A new generation emerges
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342466)
Rockingham, Australia
September 15, 2020 7:02pm CST
It’s that time of year again when joey kangaroos start popping their heads out of the doe’s pouches. There is plenty of grass around and the days are mostly warm and sunny. I am waiting to get a video of a baby taking its first hops but in previous years, the action has always been too far away. Hopefully, this year…
Regular readers can miss the next bit but for those who don’t know much about kangaroos, the embryos are born the size of a jellybean. They have no hair, no ears and are blind. They claw their way up the stomach of the doe to get to the pouch. She licks the fur to make it easier for them but doesn’t give any other assistance.
Once in the pouch, the joey attaches itself to a teat which expands to hold it safe. After about six months, it starts to emerge from the pouch. For a few weeks prior to this, it sticks its head out from time to time.
Let’s hope I’m lucky this year in getting some decent videos.
40 people like this
35 responses
@changjiangzhibin89 (16804)
• China
16 Sep 20
Interesting ! This post fills the gap in my knowledge of how a joey kangaroo is born and fed in the pouch.
3 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16804)
• China
17 Sep 20
@JudyEv Thank you ! You never cease to surprise me by all sorts of knowledge,such as plants, animals and endurance ride.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342466)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Sep 20
@changjiangzhibin89 I am sure you could surprise me too with some of the things you know that I don't. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342466)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Sep 20
Pretty marvellous, isn't it? She might become pregnant again almost immediately but can hold the new embryo in suspension for a while if she wants to. She can do this is conditions are bad too - drought, etc. It all blows my mind sometimes. 
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (182928)
• United States
16 Sep 20
What a cute photo! I'm always pleased to see what you see every day! It's so unusual for us in the States!
2 people like this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
16 Sep 20
At least they're not perturbed about covid. Nice to see nature remind us everything is going to be OK, one day.
2 people like this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
17 Sep 20
@JudyEv
I see. Things are changing about tourism. Just today Give. wants to reopen fully tourism on OCT. 5, but with testing before tourist board plane, so far is known.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
16 Sep 20
ack! i missed 't 'gain. danged the luck, but't least can 'dmire yer pic 'f such. i've fingers crossed tightly that'cher able to finally get that video ya wish. i seriously need to spring/summer here'n then spring/summer there :)
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
17 Sep 20
@JudyEv jest loved 'em! would'a subscribed long 'go if'n i'd 'nly known, lol. there's software (free) that'cha can get to make slide shows 'nto a video format, then put'n youtube. the son recommended open shot video editor to me. did the 1st'un without a hitch 'n 've failed since then. their tutes meanin'less to my lil pea brain.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342466)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Sep 20
@crazyhorseladycx I'm glad you liked it and thanks for subscribing. It used to be easy to put up a slideshow but YouTube stopped offering slideshows so now I need to learn a new way. I'm certainly hoping to get better footage this season. There is a short clip of two bucks fighting too.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
16 Sep 20
Oh my gosh, this is so interesting, Judy! I've always wondered how those precious little babies got inside that pouch:) Now I realize, they get in from within their mommies tummy. I'm so glad you explained this, a new lesson I just learned
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342466)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Sep 20
I researched opossums and they do the same but they have about a dozen teats in their pouch. They have more babies than that but the ones that don't make it to a teat perish. Nature is amazing, isn't it? I'm glad you found it interesting.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
18 Sep 20
@JudyEv I remember trying to get the tiny pup to latch on, but it wouldn't. The healthy pups had no problem whatsoever, finding their food!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
16 Sep 20
Wow. Fascinating animal. Here I thought they were born into the pouch or something. Amazing that the tiny thing has to crawl in there
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
17 Sep 20
@JudyEv I'm learning so many things. I didn't know opossum have pouch too. I did have to look it up to discover that male kangaroo have no pouch (I guess that makes sense)... Oh dear..... about the possum :/
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
16 Sep 20
i have seen photos of this, but would love someday to see it in person!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342466)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Sep 20
@nawala123 They have the most beautifully soft fur.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
16 Sep 20
They keep coming to entertain you
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
16 Sep 20
@JudyEv and it would be so much fun for sure
1 person likes this
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
16 Sep 20
Oh my God, I don't know if I dared to see that!
1 person likes this
