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Red-Necked Wallaby
We are home to 5 male red-necked wallabies - Jeff, Indi, Steve, Bucky, and Cheddar - who share their walkthrough exhibit with our swamp wallaby, Daniel.
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Diprotodontia
Family:
Macropodidae
About the red-necked wallaby
The red-necked wallaby is a medium-sized marsupial native to eastern and southeastern Australia, as well as Tasmania. Its name comes from the distinctive reddish tinge of fur on its shoulders and neck.
These wallabies are part of the macropod family, which also includes kangaroos, known for their large hind legs and powerful tails used for hopping and balance. Red-necked wallabies can hop at speeds of up to 48 km/h and cover up to 2 meters in a single bound, making their movement both efficient and energy-saving. While known for hopping, red-necked wallabies are also strong swimmers. They’ll often seek water to cool off or escape predators.
Female wallabies have a built-in nursery! Their joeys stay in the pouch for around 9 months, continuing to return for milk even after venturing outside.
Conservation
Although classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, red-necked wallabies face threats in some areas due to habitat destruction, competition with introduced species, and road accidents.
Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection and monitoring populations in the wild.