How Long Do Kangaroos Stay in the Pouch? A Comprehensive Guide
Kangaroos, as marsupials, have pouches where their young, called joeys, develop after birth. Observing kangaroo pouches in the wild, you’ll notice that some are empty while others house joeys. So, how long do kangaroos stay in the pouch?
Joey Development Stages
- Birth: Kangaroos give birth after a short pregnancy of about one month. The tiny, undeveloped joey must crawl from the birth canal into the pouch, guided only by instinct.
- Pouch Life: Inside the pouch, the joey attaches to one of the mother’s teats, receiving nutrition and growing rapidly.
- First Exit: At around 6 to 9 months, joeys begin exploring the outside world but return to the pouch frequently.
- Permanent Exit: By 8 to 12 months, they leave the pouch for good but continue to drink milk by sticking their heads into the pouch.
- Weaning and Independence: Weaning occurs at about 12 to 18 months, depending on the species and environmental factors. Females often remain close to their mothers, while males may leave to establish their territories.
Time Spent by Joeys in the Pouch
Joeys spend a significant amount of time in their mother's pouch, where much of their development takes place. Here is an overview of the typical duration joeys stay in the pouch:
| Kangaroo species | Leaves the pouch for the first time (age in months) | Leaves the pouch permanently (age in months) | Drinks milk (age in months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red kangaroo | 6 | 8 - 9 | 12 |
| Eastern grey kangaroo | 8 - 10 | 9 - 11 | 18 |
| Western grey kangaroo | 9 - 10 | 10 - 11 | 18 |
| Antilopine kangaroo | 7 | 9 | 12 - 13 |
| Quokka | 5 - 6 | 6 - 7 | 8 |
The table details the development stages of joeys in various kangaroo species, highlighting when they first leave the pouch, permanently exit the pouch, and stop drinking milk.
Red Kangaroos first leave the pouch at 6 months, exit permanently at 8-9 months, and wean off milk by 12 months. Eastern and Western Grey Kangaroos, Antilopine Kangaroos, and Quokkas follow similar stages but with slight variations in timing, showing species-specific growth and dependency periods.
During this period, joeys grow, develop fur, and gradually start exploring the outside world before eventually leaving the pouch for good.
How Joeys Get into the Pouch
Kangaroo joeys are born extremely undeveloped , resembling tiny, hairless embryos. After a short gestation period of about 30 to 36 days, the mother gives birth to a single joey. The newborn, about the size of a jellybean, instinctively crawls up the mother’s fur from the birth canal to the pouch. This journey is guided purely by instinct and takes only a few minutes.
Once inside the pouch, the joey attaches to one of the teats, which swells in its mouth to secure it. This allows the joey to feed and develop safely within the pouch. The environment inside the pouch provides warmth and protection essential for the joey’s growth during the early stages of life. For more detailed information on the birth process, you can visit How Do Kangaroos Give Birth?
Why Joeys Leave the Pouch
Joeys leave the pouch for several reasons:
- Size: They grow too large for the pouch.
- New Offspring: The mother needs to make room for new joeys. Kangaroo mothers can only carry one joey at a time in their pouch. When a new joey is born, the older joey must vacate the pouch to allow the newborn to develop and receive nourishment.
- Independence: Joeys need to learn to survive on their own, which involves exploring their environment and finding food independently.
These factors ensure that joeys gradually adapt to life outside the pouch while the mother continues to care for her new offspring.
First Steps and Jumps Outside the Pouch
Before kangaroos leave the pouch for the first time, they often poke their heads out and nibble on nearby grass while still primarily feeding on their mother’s milk from a teat inside the pouch.
The initial exit happens when the joey falls out as the mother relaxes the muscles controlling the pouch opening. About a month before permanently leaving the pouch, joeys begin to hop out and back in independently, gradually adjusting to life outside by eating more solid food. Despite this, they regularly return to the pouch for milk, with the mother always keeping a watchful eye on them.
How does a joey pop in and out of the pouch?
In the following video, you'll see the mother initially ignoring the young kangaroo's attempts to enter the pouch. The joey can only insert its head into the pouch on its own. It requires the mother's assistance to get its entire body inside. When the mother bends forward, the young kangaroo can fully enter the pouch. During this time, the joey learns that it is only allowed into the pouch in dangerous situations.
How's Life After Leaving the Pouch?
After the joey first leaves the pouch, it takes about 1-2 months before it exits permanently, usually between 12 and 18 months old. At this stage, the joey weighs around 20% of the mother’s body weight, with Red Kangaroos weighing between 4 and 5 kg when they finally leave the pouch.
Adjusting to Independence
Initially, the joey frequently tries to return to the pouch, but the mother prevents it, and these attempts cease after a few days. The joey is allowed to put its snout into the pouch to receive milk, but over time, it consumes more solid food like grasses and leaves, reducing its dependency on milk.
Mother's Role Post-Pouch
Once the joey leaves the pouch, the mother often gives birth to a new joey within a few days to weeks. Many kangaroo species can delay birth, ensuring that a new joey can be born and grow up in the pouch promptly after the older joey leaves. This cycle allows for continuous care and development of the offspring.
How Do Kangaroos Bond with Their Mother After Leaving the Pouch?
Even after leaving the pouch, a young kangaroo stays close to its mother, relying on her for safety and guidance. The mother uses a special call to communicate with her joey, especially in dangerous situations or if the joey gets lost. The joey continues to stick its head into the mother's pouch several times a day to drink milk. Additionally, the mother grooms her offspring's fur, maintaining a strong bond.
Changes in the Mother-Joey Relationship
The relationship between the mother and her joey changes significantly during weaning and especially upon reaching sexual maturity.
Weaning Young Kangaroos
Antilopine and red kangaroos are typically weaned at one year old, while grey kangaroos are weaned at around 1.5 years. However, the exact timing of weaning can vary based on environmental conditions.
Signs of Weaning
During weaning, the young kangaroo receives milk less frequently until the mother completely refuses. The joey may persist in trying for a few days, but these attempts eventually stop. Weaning doesn’t significantly impact the social bond between mother and offspring; the major change occurs when the joey reaches sexual maturity and becomes more independent.
Post-Weaning Behavior
There are notable differences between males and females after weaning. Males typically leave their mother's territory 1-2 years after weaning. In contrast, females often maintain a lifelong bond with their mothers.
Conclusion
Kangaroos spend the first months of their lives in their mother’s pouch, emerging gradually to explore their surroundings. By 12 to 18 months, they are weaned and fully independent, ready to start their own life in the wild.
