Red Kangaroo

Red Kangaroos are the largest living marsupial. They are named for the reddish-colored fur of the male. Females are bluish-grey in color. Males are nicknames “boomers,” females are “blue fliers,” and babies as “joeys.” Males can weigh between 120 to 180 pounds and stand around 5 to 6 feet tall. Females are smaller, weighing around 60-80 pounds and stand around 4 to 5 feet tall.

Red Kangaroos are found in the central part of Australia. This area includes widespread desert and semidesert regions, grasslands, and shrub-lands. The groups, or mobs, are found near water sources – both natural and man-made. These mobs of kangaroos consist of 2 – 10 animals with a single dominant male, several females, and their offspring. They are able to go long periods of time without water by consuming moisture-filled plants called succulents.

In the wild, the average lifespan is 12 to 18 years old. Under human care, they can live up to 25 years of age.