Australia
Red Kangaroo
G'day! The red kangaroo is the largest of all kangaroos and can bound across the outback in giant leaps using its powerful back legs and tail.
Why is it special?
It's the largest marsupial in the world — an animal that carries its babies in a built-in pouch.
Kangaroos can't walk backwards, so they're always moving forward, just like their country's spirit!
How does it live?
Kangaroos travel in groups called mobs, hopping together across the grasslands and outback.
A baby kangaroo, called a joey, is born tiny and undeveloped and crawls straight into its mom's pouch to keep growing.
Amazing facts
A red kangaroo can leap over 25 feet in a single hop — that's longer than a school bus!
They can hop as fast as 35 miles per hour when they need to escape danger.
Quick facts
- A red kangaroo can leap over 25 feet in a single hop — that's longer than a school bus!
- They can hop as fast as 35 miles per hour when they need to escape danger.
- A joey stays in its mother's pouch for about 6 months before it's ready to hop out.
- Kangaroos use their strong tail like a fifth leg to balance and even push off the ground.