One of our more exclusive animals that live in the Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas is the Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo. This curious animal falls into the macropodidae family, which include the more familiar wallabies and kangaroos.
The lumholtz tree kangaroo is one of the smaller species within the family, and can only be found in Australia. So, lucky us! This specific species can be found from as low as Cardwell and can be found as far north as Mount Carbine. The Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo is distinctive, with a short broad head, small ears and a long black tail which is used to keep balance whilst in trees. If threatened, these kangaroos tend to freeze and blend in with the dark tree trunks. This is their main predator avoidance behaviour.
The tree kangaroo is nocturnal, which generally moves around and eats at night time. These beautiful creatures are also considered a folivore. This means they generally enjoy snacking on leaves, however they definitely don’t mind the sweet taste of fruit! They usually move along the treetops, however does come to ground when it needs to change tree or eat off a low hanging fruit or plant.
Conservation
Just like many animals, the future of the Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo species is threatened by deforestation. The extensive clearing of lowland rainforest greatly reduces the habitat of these animals. Unfortunately, if the habitat of this species is taken away, we may see a significant drop in numbers. There are so many things every one of us can do to help protect this species and our wildlife in general. If you would like to learn more on conservation and what you can do, give this a read!
Pop in and say hello to our tree kangaroos or get your picture taken holding a koala. Give us a call and let us help organise your day at the Wildlife Habitat.
