Forester Kangaroo

• ​largest marsupial in Tasmania, and the second largest in the world
• adult males can reach over 60 kg and stand 2 metres tall
  
• their colour varies from light brownish grey in males, to grey in females
  
• they have thick tails and large ears
• they make clucking sounds between themselves and give a guttural cough when alarmed
  

Dist​​ribution

They are common on mainland Australia where they known as the grey kangaroo. 

• Mt William N​ational Park

• Maria Island Na​tional Park

• Narawntapu National Park​

In many areas of the mainland, the clearing of bushland, creation of improved pasture and provision of farm dams has upset the natural balance in favour of increased kangaroo numbers.  Yet, in Tasmania, by the 1960s, the species had been reduced to fewer than 15% of its range at the time of European arrival. This was due to habitat degradation and unregulated hunting. Since then, populations have increased dramatically as a result of improved protection.

Diet and behavi​​our

Foresters often feed during the day, but mostly in the early morning and evening. Grasses and forbs comprise the diet. 

Forester kangaroos are social animals that are usually seen in family groups of three or four, but may occur in loosely associated mobs of more than ten. 

The Forester kangaroo moves by hopping.

Kangaroos can damage crops and pastures where local populations are high. Due to their large size, they can also damage fences. As a result they can come into conflict with landholders. Find out more about living with kangaroos.
Bre​​edi​ng

​Aerial su​rvey​​

An aerial survey of Forester kangaroos was carried out across much of eastern Tasmania in 2019 and 2024. ​For further information please see ​the Wild Fallow Deer Census page​.