PARMA WALLABY

The Parma wallaby is a small marsupial and a member of the kangaroo family (Macropodidae). It has a compact body with short legs, a long tail, and a small head. The fur coloration is greyish-brown to reddish-brown on the back, with a lighter underbelly. They have a distinctive white cheek stripe and a dark stripe running from the back of the head to the shoulders. The average adult size is around 40-50 cm in length, and they weigh between 2-4 kilograms.

The Parma wallaby is endemic to eastern Australia and has a restricted range. They are found in small pockets of suitable habitat in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. They inhabit dense, moist forests, often in hilly or mountainous areas with a dense understory of vegetation.

Parma wallabies are primarily nocturnal and are most active during the night. They are shy and secretive animals, spending much of their time in dense vegetation for cover. They are primarily solitary, although they may form small groups or pairs. They are agile jumpers and can move quickly through their habitat.

The Parma wallaby is herbivorous, feeding on a variety of plant material. Their diet includes grasses, herbs, leaves, and fruits. They are known to be selective feeders, choosing the most nutritious parts of plants.

Female Parma wallabies have a well-developed pouch in which they carry and nurse their young, called joeys. After a gestation period of around 33-38 days, a tiny, undeveloped joey is born. The joey crawls into the pouch, where it continues to develop and nurse from its mother for several months. The weaning process takes place when the joey is around 8-9 months old.

The Parma wallaby is currently listed as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They have experienced significant population declines due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and predation by introduced predators such as dogs, cats and foxes.