The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has announced the birth of a new Matschie's tree kangaroo joey, a species currently listed as endangered. The zoo says the joey was born to first-time parents Kiari and Modi as reported by Spectrum News. According to the article, the joey, who has yet to be introduced to the public, is spending valuable time bonding with its mother behind the scenes.
The birth is timely with Mother's Day around the corner, yet the joey will remain off-exhibit for an unspecified amount of time to ensure a smooth early bonding process, as described by News 5 Cleveland. While the newborn remains out of the public's eye, visitors can still enjoy over 20 different animatronic dragons at Dragon's Landing, over at Waterfowl Lake.
Matschie's tree kangaroos face serious threats in their native environment of the Huon Peninsula of New Guinea, which is starkly indicated by their endangered status and drastically declining numbers. Spectrum News noted that fewer than 2,500 adult Matschie’s tree kangaroos are believed to be left in the wild due to habitat loss and hunting for food and trade. The unique marsupials spend 60% of their time asleep, and their physical adaptations, like rough-skinned feet and curved nails, aid them in climbing trees.
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is preparing for the joey's eventual debut in the Australian Adventure habitat, as shared in a Facebook post, and it acknowledges the significance of this birth for the conservation efforts. Their colors are among the brightest of marsupials, and the challenges they face in the wild make this new addition all the more important. According to FOX8, "Matschie’s tree kangaroos are among the most brightly colored marsupials, and have rough-skinned feet and curved nails that help them grab branches."
