Kangaroos: Interesting Facts About the Species

Kangaroos live in one other country besides Australia. Do you know what that country is?

New Guinea, which is half of a large island north of Australia.

Kangaroos are fast hoppers. They can also walk on fours, but they travel much more slowly that way. However, there is one way a kangaroo cannot walk. What way do you think that is?

Backwards.

Kangaroos have very strong legs.

They use them to hop. And they can jump three times their own height–up to 3m (10ft).

Kangaroos also use their legs to fight. The animals are dangerous for this reason.

Do you think kangaroos can swim?

They can.

Kangaroos often rest by laying down in the shade. They usually recline on one side with their head up.

And do you know why they are called kangaroos?

The first use of the word was recorded in 1770. Lieutenant James Cook, an ocean-going explorer recorded the words “Kangooroo or Kanguru” on the banks of the Endeavour River when his ship, the HM Bark Endeavour was beached there for seven weeks to repair damage sustained on the Great Barrier Reef.

It is believed that the aboriginals of Australia told Cook that the name of the animal was gangurru.

(This last image is by fulloftravel.com)

 

Kangaroos: Interesting Facts About the Species