Tree kangaroo joey in mom's pouch

Seven months ago at the Emerson Children's Zoo at the Saint Louis Zoo, Bexley the Matschie's tree kangaroo was born the size of a lima bean. He immediately moved into his mother's pouch to be nurtured and developed and has since grown to be the size of a small cat.

Visitors who are patient may see Bexley climbing all the way out of the pouch, reaching for his mom's food and beginning to explore his world. At about 10 months old, he will officially move out of the pouch, but will continue to nurse until he is at least 16 months old.

This is the fourth offspring for mother Kasbeth and father Iri and the fourth tree 'roo ever to be born at the Saint Louis Zoo. Kasbeth and Iri were paired under the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan for tree kangaroos.

The endangered Matschie's tree kangaroo is a small marsupial found only in the thick, mountainous forests of Papua New Guinea, an island just south of the equator, north of Australia. A relative of terrestrial kangaroos, the reddish-brown and cream colored tree kangaroo also retains the legendary ability to jump. The tree kangaroo can leap as far as 30 feet from a tree to the ground.

For more information:
http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/aboutth...

Media b-roll: http://youtu.be/7sf55ji_jH8

• Category

  Pets & Animals

[Stephen Gilberg]

Very babyish behavior, ngawww.