New Zealand Introduced Animals > Bennets Wallaby

Bennets Wallaby

Macropus rufogriseus

Introduced

DISTRIBUTION: Native to Australia but was liberated in New Zealand. The most significant population of this species of wallaby in New Zealand is in the Hunters Hills and surrounding districts of South Canterbury.

HABITAT: Favors tussock covered hill land with scrub filled patches.

BREEDING: The gestation period is only 28 days. A single young (joey) is born at a very immature stage. The tiny new born Joey, hairless and blind, climbs up to the mothers pouch unassisted and begins to suckle. The joey will stay in the mothers pouch for around 150 days before it begins to peep its head out of the pouch. It will stay in the pouch for 5-11 months.

FOOD: Grasses, scrub, seeds, grain and vegetation.

VOICE: Grunts and growls when in a threated situation.

GENERAL: Males are larger than females. They have a soft brown-grey fur which covers most of their body, although white fur on underside is common. They live up to around 15 years of age. Because it has a pouch it is a member of the marsupials. Wallabies browse indigenous understory species in forests, and compete with cattle and sheep in pastoral areas. It is thought that the spread of wallaby populations is due to irresponsible hunters liberating them into new areas. Because they are the largest wallaby species they are highly sought after by overseas zoos and parks and are regularly exported.


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