With regular feeding, a kangaroo or wallaby learns to approach people for food. Even without feeding, kangaroos and wallabies readily accept our presence if we show no aggression towards them. But, if we get too close, they may see us as a threat.
They are gentle creatures that are becoming popular as pets as alternatives to dogs and cats. Wallabies are born underdeveloped and grow to full-term inside their mother's pouch. They typically don't emerge from the hot, humid pouch until they're about 7 months old.
Wallabies may be cute and fascinating animals, but it's illegal to own them in most states, and they don't make the best pets. These smaller relatives of kangaroos are not easily domesticated and cannot be house-trained.
You may pat them but they prefer not to be touched on their heads but enjoy a gentle stroke on their backs. We ask that you respect their wishes if they choose not to come to you and don't follow them outside of the Wallaby Walk.
The most important thing to remember is that a wallaby is an exotic animal and while they can be tamed and socialized, they are wild animals and are not encouraged as domestic pets. In some areas of Australia, wallabies have been trained to live indoors and show signs of affectionate with a playful spirit.
Avoid approaching them or encouraging them to move off using gestures or objects. This may frighten them and make them feel the need to defend themselves.
Adult wallabies range in height from 2-3 feet and weigh between 30-50 lbs (depending on species). If kept appropriately, these animals can live 12-15 years in captivity.
The best time to see the animals and get up close and personal with them is in the mornings and the later afternoons as the Wallabies and Wallaroos like to sleep in the shade during the hotter part of the day.
During the day they hide amongst their rocky habitat or bask in the sunlight. They are most active at night when they eat grasses, leaves and fruits that grow nearby. The Swamp Wallaby, or Black Wallaby, lives in eastern Australia in thick forested areas and sandstone heath.
I knew seeing a wallaby eating meat was a significant observation, so I kept taking shots and trying to get closer. James watched the wallaby eat for a few minutes until a passing car startled it and it hopped away into the bush. He then went to inspect the wing.
#3 You need to rely mainly on 'unpalatable' plants.
Plants with oily or fragrant foliage. Plants with high oil content (including some which have fragrant foliage) include species of Eremophila, Prostanthera, Westringia, Eriostemon, and Myoporum appear almost totally unpalatable to 'roos.
Orphaned macropod joeys need to be fed a special milk formula according to their growth stage. Macropod joeys should never be fed regular cow's milk as lactose will cause diarrhoea, slow their growth and may cause death.
Wallabies are herbivores and eat primarily grasses and leafy plants. In the wild, they may eat roots if they cannot find enough water. While our wallabies have received sweet potatoes as part of their diet, they generally prefer browse (leafy branches) and macropod pellets.
If a large joey or wallaby has to be caught, it can be a dangerous task; the preferred method is to grab its tail close to the rump, and pass your other arm under its forearms across the front of the ribs – BE CAREFUL some will and do bite and scratch.
A wallaby gets most of its moisture from its food. As a result, it can survive for months without drinking water. A wallaby requires only 13% of the water needed by a similar-sized sheep.
Mammals. A water source is crucial for local native mammals, so providing a pond or water bath will be your best bet to attracting local mammals, such as kangaroos and wallabies. Removing Buffel Grass and allowing local native grasses to flourish will also help to attract grazing herbivores.
Agile wallabies are herbivores. During the wet season, they eat a variety of native grasses, shrubs and bushes, leaves, and fruits.
Because wallaby vocal cords are very undeveloped, their calls are simply growls, hisses and coughs. Males make a soft clucking sound during sexual interactions.
Human food is a poor substitute with little nutritional value and will disrupt their natural intake. Bread is a soft food and if eaten regularly it can result in gum problems.
Planting agapanthus, citronella varieties, lavender and rosemary bushes around your veggie patch may help keep the wallabies away.
Regardless of why people choose to feed kangaroo carrots, they are super bad for them. Carrots are naturally high in sugar, much higher than the grass kangaroo usually eat. This sugar rush is addictive and there are cases of wild kangaroos becoming addicted to carrots.
Even wallabies.
Wallabies and kangaroos (collectively called macropods) have thick pink tongues adept at lapping water. Many species don't need to drink if their food is very wet, but in hot dry times they will drink in the morning and evening.
Exotic mammals can be relatively costly. Depending on the species, color, and age of the wallaby, their pricing tends to start around $1000, with $2000 being the norm for captive-bred babies, but they can also cost up to $4000.
The word macropod actually means 'big foot'. Kangaroos and wallabies are most active at night, dusk and dawn. Kangaroos and wallabies (and possums) have forward-opening pouches. Other marsupials, such as wombats and koalas, have pouches that open backwards.