The tree-kangaroo is the only tree-dwelling member of the kangaroo family and is found in high altitude areas of New Guinea, northern Australia and Indonesia.

It is slow and awkward on the ground, as it has to balance its heavy tail, but on trees, it’s extremely swift. An expert at jumping, it can leap up to nine metres from one tree to another and can even jump from as high as 18 m! There are around 10 species of the tree-kangaroo.

A tree-kangaroo can range in colour from chestnut brown, golden or grey to a fully black body with a yellow or greyish-brown face. Though tree-kangaroos vary in size, it is approximately 1.25 m tall with an adult male weighing about 12 to 15 kg. Its feet are short and wide, with long claws and rubbery soles that allow a good grip.

It eats leaves, fruits, eggs and young birds. Most tree-kangaroo species are nocturnal and owls, eagles and pythons are its natural predators. Extensive hunting and deforestation endanger its survival.