Monday 7 May 2012

Our World Tuesday - An Australian Australian.


I have just finished reading a rather good book on those most Australian of animals the kangaroo.  With the exception of some parts of Papua New Guinea, if you are looking at a native kangaroo you are in Australia.  Kangaroos and their relatives live (or lived until recent extinction) in all of the habitats of Australia, including the tops of trees!

Far from being some form of primitive, backwater, sort of animal they are a superbly adapted animal that deal with the vagaries of the Australian climate far better than the energy hungry placental mammals found in the rest of the world.  It can be argued that people only though they were primitive because of the colonial snobbery that early explorers and scientists brought with them.

These kangaroos are Kangaroo Island kangaroos – they are a sub-species of the widespread Eastern Grey Kangaroo.   As you can see from the close grazed grass (and all the droppings!) these kangaroos are doing OK here.
So, my contribution to Our World Tuesday is something really very Australian.

16 comments:

  1. Love the fuzzy inside of their ears, so different from the greys that are overrunning our farm.

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  2. remarkable creatures. i like that - an australian austrailian.

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  3. Great post for the day, Stewart! I love the kangaroos and they are definitely an Australian Australian!! Love your captures! Enjoy your week!

    Sylvia

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  4. OH - such cute critters! Lovely shots.

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  5. Wonderful shots of these true blue Aussies, Stewart!

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  6. Great images of these most remarkable creatures!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  7. Great pics. I have pictures of the beach to share this week.

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  8. Love these photos, particularly the last one. Irresistible in the thumbnail photo, and even better when larger. A very sweet face.

    Kay, Alberta, Canada

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  9. Awesome shots of the kangaroos, they are so cute. I have only seen them in zoos, it would be nice to see them in the wild. Thanks for sharing your kangaroos. Have a great week ahead.

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  10. Yes Stewart, and i love the way you describe it, the most Australian Australia. And i also love other Australian Astralia entities, banksia, grevillea, waratah, etc.

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  11. I wont say that they're good to eat too! OOps! I've said it!

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  12. Where is the sweet - I esker to see kangaroos.
    Wishing you a good day.
    Hanne Bente / hbt.finus.dk

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  13. Since I've never had the opportunity to visit Australia, this was a fascinating glimpse at the most Australian of all :) I wonder how often you might see kangaroos in your daily life. They sure do have sweet faces! Loved your photos.

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  14. The last pic was really cute.

    Fascinating animals the kangaroos, ecpecially the big feets they doesn´t only jump with but also use for boxing and the tail for balance. (That I´ve seen on TV so it has to be true...right?)

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  15. They are beautiful creatures. Great shots.

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