Pouch Babies

It’s hard to think of anything more exotic than Australian wildlife, especially if you’re coming from Europe. Australia is on the opposite side of the globe, and due to millions of years of isolation, its fauna is uniquely distinct. For this reason, Australian wildlife has been a part of our zoo since its opening in 1866, and for many decades, we’ve given special attention to showcasing it. To that end, we’ve created an Australian zone where visitors can learn about the region’s unique animals, including reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Naturally, the Australian zone also features marsupials among its attractions. Although there are marsupials in the New World, in America, the vast majority are native to Australia and its neighbouring islands. This is true for kangaroos as well, although few are aware that they constitute a highly diverse group. In fact, if we include the small-sized rat-kangaroos, over seventy different species of kangaroos are known. Among these, our Zoo showcases four species: the brush-tailed bettongs in the Australian House, the parma wallabies and the western grey kangaroos (also known as the black-faced kangaroos) at the Hill House, as well as the red-necked or Bennett’s kangaroos in the Australian Trail exhibit.

This species is considered medium-sized and is native to the eastern and southeastern regions of the Australian continent, as well as Tasmania and the islands between the continent and Tasmania, particularly King and Flinders Islands. This also means that they can be found in areas where snow is common during the winter, which is why these animals do not require heated enclosures in our climate; it is sufficient to provide them with a sheltered space where they can retreat in the cold. Like most kangaroos, this species is herbivorous, but its diet predominantly consists of leaves and shoots from trees and shrubs, in contrast to the larger species, which are primarily grass-eaters.

Kangaroos, and marsupials in general, draw attention with their particularly unique mode of reproduction. Indeed, their offspring are born in a relatively undeveloped state after a short gestation period, and their development continues in the pouch, essentially as a second womb, for months after birth. This is exactly what we can observe with our Bennett’s kangaroos, where, according to the keepers’ observations, at least five females currently have young kangaroos growing in their pouches. The oldest and most developed young ones occasionally peek out of the pouch, while the younger ones are currently only visible by the slight bulge in their mother’s pouch. Soon, however, we will be able to see more of them, and the older ones, within a few weeks, will not only peek out of the pouch but will also step out, taking their first steps, or rather, their first hops, into the outside world. Of course, even after that, they will return to their mother’s pouch from time to time.

The essence of “marsupiality” is not necessarily the presence of a pouch. In fact, there are marsupials where the female’s pouch is not as developed as that of kangaroos. The emphasis is rather on the fact that the gestation period is extremely short: in the case of the Bennett’s kangaroo, it is precisely 30 days. Such a short period is not sufficient for the offspring to reach a level of development as most mammals. However, this short period is enough for the newborn to be capable of breathing air and nursing. Anything else that needs more time to develop stays in an almost embryo-like state in newborn marsupials. A good example of this is their legs. Everyone knows that kangaroos have much bigger and stronger hind legs compared to their front ones. However, in newborn kangaroos, the situation is quite the opposite. The forelimbs are needed right after birth for the newborn to climb into the pouch. Thus, the forelimbs are relatively developed, even featuring claws. However, the hind legs are almost invisible in newborn kangaroos, as they can develop later.

After birth, the joey continues to develop inside the pouch for several months, where the mother’s teats provide all the nourishment it needs, so it doesn’t have to leave the safety of the pouch for food. Meanwhile, the joey continues to grow physically, beginning to take on a kangaroo-like shape. Its fur develops, and after approximately five months (though this can vary slightly between species), its eyes open. At this point, it makes sense for the joey to begin peering out of the pouch. People usually think of the pouch as a kind of pocket, but the term is actually quite spot on. The same word was once used to describe an old-fashioned leather pouch for carrying money, which could be closed with a string threaded through its opening. The kangaroo mom can also close her pouch, with the help of her muscles. It’s important to note that not every marsupial has a pouch like this. At our Zoo, you can also meet wombats, whose pouches actually open toward the back. And, as we’ve mentioned before, there are marsupial species that don’t even have a properly developed pouch. In these types of marsupials, several offspring are usually born at a time, and they hang from the teats much like a bunch of grapes. The greater number of offspring compensates for the less protected environment. The well-developed pouch of kangaroos offers much greater protection, so they usually give birth to only one offspring at a time.

Of course, there are many other fascinating facts to share about kangaroos in general and specifically about our Bennett’s kangaroos raising their joeys in their pouches. Here’s an interesting fact, especially for those speaking or learning English. The Hungarian word “kenguru” and its English counterpart “kangaroo” both come from the Guugu Yimithirr language, spoken by Aboriginal people in Queensland. This was the language spoken by the people Captain Cook and his crew met in the area of present-day Cooktown. However, the Hungarian word “kenguru” and the English “kangaroo” are false friends in linguistic terms: although they’re similar in form, their meanings differ, even if there is a connection. While the Hungarian word is used for all kinds of kangaroos, the English kangaroo is used only for the large-bodied species. For medium sized kangaroos such as the red-necked, or Bennett’s kangaroo, the English word wallaby is preferred. It is also of Australian Aboriginal origin, but from a different people and a different language, Dharuk, spoken by the Aboriginal people of the Sydney area.