Bennett Wallaby

Macropus rufogriseus

Bennett’s Wallabies are also known are the red-necked wallaby, a medium-sized macropod marsupial. They are very common in the temperate and fertile parts of eastern Australia, including the island of Tasmania. These wallabies can be found living and feeding along coastal forest and scrubs. Bennett’s wallabies have been introduced to several countries including European countries of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France.

Bennett’s wallabies are mainly solitary but will gather together if there is an abundance of resources such as food, water, or shelter. When they are gathered in larger groups, they have a social hierarchy similar to other wallaby species. They are mainly nocturnal and spend most of the daytime resting. Bennett’s wallabies have a herbivorous diet consisting of grasses, roots, tree leaves and weeds.

During courting / mating season, these wallabies will break their solitary living habits. A part of this courting process involves the male and female standing upright briefly fighting. The couple will stay together for one day before separating. Females bear one offspring at a time; with the young staying in its mother's pouch for 280 days. After emerging from the pouch, females and their offspring stay together for a month. These wallabies have been known to engage in alloparental care, meaning one wallaby may adopt the child of another.