Watch Footage of a Rare Tree-Dwelling Kangaroo and Her Joey

The Matschie’s tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus matschiei) is an incredibly rare species of kangaroo found only in the mountains of Papua New Guinea. The animals are members of a unique and uncommon genus of macropods that climb and live in trees. Instead of the powerful hind legs that give the more common ground-dwelling kangaroos their signature hop, tree kangaroos have thick, padded paws that allow them to safely fall up to 60 feet from a tree. 

In “A Pouch In Need of Protection," Great Big Story gets up close to a Matschie’s tree kangaroo and her adorable joey, explaining the characteristics that make the species distinctive among kangaroos—and how their habitat is being destroyed. Check it out above.

Banner Image Credit: Great Big Story, YouTube