What are the enemies of a kangaroo and how does it protect itself?

Answer 1

There are over 60 species of kangaroos, and the enemies/predators are different according to the species. Dingoes pose a threat to the species most commonly recognised as "kangaroos" (Western Grey, Eastern Grey and Red kangaroo), but there are no other major natural enemies of the kangaroo. The majority of the dingo's diet (more than 50 per cent) comes from kangaroos and wallabies. In eastern NSW, the swamp wallaby is a particularly important prey species. Eagles, hawks and other birds of prey may take young joeys. Further, studies have shown that foxes are responsible for the deaths of up to 50% of joeys when they first emerge from the pouch.

One of the kangaroo's main enemies is man, who hunts and kills them and threatens their habitat.

Kangaroos used to have another predator, the Thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger, which once roamed the mainland as well as Tasmania. Thylacines are now extinct.

Answer 2

The term "kangaroo" covers over 60 species of macropods.

Regarding the three large species of marsupial; the Red Kangaroo, Eastern Grey and Western Grey kangaroo, their predators include man (primarily), who actively seeks to cull their numbers, followed by dingoes and wedgetail eagles. Introduced predators such as foxes, wild dogs and feral cats are a threat to joeys. Studies have shown that up to 50% of joey are taken by ftheir at the emergent stage.

Prior to the extinction of the thylacine (sometimes known as the Tasmanian Tiger), kangaroos would have had to defend themselves against this creature, the largest of the carnivorous marsupials.

Smaller kangaroos such as wallabies are often killed by both wild and domestic dogs, while smaller ones still, such as the potoroos, bettongs and rat-kangaroos are subject to predation by introduced species such as feral cats and foxes.

Answer 3

The term "kangaroo" covers over 60 species of macropods, but for the purpose of this answer, kangaroo refers to one of the four large species of marsupial; the Red Kangaroo, eastern Grey, Western Grey and Antilopine kangaroo.

Kangaroos' enemies include include man (primarily), who actively seeks to cull their numbers, followed by dingoes and wedgetail eagles.

Introduced animals such as foxes, wild dogs and feral cats are a threat to joeys.

Smaller kangaroos, such as wallabies, rat-kangaroos (not kangaroo rats), potoroos, pademelons and bettongs are preyed upon by quolls and pythons.

Kangaroos have almost no natural predators. The thylacine, the marsupial lion, the megalania and the wonambi are thought to have been predators of the kangaroo but they are now extinct.

Answer 4

There are more than 60 species of kangaroos, so their enemies vary, depending on the species, and so do their methods of protection,
Dingoes are the greatest threat to many species of kangaroos. Over 50 % of the dingo's diet comes from kangaroos and wallabies. Larger species such as Red kangaroos and Grey kangaroos have powerful hind legs which not only allow the kangaroos to defend themselves with a hefty kick, but which enable them to easily outdistance a predator such as a dingo. However, wallabies and other smaller species cannot outrun dingoes and wild dogs as easily. They will bound away, often changing direction suddenly to give them an advantage over any four-legged predator, and they are agile leapers up and down mountainous terrain.

Eagles, hawks and other Birds of Prey may take young joeys, and some of the smaller species of kangaroos, and these smaller species can also fall prey to quolls, which are cat-sized carnivorous marsupials, and introduced species such as foxes and feral cats. Tasmanian devils, too, pose a threat to the smaller kangaroo species in Tasmania, such as the Tasmanian pademelon. There is little defence for these smaller marsupials.

One of the kangaroo's main enemies is man, who hunts and kills them and threatens their habitat. Kangaroos have no defence against Man.

Answer 5

The term "kangaroo" covers over 60 species of macropods, but for the purpose of this answer, kangaroo refers to one of the four large species of marsupial; the Red Kangaroo, eastern Grey, Western Grey and Antilopine kangaroo.

Kangaroo predators include man (primarily), who actively seeks to cull their numbers, followed by dingoes and wedgetail eagles.

Prior to the extinction of the thylacine (sometimes known as the Tasmanian Tiger), kangaroos would have had to defend themselves against this creature, the largest of the carnivorous marsupials.

Smaller kangaroos, such as wallabies, rat-kangaroos (not kangaroo rats), potoroos, pademelons and bettongs are preyed upon by quolls and pythons.

Answer 6

The main enemies of tree kangaroos are dingoes and pythons. The introduction of dogs has resulted in many tree kangaroos being killed when people have allowed their dogs to run loose.