Booboo's joey Bambam loves Iluka and plays and jumps around her and his mum throughout they day. He is 7½ months old and just learning how to jump around on his own. Iluka's joey is 5½ months old, not yet ready to jump out of the pouch, but occasionally pops its head out to say hello!