A baby Matschie's tree kangaroo, an endangered species from Papua New Guinea, made its first appearance at the Bronx Zoo on Thursday, marking a significant birth for the zoo and a result of its participation in a breeding program.
BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11)—On Thursday, a heartwarming sight unfolded in the Bronx as a baby kangaroo made its first appearance at the Bronx Zoo and its visitors.
The baby joey, a Matschie’s tree kangaroo, was born at the end of December but finally emerged from its mother's pouch.
“This birth is a rarity and significant for the Bronx Zoo,” said a spokesperson. “The birth is a result of the zoo’s participation in a cooperative breeding program administered by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).”
In a 30-second video shared by the Bronx Zoo, the baby kangaroo can be seen looking around its enclosure and sniffing with its nose. The joey pops its head out for a brief moment and then goes back inside its mother's pouch.
The Matschie’s tree kangaroo is an endangered species from Papua New Guinea. When born, the joeys are about the size of a human thumbnail, crawling through the mother’s fur to enter her pouch. They emerge about seven months later.
This species of kangaroo is smaller than Australia’s red kangaroo, weighing between 20 and 25 pounds. Conservationists believe that fewer than 2,500 Matschie’s tree kangaroos remain in the wild. They are threatened by habitat destruction, hunting, and other human activities.
This is the second kangaroo born at the Bronx Zoo and to this female since 2021.
This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.
