37-591: The tenkile ( Dendrolagus scottae ), also known as Scott's tree-kangaroo , is a species of tree-kangaroo in the family Macropodidae . It is endemic to a very small area of the Torricelli Mountains of Papua New Guinea . Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests . It is threatened by habitat loss and by hunting. The tenkile is listed as endangered due to hunting and logging activities in Papua New Guinea. The tenkile
74-497: A mountain range in northwestern Papua New Guinea . Together with the Torricelli Mountains and Prince Alexander Mountains it forms the North Coastal Range of Papua New Guinea. The highest point of the mountains is at 1,960 m. The Bewani languages and various other Papuan languages are spoken in the region. The Bewani-Torricelli-Prince Alexander Mountains, are presumed to have been formed as an island arc in
111-530: A body and head length of 81 cm (20 to 32 inches), adult males weigh 9–11 kg (20-25 lb) and adult females weigh 7–9 kg (15-20 lb). The grizzled tree-kangaroo grows to a length of 75–90 cm (30 to 35 in), with males being considerably larger than females, and its weight is 8–15 kg (18-33 lb). Tree-kangaroos have several adaptations to an arboreal life-style. Compared to terrestrial kangaroos, tree-kangaroos have longer and broader hind feet with longer, curved nails. They also have
148-419: A canopy-dwelling lifestyle. These species are assigned to the genus Dendrolagus : Seri's tree-kangaroo ( Dendrolagus stellarum ) has been described as a subspecies of Doria's tree-kangaroo ( D. dorianus stellarum ), but some recent authorities have treated it as a separate species based on its absolute diagnostability . The Wondiwoi tree-kangaroo is among the 25 "most wanted lost" species that are
185-546: A diverse assortment of vegetation refuges. This generalist strategy allowed the rock-wallabies to easily adapt to Malesian rainforest types that were introduced to Australia from Asia during the mid-Miocene. The rock-wallabies that migrated into these introduced forests adapted to spend more time climbing trees. One species in particular, the Proserpine rock-wallaby ( Petrogale persephone ), displays equal preference for climbing trees as for living in rocky outcrops. During
222-505: A sponge-like grip on their paws and soles of their feet. Tree-kangaroos have a much larger and pendulous tail than terrestrial kangaroos, giving them enhanced balance while moving about the trees. Locomotion on the ground is by hopping, as with true kangaroos. Like terrestrial kangaroos, tree-kangaroos do not sweat to cool their bodies, rather, they lick their forearms and allow the moisture to evaporate in an adaptive form of behavioural thermoregulation . Tree-kangaroos are slow and clumsy on
259-520: A variety of facilities across North America, Oceania, and Europe, with smaller holdings in Asia. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums coordinates with regional zoological associations to ensure the coordination of breeding programs to maintain viable breeding populations and genetic diversity outside of the wild populations. In November 2014 at the Adelaide Zoo , an orphaned tree-kangaroo joey
296-684: A very limited habitat. They are found at about 900–1,700 metres (3,000–5,600 ft) above sea level in the Torricelli Mountain Range. Their total habitat does not exceed 125 square kilometres (48 sq mi). The tenkile inhabits mid-montane rain-forests predominated by Podocarpus , Libocedrus , Araucaria and Rapanea . Unlike other tree-kangaroos, which are partially frugivorous, they are mainly herbivores; their known diet comprises epiphytic ferns, green leafy material and vines including Scaevola and Tetracera . However, focussed studies have not been conducted on
333-500: Is expected for the tenkile. Parental care is carried out by the females though the exact involvement of the males is unknown. Groups of a male, female, and young have been observed but so have groups of only female and young. Newborns are carried in the mother pouch until they are old enough to leave, which can last up to a year. After being born the young will spend two years with its mother before becoming independent. The species' slow reproduction rate may increase its extinction risk. It
370-537: Is hunted by indigenous people for food and the sub-population in the Torricelli Mountains is believed to number fewer than 250 individuals. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the animal's status as being " critically endangered " and a moratorium on hunting has been arranged with the local community in the Swelpini area. The main group concerned with the preservation of
407-431: Is hunted for its meat, and has been a main protein source for the local tribespeople. The local human population has increased in recent years, increasing demand for tenkile meat. Additionally, tenkiles are poached for their fur and are captured and sold as a part of the illegal pet trade. Domesticated dogs also hunt tenkiles. Deforestation in Papua New Guinea affects all tree-kangaroos, and industrial logging that occurs in
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#1732765594771444-841: Is known about the reproduction of tree-kangaroos in the wild. The only published data are from captive individuals. Female tree-kangaroos reach sexual maturity as early as 2.04 years of age and males at 4.6 years. The female's fertile period is estimated to be approximately two months. They have one of the longest marsupial offspring development/maturation periods; pouch life for the young is 246–275 days long and weaning occurs 87–240 days later. The two most significant threats to tree-kangaroos are habitat loss and hunting. Tree-kangaroo habitats are being destroyed or replaced by logging and timber production, along with coffee, rice and wheat production. This habitat loss can make tree-kangaroos more exposed to predators such as feral domestic dogs . Being hunted by local community members also contributes markedly to
481-410: Is no breeding season and females are free to mate as they please. Reproduction is thought to occur slowly with a single new offspring thought to be born once a year. A young tree kangaroo is referred to as a joey, as is the case with all kangaroos. The gestation period for this extract species is currently unknown, but other tree kangaroos have a period of approximately 30 days; therefore, a similar period
518-445: Is the smallest of all tree-kangaroos. Its body and head length ranges about 48–65 cm (19–26 in), and its tail, 60–74 cm (24–29 in), with males weighing an average of 7.2 kg (16 lb) and females 5.9 kg (13 lb). The length of Doria's tree-kangaroo is 51–78 cm (20–31 in), with a long 44–66 cm (17–26 in) tail, and weighs 6.5–14.5 kg (14–32 lb). Matschie's tree-kangaroo has
555-594: The Late Eocene -Early Oligocene . As with other mountain ranges in Papua New Guinea, the Bewani Mountains are home to many rare species of fauna and flora and is highly biodiverse . The black sicklebill ( Epimachus fastuosus ) is a threatened species which is known from a few localities in the Bewani and Torricelli mountains. Fiwo, a subspecies of the tenkile ( Dendrolagus scottae ) tree-kangaroo ,
592-689: The Late Miocene, the semi-arboreal rock-wallabies could have evolved into the now extinct tree-kangaroo genus Bohra . Global cooling during the Pleistocene caused continent-wide drying and rainforest retractions in Australia and New Guinea. The rainforest contractions isolated populations of Bohra which resulted in the evolution of today's tree-kangaroos ( Dendrolagus spp.), as they adapted to lifestyles in geographically small and diverse rainforest fragments, and became further specialized for
629-517: The Torricelli Mountain Range decreases the species' already restricted habitat. The Torricelli Mountain Range faces additional deforestation due to the timber industry, and the production of coffee, rice and wheat. The tenkile is a close relative of Doria's tree-kangaroo . It weighs 9 to 11 kilograms (20 to 24 lb), with males being larger than females. It is predominantly black with some chocolate-brown on its limbs and long tail, and whorls of hair on
666-660: The declines in tree-kangaroo populations. Research conducted on Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo, a species that dwells in the rain forests of northeastern Australia, determined the frequency of causes of death. This showed that of 27 deceased tree-kangaroos, 11 had been killed by vehicles, six by dogs, four by parasites and the remaining six died from other causes. As of 2021 five of the species are held in captivity. These include populations of Goodfellow's ( D. goodfellowi ) and Matschie's ( D. matschiei ), with smaller numbers of Lumholtz's ( D. lumholtzi ), Grizzled ( D. inustus ), and Doria's ( D. dorianus ) tree kangaroos. These are being kept in
703-470: The extraordinary ability to jump to the ground from 18 metres (59 ft) or more without being hurt. The main diet of the tree-kangaroo is leaves and fruit that it gathers from the trees, but occasionally scavenged from the ground. Tree-kangaroos will also eat grains, flowers, various nuts, sap and tree bark. Some captive tree-kangaroos (perhaps limited to New Guinea species) eat protein foods such as eggs, birds and snakes, making them omnivores . Little
740-492: The focus of Global Wildlife Conservation's "Search for Lost Species" initiative. The extinct species D. noibano from the Pleistocene of Chimbu Province , Papua New Guinea is substantially larger than living species. However, it has since been suggested to be a larger extinct form of Doria's tree-kangaroo. The case for the golden-mantled tree-kangaroo ( D. pulcherrimus ) is comparable to that of D. stellarum ; it
777-448: The government and other non-governmental organisations to support various conservation efforts and create conservation models that can be implemented across Papua New Guinea. Tree-kangaroo About 12; see text Tree-kangaroos are marsupials of the genus Dendrolagus , adapted for arboreal locomotion . They inhabit the tropical rainforests of New Guinea and far northeastern Queensland , Australia along with some of
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#1732765594771814-456: The ground. They move at approximately human walking pace and hop awkwardly, leaning their body far forward to balance the heavy tail. However, in trees, they are bold and agile. They climb by wrapping their forelimbs around the trunk of a tree and, while allowing the forelimbs to slide, hop up the tree using their powerful hind legs. They are expert leapers; 9 metres (30 ft) downward jumps from one tree to another have been recorded and they have
851-608: The islands in the region, in particular, the Schouten Islands and the Raja Ampat Islands . Although most species are found in mountainous areas, several also occur in lowlands, such as the aptly named lowlands tree-kangaroo . Most tree-kangaroos are considered threatened due to hunting and habitat destruction. Because much of their lifestyle involves climbing and jumping between trees, they have evolved an appropriate method of locomotion. Tree-kangaroos thrive in
888-435: The islands in the region. All tree-kangaroos are considered threatened due to hunting and habitat destruction . They are the only true arboreal macropods . The evolutionary history of tree-kangaroos possibly begins with a rainforest floor-dwelling pademelon-like ancestor . This ancestor possibly evolved from an arboreal possum-like ancestor as is suspected of all macropodid marsupials in Australia and New Guinea. During
925-503: The late Eocene , the Australian/New Guinean continent began a period of drying that caused a retreat in the area of rainforest, which forced the ancestral pademelons to begin living in a drier, rockier environment. After some generations of adaptation to the new environment, the pademelons may have evolved into rock-wallabies ( Petrogale spp.), which developed a generalist feeding strategy due to their dependence on
962-413: The most relaxed and leisurely birthing seasons. They breed cautiously in the treetops during the monsoon season. Their habitats are breeding grounds for danger, as they can easily fall prey to their natural predator, the amethystine python , which also climbs and lives in the treetops. Tree-kangaroos are known to be able to live in both mountainous regions and lowland locations. Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo
999-461: The shoulders. It has a powerful and persistent odour. Tenkiles have a noticeably long snout, and are able to both hop and walk bipedally. They are also able to raise their arms above their head, which most kangaroo species cannot. It is believed that this species breeds year round, with one offspring born each year. The young become independent after two years. The tenkile is believed to be the most intelligent of all tree-kangaroo species. Tenkiles have
1036-402: The species' diet. Currently, research is being compiled from the knowledge of the local people and a collection of the animal's specific diet is being prepared. Tenkiles have been known to look for their food either in the treetops or on the ground. The exact nature of reproduction is still being studied, however it is currently believed that they reproduce year round. This would imply that there
1073-632: The tenkile in Papua New Guinea is the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA), which is a group established as a part of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) in 2001. The group’s main aim is to protect the biodiversity in Papua New Guinea and make the Torricelli Mountain Range, in northwestern Papua New Guinea, a protected area. The TCA works with communities living in and around the tenkile’s habitat through community outreach which includes school visits to teach
1110-610: The tenkile was first discovered, most locals recount seeing the tenkile travelling in packs of four, comprising a male, female and offspring, but now most sightings of tenkiles in the wild are individual. This is most likely the result of the decline in population over recent years. Not much is known about their options for communications, but it is believed that they use all available senses to communicate with each other. These senses include: vision, hearing, chemical cues and touch. Tenkiles have not been known to be hostile to humans and usually stay away from human activity while they are up in
1147-480: The tenkile. As stated above, the tenkile faces extinction due to hunting, mainly hunting for its meat. This change has led to a decrease in the hunting of the tenkile for over 10 years. Another conservation program implemented in Papua New Guinea in 2000 is the WWF Forest Program (PNG or FoNG), which aims to increase the biodiversity through community outreach programs. The program also plans on contacting
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1184-610: The trees. Tenkiles have declined greatly over the past 50 years, including an 80% decline in ten years. It is currently restricted to three remote areas along the summit of the Torricelli Range, the eastern Bewani Range , the Menawa Range , and the Torricelli Mountains in the Fatima area of Papua New Guinea where it is found at altitudes between 900 and 1,700 metres (3,000 and 5,600 ft) above sea level. The animal
1221-528: The treetops, as opposed to terrestrial kangaroos which survive on mainland Australia. Two species of tree-kangaroos are found in Australia, Bennett's ( D. bennetianus ), which is found north of the Daintree River and Lumholtz's ( D. lumholtzi ). Tree-kangaroos have adapted better to regions of high altitudes. Tree-kangaroos must find places comfortable and well-adapted for breeding, as they only give birth to one joey per year. They are known to have one of
1258-550: The younger children about the species. TCA have been able to get 50 villages to join the hunting moratorium that helps in the conservation efforts of not only the Tenkile but also the Weimang/ Golden Tree Kangaroo. The culture of the residents of the Papua New Guinea towards the tenkile has changed, as TCA has been able to substitute the consumption of rabbits, fish and imported meat with the consumption of
1295-473: Was first described as a subspecies of D. goodfellowi , though recent authorities have elevated it to species status based on its absolute diagnostability. A population of the tenkile (Scott's tree-kangaroo) recently discovered from the Bewani Mountains may represent an undescribed subspecies. Tree-kangaroos inhabit the tropical rainforests of New Guinea, far northeastern Australia, and some of
1332-424: Was thought that the tenkile population could have been as low as 100 individuals in 2001. The low number of individuals meant a lower number of individuals to choose from when mating. The slow reproduction rate would also mean that it simply takes longer to replace lost individuals or increase the population. Most accounts of tenkile social interaction in the wild has been recorded by locals in Papua New Guinea. When
1369-507: Was transferred to the pouch of a yellow-footed rock-wallaby when his mother was killed by a falling branch. The joey survived, having been successfully reared by the surrogate mother rock-wallaby. On April 29, 2022, the Bronx Zoo announced the birth of a Matschie's tree kangaroo joey, the first of its species born at the zoo since 2008. The joey was the size of a human thumbnail at birth. Bewani Range The Bewani Mountains form
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