Wallaby or miniature kangaroo is another marsupial native of Australia. Wallaby is basically any of the 30 species of macropod, which is not large enough to be a kangaroo. It lives up to 12 to 15 years of age and reaches a height of not more than 2 and half feet, weighing about 35 to 40 pounds.
Though they are smaller than kangaroos still they are stockier. Out of the 30 varieties, the Black Wallaby, the Agile Wallaby and the Red-Necked Wallaby are the closest to kangaroos. You can call them the poor little cousins of kangaroos. They feed on raw fruits and vegetables, grass, wheat bread, young shoots of trees and plants. Wallabies can be found in almost the whole of Australian mainland but more so in less reachable rugged terrains that are heavily timbered. However, they are less in number in semi arid plains. |
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The rock wallabies look more like goats of the northern region. Several of the 15 subspecies subscribing to this major species of kangaroos are on the verge of extinction and efforts are being made to preserve them. Red-necked wallabies are most closely related to the kangaroos. These are the ones most frequently seen in the southern states. The banded hair wallabies are found only in the two islands of the Western Australian coast. The three nail tail wallabies and the four typical hare wallabies are another two important species. The bridled nail-tail wallabies have a hunched posture, muscular thighs and large hind legs. This allows them to hop at a high speed. It is for this reason that the Australians call them "flash jacks". Bridled nail-tail wallabies can be spotted only in the Taunton National Park, managed by the Environment Australia and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).
Wallabies can be spotted in Acacia shrub land and grassy woodland in semi-arid regions. Wallabies only live up to 6 to 7 years of age. Wallabies are shy and usually solitary animals. They are found in most of the Australian continent. They are nocturnal by nature, i.e. they come out for prey only after the dusk. Very occasionally they come out in the daytime, otherwise the days are spent in the comfort of a shallow nest scratched out beneath grass or a bush.
Wallabies may not be as big or common as kangaroos but they are no less intriguing. The very fact that they are less in number and more varied in species makes their spotting a thrilling experience. A bush walking session through various wildlife parks of Australia can give you a glimpse of this silent animal.
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