Tuesday 27 September 2011

ABC Wednesday, K for Kangaroo.




Posted by Picasa

These photos are "borrowed" from Wikipedia.


The most remarkable animal existing in Australia, is the kangaroo, which is a marsupial. It belongs to the family of Macropodidae(macropods means "large foot").
Kangaroos are much bigger than wallabies, which are related to them. The Red Kangaroo is the largest member of the kangaroo family. I was not so fortunate to meet the Red Kangaroo, but I saw plenty of wallabies. Kangaroos are indigenous to Australia.Therefore the kangaroo has become a national symbol of Australia. Coming to Australia I flew in a Qantas plane, recognizable by the red kangaroo painted on its tail.The kangaroo is important to the Australian culture.

The big male Red Kangaroo is big indeed! It measures 1.8m while standing up, and it can weigh 85 kg.

Kangaroos and wallabies can be found in many parts of the country, such as hot, dry deserts, grassy plains but also forests, where there is enough to eat. They have sharp front teeth and eat mainly grass and leaves. A friend of my daughter's told us that she once saw some wallabies eating her bananas. The tallest of them
picked them and then divided them among the others of the "mob"!



 

Posted by Picasa


Photos from the book "Kangaroos"by Christine Butterworth

When a baby is born, it is still nothing more than a fetus. It is blind, pink and hairless. It crawls into its mother's pouch and starts sucking one of its mother's nipples. The joey( baby) stays in the pouch until it has grown fur and can keep itself warm.Then it leaves the pouch for a short time. It returns in the pouch when it gets hungry or in case of danger. When the joey gets bigger it can only put its head inside the pouch to drink.




Posted by Picasa


Photos taken from the book"Kangaroos"by Christine Butterworth.

With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with K.

25 comments:

Carol Murdock said...

I love this Wil! Those babies look like little puppies! Nature is so fascinating!I love the Wallaby's sharing, how sweet! XO

Roger Owen Green said...

When we went to the Toronto Zoo, the daughter had to see the kangaroos!

Arkansas Patti said...

What neat photos and information Wil. I have never seen a kangaroo and have always wanted to. Such unusual animals.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I understand that in Australia they are a bit of a pest Wil - but, having never seen one in the wild, I think they are lovely animals.

Carver said...

Fascinating post about Kangaroos. They are such interesting animals.

Nanka said...

We do not have Kangaroos here in India and neither have I seen it in the zoo!! This made it very interesting for me though had only read about them!! Great pics accompanying a great narration!! Enjoyed it!!

Kay L. Davies said...

Amazing, the size of a newborn joey. To think it can find its mother's pouch, too.
I laugh when I see "big joeys" in their mothers' pouches, just from the waist down because they've grown so much.
Great fun, Wil. I love kangaroos.
Now I'd better get ready to meet Mara. I have to leave in an hour.
Luv, K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

photowannabe said...

Aren't kangaroos curious and fascinating creatures?
Thanks for sharing the photos and information. Great post for the letter K.

EG CameraGirl said...

Thank you for explaining the difference between kangaroos and wallabies!

mrsnesbitt said...

Awww - would love to have witnessed the banana moment!
Thanks so much
Denise ABC Team

George said...

Thanks for the interesting information about, and great pictures of, kangaroos. I enjoyed this post very much.

Anya said...

Wat een leuke foto's
en zeer interesante tekst :-)

groetjes :)

Shooting Parrots said...

Those red kangeroos are the most beautiful colour.

Chronicles of Illusions said...

Oh Will they are remarkable aren't they ??

A great blog about kangaroos is :
http://www.kangaroosofthescrubbybush.com/

check it out - I really think you would love it

Jo
:)

Kim, USA said...

Oww the baby kangaroo. My first time to see it. ^_^

ABC Wed

Vicki Lane said...

Such fascinating creatures!

Hildred said...

Fascinating birth and feeding process. Love the banana story and the pictures you have chosen, Wil.

Chubskulit Rose said...

Kanga and Roo, my kids favorite!

Kids at Heart is one of my ABC this week.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Gosh darn it! Kangaroos are so cute! Just as koalas are. For a spilt second, I did a double take saying to myself, "there's no kangaroos where Reader Wil lives"!

??? said...

I always wonder is the pouch is really comfortable once the joey has reached a certain size. But I guess they are just as unwilling to move out as human children often are.

J.Rylie.C said...

I love kangaroos!

Kids e-Connection for ABC.

Gattina said...

Kangaroos are looking so funny ! We now have farms in Belgium which raise Kangaroos, for steaks ! poor things.
Gattina
ABC Wednesday

Anonymous said...

Kangaroos are always one of the animals I want to see when I go to zoos. I'd love to see them in the wild! Amazing and beautiful creatures. Just look at those baby's eyes!

Tumblewords: said...

A fine narrative about these unusual animals. I've seen them in zoos and always had a desire to see them in the 'wild'. Nice post! The header bears such a peaceful and happy ambiance.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I tease my husband that he has a body shape of a kangaroo. Small upper body, and log legs. O even bought a glass model of the kangaroo.