Dama Wallaby

Macropus eugenii

Animal Ambassadors

Jeffery

The Dama Wallaby has tawny gray fur and is the smallest of the wallabies. They are part of a subset of marsupials called macropods. Characteristics of macropods include long back feet, a sturdy tapered tail to help them balance, underdeveloped vocal cords, and a forward-facing pouch for their young.

When foraging, wallabies are able to select the most nutritious parts of plants. Its teeth are built to grind tough plant matter and its digestive system is specialized for processing a fibrous diet. 

Dama wallaby’s social structure is often formed into small, loosely organized groups. These groups are also called mobs and typically consist of a few individuals who forage together and provide some level of protection against predators.

Jeffrey (M) Born: January 2019 | Arrived: June 2024

Jeffrey was bred in captivity at the Ralph Mitchell Zoo in Kansas and was housed with a duiker for most of his life. The zoo was phasing out their wallaby collection and he found a new home with our Bennett wallabies here at WLI. Although he was quite skittish when he first arrived, he has become quite comfortable with his handlers and guests.

Diet:
Grasses and herbs, roots, vegetables
Range:
Australia
Lifespan:
10-15 years
Habitat:
These wallabies live in areas of dense vegetation with low trees and bushes, in thickets and around the outskirts of forests.
Length / Wingspan:
1.5 feet
Weight:
15-20 lbs