Imagine being born the size of a jellybean and then crawling blindly to safety. For the newborn red kangaroo in Australia, this is just the first few minutes of life.
This tiny creature, barely an inch long, emerges after only about 34 days of gestation. He is translucent, blind, hairless, and looks more like a little worm than a kangaroo.
Instinct alone guides him on a dangerous journey. Using only his small forelimbs, he must climb through his mother’s thick fur to reach the safety of her pouch.
This difficult climb can take around three minutes. It is a slow and perilous trip, and any fall would be the end of him.
Once inside the pouch, he latches onto a nipple, which swells in his mouth to keep him securely attached. He will not leave the pouch again for many months.
He will spend the next six to eight months developing inside this warm, safe nursery, eventually growing into a recognizable joey ready to see the world.
It is an amazing process to consider. The little guy goes from being completely helpless to a young kangaroo preparing to explore the outback.
This unique reproductive strategy is what sets marsupials apart, a design perfectly suited for the often harsh Australian environment.
Sources: Australian Museum, American Museum of Natural History, World Animal Protection