Matschie's Tree Kangaroo ©

Species Fact Sheet: Matschie's tree kangaroo ©

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Matschie's tree kangaroo Dendrolagus matschiei Matschie's tree kangaroo is a striking mahogany-brown tree kangaroo found only in Papua New Guinea. All kangaroos are thought to have evolved from possum-like animals and the relationship can clearly be seen in the musky rat kangaroo, which is the most primitive kangaroo alive. The musky rat kangaroo lives on the ground and has a ‘thumb-like’ toe, which looks like a possum foot. When and why tree kangaroos returned to the trees is unknown. Although their bodies are designed to hop along the ground like other kangaroos, they are arboreal; that is, they live in trees. These kangaroos climb with agility and speed and can make 10 metre downward leaps from tree to tree. Unlike other kangaroos, tree kangaroos can move each back leg independently. Conservation status The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Redlist of Threatened Species: Endangered Australian Government - Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 : Not listed Did you know? practices or to protect the wildlife and its habitat from outsiders. For example they could put in place hunting • Tree kangaroos have hind legs and forelegs that bans for certain species including tree kangaroos. are the same length, unlike other kangaroos. WWF’s work in New Guinea focuses on ensuring the • The Matschie's tree kangaroo is named after forests and freshwater of New Guinea is managed the scientist who discovered it – German biologist sustainably across political boundaries to enable biological Paul Matschie sustainability and social equity through:

• Like all macropds, instead of sweating, the • Biodiversity conservation, land use and sustainable Matschie's tree kangaroo licks its forearms and development planning that incorporates allows the evaporation to help cool its body. community rights, multiple forest uses, services and biodiversity values • Only two species of tree kangaroo occur in the wet tropics region of North Queensland – • Encouraging best investment and management Bennett’s and Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo. practices in forest industry and the agriculture, mining and petroleum sector through application of Distribution and habitat the ‘Equator Principles’, forest certification and strict criteria for palm oil production Tree kangaroos are herbivores and feed on a variety of leaves, fruits and flowers in their rainforest environment. • Expansion and improved management of the There are 10 species of tree kangaroos and eight of them protected area network including WMAs, through live in West Papua and Papua New Guinea, with just two collaborative management approaches species living in Queensland. • Promotion of cross-border collaboration to Matschie's tree kangaroo lives on the Houn Peninsula and promote forest conservation is also known as the Houn tree kangaroo. It is the only tree kangaroo found there and lives n the mountain rainforests from 1,000 metres to 3,300 metres above sea level. ©

Ecology and life cycle W F - Unlike their Australian kangaroo cousins, tree kangaroos C a live in small family groups of usually just the mother, father n o and joey. The adult Matschie’s tree kangaroos are thought n , to be even more solitary but there is a strong bond C h between mother and offspring. r i s

Adult Matschie’s tree kangaroos are much smaller than the a r t i red kangaroos, with adults ranging between 7 and 11 n kilograms. They are thought to live to about 14 years in the B A wild but a captive Matschie’s tree-kangaroo can live for 20 H years. They are arboreal, spending most of their time in R trees but occasionally come down to the ground to feed and can be active during the day or night. Threats All species of tree kangaroo that occur in West Papua and Papua New Guinea are classified as vulnerable, endangered or data deficient (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species). The encroachment into their natural habitat through logging and expanding human populations in addition to the human hunting make the future of this species uncertain. Habitat loss and over harvesting are the main threats to these species. How you can help Conservation action • Become a supporter of WWF-Australia WWF, through the Threatened Species Network, has supported several projects to conserve tree kangaroo • Support the use of timber and paper habitat in North Queensland. Currently WWF is working from certified sources such as FSC, at with partners in Papua New Guinea to save rapidly home and at work diminishing tree kangaroo habitat by working with Indigenous communities to develop Wildlife Management • Use a bank that subscribes to the Areas (WMAs). Equator Principles A WMA is one of the simplest forms of protected areas and gives full power to landowners to manage their land. The • Support tourism in Papua New Guinea main aim of a WMA is to protect wildlife and its habitat. It is that supports local communities still owned by customary landowners and managed by them through a committee that they have elected. Landowners continue to live in and manage the WMA area. • Support responsibly produced palm oil They may decide to change some of their management WWF-Australia GPO Box 528 Sydney NSW 2001 Tel: 1800 032 551 wwf.org.au