Red Kangaroo Joey coming out of the pouch.

Red Kangaroo

Red Kangaroo

Check out Australia Zoo’s Red Kangaroos!

Meet the big bosses of the kangaroo world – the epic, red kangaroo! Get up close and personal while you pat and feed them all day long, in our Red Kangaroos habitat. These Aussie icons love getting to know all of our Australia Zoo guests and they’ve got the perfect pose for a true-blue Aussie selfie!

 

Red Kangaroo close up on head and ears from behind.

 

With males standing up to 1.4 metres (4.5 feet) tall, red kangaroos are the largest of all macropod species! They can be easily distinguished from other species by their red and orange coloration, black and white patches on their cheeks and white tail tip. They often have a white stripe that extends from the corner of the mouth to the ear. Females are typically greyish-blue in colour and stand to be a little smaller than their male counterparts.

 

Red Kangaroo laying on ground with legs extended facing away from camera.

 

Red kangaroos are found in semi-arid and arid areas of mainland Australia.  They are perfectly equipped for harsh conditions with minimal water as they receive all the water and minerals they need from grasses, shrubs and foliage they feed on.

 

Two Red Kangaroos, one with a Joey, standing in a field.

 

A mob of red kangaroos will often be spotted resting under trees through the heat of the day and they are often active early morning and late afternoon.

 

Red kangaroos are threatened by the introduction of sheep, goats, rabbits and cattle as they provide competition for food. These Aussie icons are doing just fine in the wild and are listed as least concern. You little ripper!!

  • Class of animal icon
    Class

    Mammalia

  • Genus of animal icon
    Genus

    Macropus

  • Species of animal icon
    Species

    rufus

  • height of animal icon
    Height

    1.1 - 1.4 metres

  • weight of animal icon
    Weight

    39 - 92 kilograms

  • Diet

    Herbivore

  • gestation of animal icon
    Gestation

    Approx. 34 days