This well-worn Wallaby didn't look happy to see me, but was enjoying the long grass at Bull's Head in the ranges on the western side of the ACT.


Red-necked Wallabies by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

[tncasual]

That wallaby looks ready to fight. And judging by the ears it wouldn't be the first time.

Nice capture.

[ToddK]

Excellent capture Rob. The Wallaby looks like an old prize fighter.

[5ks]

Nothing like these in my country. Pity for me, lucky for you, Rob - a very nice picture!

[OrchidJulie]

Well-worn, indeed! So they are grazers, yes? Don't really know anything about wallabies, except they are marsupials related to kangaroos.

[ehrwien]

Are they as ready to fight humans as kangaroos? It sure looks like it would like to clear something up with you

[RobG]

That wallaby looks ready to fight. And judging by the ears it wouldn't be the first time. Nice capture.

Thanks! Yes, he didn't look like he was about to back off.

Excellent capture Rob. The Wallaby looks like an old prize fighter.

Thank you! Yes, he looks like he has gone quite a lot of rounds in the past.

Nothing like these in my country. Pity for me, lucky for you, Rob - a very nice picture!

Thank you! Even most Australians don't see Wallabies very often (unless it's the Rugby team).

Well-worn, indeed! So they are grazers, yes? Don't really know anything about wallabies, except they are marsupials related to kangaroos.

Yes, most of the macropods (big foot) feed on grasses (kangaroos, wallabies, pademelons, hare-wallabies and quokkas to name a few). They are the Deer of Australia. Swamp Wallabies seem to eat other plants, but as far as I know, Red-necked Wallabies only feed on grass. Some of the rainforest species probably feed on fallen fruit as well, since grass is limited to breaks in the canopy or the rainforest edges.

Are they as ready to fight humans as kangaroos? It sure looks like it would like to clear something up with you

They seem much more shy than Grey Kangaroos which are the biggest ones where I live, but I'm sure that the males fight each other for dominance and mating rights. He wasn't happy about me disturbing his lunch.

[angkymac]

The fur patterns are quite attractive.
The eyes are quite otherwise!
Angky.

[MikeNArk]

It does not look like he wanted any company. You got a great shot of the grass hanging out. Do Wallabies have a long life span?

[nonpigliounoshoot]

Nice shoot

[RobG]

The fur patterns are quite attractive. The eyes are quite otherwise!

True.

It does not look like he wanted any company. You got a great shot of the grass hanging out. Do Wallabies have a long life span?

Thanks! I was actually very surprised that nobody was at the picnic area given that it was a Sunday and the weather was nice. Normally the Wallabies only come out in the evening after all the people have left. I had to check about Wallaby lifespans - looks like about 15 years. The lifespan of an Eastern Grey Kangaroo is actually less - around 10 years. That surprises me because I'd expect large marsupials to live longer than birds, yet I know of one Satin Bowerbird that lived at least 20 years, and I've heard that Cockatoos can live much longer in captivity. On the other hand, male Antechinus (a mouse-sized carnivorous member of the same family as the Tasmanian devil) only live for a year because of their bizarre breeding behaviour, while the females live about three years.

Nice shoot

Thank you!