The Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Written by: Cameron Ward
Published: 02/09/2016
Reading time: 3 mins
The iconic animal of Australia is one of the most sought-after creatures for tourists, with Phillip Island covered with them!
Kangaroos are probably the most iconic aspect of Australia. The native species can be found all over the country in many different shapes and sizes. Hopping across city suburbs, rural areas of Australia, and even near the coast! Many ventures into the lush bushland of Australia, or instead to national parks to really get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures. If you are heading to Phillip Island, follow our guide and find out where the best spot to see these kangaroos in Phillip Island is!
About the Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Eastern Grey Kangaroos besides their size, is their speed. They use their bulky hind legs to propel themselves forward at astonishing speeds – reaching over 35 miles and hour across long distances. Able to take huge leaps with their powerful hind legs they can cover a whopping 8 metres in a single leap, and jump 6-foot high.
They gather in groups of about 10 which are known as “mobs” and tend to come out to play in the late afternoon. Until then, they snooze in the shade until the temperatures cool down and they can go in search for food. Once the sun sets, they’re likely to be active until the small hours of the morning.
One of the most fascinating features of the kangaroo is the front pouch females have for their young. Females have one baby at a time, mostly due to the limited space a female has in their pouch. At birth, a kangaroo is smaller than a cherry, with the infant developing more in the mother’s pouch for another two months. After they are fully developed, the joey continues using the pouch for safety.
Where to see these Kangaroos
Phillip Island is one of the go-to places for kangaroo spotting. The on-site Wildlife Park is jam-packed full of cute critters and interesting species, from native koalas, echidnas, and Tasmanian devils, to birds like emus and cassowaries. But the kangaroos are by far the stars of the show. Here, you can get up close and personal with the Eastern Grey species (the most prominent species in Australia) and learn more about their habitats, their history, and their behaviour.The animals roam free around the park and you’re free to go up to them and feed them. This can be fairly daunting when you realise just how big Eastern Grey Kangaroos are – in fact, they’re the heaviest species of marsupial in the world. That being said, the kangaroos on Phillip Island are used to having visitors and will happily eat from the hands of humans.
The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is the most popular species of kangaroo in Australia, with millions roaming the bush land and the rural areas surrounding cities. If you can get up close and personal with them in a place like Phillip Island, you’ll discover why they’ve become such a beloved icon.
