Bronx, United States - July 18, 2024

The Bronx Zoo welcomed a special arrival this summer with the public debut of a Matschie’s tree kangaroo joey. Born at the end of December, this adorable marsupial recently peeked its head out from its mother's pouch, marking its first appearance for zoo visitors. This joey is the second of its species born at the Bronx Zoo since 2021.

Tree kangaroo joeys undergo significant development within their mother’s pouch, a process similar to their kangaroo and wallaby relatives. After an internal gestation period of about 6 weeks, the joey is born approximately the size of a human thumbnail and immediately crawls into the safety of the mother's pouch. It will continue to nurse and grow within the pouch for about seven months before fully emerging, but will still return to nurse periodically.

Arboreal by nature, Matschie’s tree kangaroos inhabit the canopy of mountain forests, particularly in the Huon Peninsula of Papua New Guinea, where they are also known as Huon tree kangaroos. Adult males can weigh up to 30 pounds and measure about 30 inches in length, excluding their tails.

Visitors to the Bronx Zoo’s JungleWorld exhibit can now observe the joey and its mother as they explore their habitat. Exhibit viewing times may vary as the joey becomes more accustomed to its surroundings and continues to grow.