Cameras captured the moment a baby dusky pademelon, a rare ‘miniature kangaroo,’ peeked out from its mum's pouch for the first time. Credit: Chester Zoo
Keepers at Chester Zoo are celebrating the birth of the zoo’s firstdusky pademelon – a rare ‘miniature kangaroo’ from Indonesia.
The adorable joey has just started to peek out from the pouch of first-time mum Styx after being born earlier in the spring.
Dusky pademelons, also known as dusky wallabies, are small, hopping marsupials found in forests on the island of New Guinea, as well as some neighbouring islands.
Tiny newborn is the first ‘miniature kangaroo’ ever born at the zoo Credit: Chester Zoo
Infants are born 30 days after mating and then continue to grow inside their mother’s pouches until they fully emerge at around seven months.
Tiny newborn is the first ‘miniature wallaby’ ever born at the zoo Credit: Chester Zoo
Dave White, Team Manager of the zoo’s Twilight team, said:
The dusky pademelon is listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Its population is estimated to have declined by 30% in thelast 15-20 years, largely due to trapping, hunting and habitat loss.
Experts from the IUCN say that close monitoring of the species is needed to ensure the continued health and survival of the dusky pademelon in New Guinea.
