Close-up of a furless baby kangaroo being fed by a wildlife carer. Joeys measure roughly around the size of a gummy bear when they first climb into their mother’s pouch.
Berlin Zoo’s baby kangaroos take their first hops into the world.
Credit: Shutterstock, Ken Griffiths
Two kangaroo joeys at Berlin Zoo have taken their first hops, marking a major milestone after spending months snugly tucked inside their mother’s pouch. The tiny siblings, Roey and Magra, were born in January but have only just plucked up the courage to emerge – while a third joey remains firmly lodged in mum’s warm embrace.
First bounces for Berlin’s baby kangas
After weeks of peeking out from their mother’s pouch, the joeys finally took their first wobbly hops into the world- much to the delight of zookeepers and visitors alike.
Kangaroo babies, known as joeys, are born in an astonishingly undeveloped state. Measuring just the size of a Gummibärchen (that’s a gummy bear to you and me), they arrive – crawling into their mother’s pouch – after a brief gestation of only 28 to 33 days. But their journey is far from over.
Unlike most mammals, a newborn kangaroo doesn’t come out bouncing. Instead, this jellybean-sized embryo must embark on a remarkable climb – hauling itself six inches from the birth canal up to its mother’s pouch, where the real development begins.
Inside the pouch, lined with delicate skin akin to a human’s inner wrist, the baby latches onto one of four nipples, feeding and growing for the next 34 weeks. It’s a life of cosy luxury until the moment comes to take that first leap into the world.
Springtime baby boom
With the warmer months rolling in, Berlin Zoo and other animal parks across the city are bracing for a baby boom. From fluffy chicks to curious cubs, the next few weeks promise plenty of new arrivals, but few as captivating as these baby hoppers.
For now, Roey and Magra are testing out their newfound independence – though mum’s pouch is still a tempting retreat after a long day’s bouncing. As for their yet-to-emerge sibling? Well, some joeys just aren’t in a rush to leave home.
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