Fun Kangaroo Facts
Kangaroos are such an iconic Australian animal that they seem to be everywhere you look – Skippy re-runs on TV, staring back at you from a 50 cent piece and even in the sky on the tail of a Qantas plane!
If your Brisbane Kid loves kangaroos, here’s the best places to spot one locally – both in the wild and in zoo enclosures. We’ve even included some fun facts about kangaroos that may surprise you!
Where to spot kangaroos in the wild near Brisbane
Head out into the sprawling Brisbane suburbs, especially those that are near bush land, and you may be lucky enough to spot a ‘roo in the wild. You are most likely to see one at dawn and dusk, when they are more active and feeding. Here’s a list of suburbs in and around Brisbane where kangaroos have been sighted:
- Hays Inlet Parklands, Mango Hill
- Mount Cotton
Brisbane wildlife centres with kangaroos
If you have no luck spotting one in the wild, we’ve compiled a list of wildlife centres in and near Brisbane that house kangaroos. Some even allow you to feed, pat and photograph these beautiful creatures.
Fun kangaroo facts for Brisbane Kids
- Kangaroos are marsupials, which means they have a pouch for their young. Baby kangaroos are known as joeys.
- When a joey is born it is the size of a jelly bean and will stay in its mum’s pouch for at least four months. After that they hop in and out until they are about 10 months old.
- Kangaroos are not only found in Australia, but also New Guinea.
- There are four different kangaroo species: the red kangaroo, eastern grey kangaroo, western grey kangaroo and antilopine kangaroo. The largest is the red kangaroo.
- Kangaroos can hop around quickly on two legs or walk around slowly on all four, but they can’t walk backwards.
- Kangaroos can jump very high, sometimes three times their own height.
- Kangaroos can swim.
- Kangaroos are herbivores and their diet consists mostly of grass.
- A group of kangaroos is called a ‘mob’, ‘troop’ or ‘court’. Each mob has between 10 and 25 kangaroos.
- A female kangaroo is called a doe and a male kangaroo is called a buck
- Kangaroos use their tails to help them balance while jumping
For more fun facts about kangaroos and other marsupials, visit the Queensland Museum’s Find Out About Marsupials page. And for kids that want to draw a kangaroo, check out this easy tutorial on Kids 4 Kangaroos.
Have you spotted a kangaroo in Brisbane? Tell us where!