What is an eastern grey kangaroo?
The eastern grey kangaroo is a large kangaroo found across eastern Australia, from Queensland to Tasmania. It is the kangaroo most often seen by people living along the east coast.
Eastern greys have soft grey-brown fur and live in grassy woodlands, forests and farmland. Large males can stand around two metres tall and weigh more than 60 kilograms, making them the second-largest marsupial after the red kangaroo.
They live in groups called mobs, which may include dozens of animals. Mobs often graze in open areas at dawn and dusk, resting in shade during the day. Golf courses and parks on the edges of towns are popular grazing spots.
Life cycle
A joey is born after about 36 days and crawls into its mother's pouch, where it stays for around 11 months. Even after leaving, it returns to drink milk for months.
Eastern greys are common and are sometimes culled where numbers grow too large. Places to see them include Anglesea, Murramarang National Park, and Canberra's nature reserves.
Tasmania has a smaller subspecies known as the forester kangaroo.
Did You Know?
Eastern grey kangaroos can live for more than 20 years in captivity.