Today the only kangaroo known to live in trees has its world day - the tree kangaroo. They are found only in the rain forests of Australia, West Papua, and Papua New Guinea. Many tree kangaroo species are incredibly rare and most are decreasing in number.
For example, scientists estimate that the golden-mantled tree kangaroo has been extirpated from 99% of its historical range, its numbers driven low by habitat destruction and hunting.
In 1990, a new species of tree kangaroo, the golden-mantled tree kangaroo, was discovered in the Torricelli Mountains of Papua New Guinea.
Humans are the main predators and threat to these animals, to the point where nearly all known species are in decline. They are also subject to bacterial infections, but these infections don’t seem to be contagious.
Indigenous peoples throughout the tree kangaroo’s range hunt the animals for food, sometimes using dogs to track them down. For several species, hunting alone has driven these species close to extinction.
Main sources: National Geographic, worldwildlife.org, a-z-animals.com
LET'S FIGHT TO SAVE THE MOST ENDANGERED SPECIES
VAKOVAKO will soon fight to save the most endangered species. 100 % of all donations given via our app to „MOST ENDANGERED“ area will by transfered to related NGOs. Let’s help them expand their activities together.