LITTLE HIKERS

After a gestation period of only 30 days, the kangaroo mother gives birth to a joey that is still in the embryonic stage and weighs less than 1 gram. While the birth process is relatively easy for the mother, it is a strenuous undertaking for the joey, which must climb from the birth canal into its mother’s pouch on its own. The naked, blind, and deaf joeys have a highly developed sense of touch and smell and powerful forefeet with claws. Once the newborn reaches the pouch after a few minutes, it attaches itself to one of the two teats. It grows here for nine months before leaving the pouch fully developed.