World Gets 1st Peek at Rare Twins
Jun 4, 2009The image the scientific community has been waiting for occurred this week when the first ever documented set of twin Matschie’s tree kangaroo joeys simultaneously peeked outside of their mother’s pouch for the first time. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the leading authority on assessing the conservation status of species around the globe, the Mastchie's tree kangaroo is just as rare and near extinction as the giant panda. They have estimated that the number of mature individuals of both species is less than 2,500.
The twins were born at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Lincoln, NE, on December 3, 2008. The joeys are fraternal, as one has a longer snout like his mother, Milla. This photo was taken when the joeys were 24 weeks old and clearly shows both of their heads.
On Track With Development
The development of both of the joeys has not been drastically delayed as once feared. “As often the case with twins, we expected the joeys to reach those major milestones at a slower rate than a typical joey,” said John Chapo, President/CEO, Lincoln Children’s Zoo. “We have noticed that one of the twins appears to be one week behind his brother in his development as he opened his eyes later, has less fur, and he peaked outside the pouch later.” The twins are roughly 1/2 pound each and are eight inches tall.
The joeys are very curious about their surroundings. They smell the food their mother is eating, smell her paws, and the branches in their exhibit.
Curious Critters Could Mean Trouble
The Zoo does fear that this curiosity may be problematic. A joey at this age will typically only peek its head outside the pouch because the pouch is so deep. The twins, however, are able to stand on top of each other and are able to get much farther outside the pouch. The first day they both appeared outside the pouch, one joey was able to get his entire upper body outside the pouch. “We fear that their curiosity will lead to them falling outside the pouch,” Chapo said.
Zookeepers Keep Close Eyes On Twins
A joey fully emerging from the pouch at this time could be life threatening. The animals do not have enough fur to regulate their body temperature. If one does emerge, Zookeepers will have limited time to rescue the infant. The Zoo has taken precautions to prepare for different situations including placing a heating blanket on the floor of the exhibit. This blanket is warm to the touch and will provide the joey with vital warmth.
Matschie's Tree Kangaroo Species Survival Plan
The success of these rare births has been a collaborative effort between the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Matschie’s tree kangaroo Species Survival Plan. “It is because of the Zoo’s long term commitment to these organizations that we are able to acquire these rare animals and help ensure the survival of these and other endangered species we have at the Zoo,” said Chapo.
Twin Tree Kangaroos Extremely Rare
The Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Lincoln, NE has been a leader in ensuring the survival of this species. The mother, Milla, who was born at the Milwaukee Zoo, and her new mate, Noru, who came to Lincoln a year ago from the Toronto Zoo, are the proud parents of this remarkable set of twins. Twins are extremely rare in each of the 10 species of tree kangaroos. In fact, the only documented case of twins to any tree kangaroo occurred at the San Diego Zoo to a Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo in 1994.
The public is encouraged to help save this species by participating in the adoption program at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, a privately funded 10 acre zoo. The public can watch the video of the joeys at www.lincolnzoo.org.
Native To Papua New Guinea
Matschie’s tree kangaroo can only be found in the Huon Peninsula of northeastern Papua New Guinea living in some of the last undisturbed rain forest habitat in the world. Conservations efforts for this animal are a high priority. Their habitat is being destroyed by logging and mineral and oil exploration and their lives are threatened by local hunters. The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP) is working to protect the threatened tree kangaroo in ways that also meet the needs of the local communities who share the forests of Papua New Guinea (PNG) with these elusive marsupials.
About Lincoln Children's Zoo
The Lincoln Children’s Zoo was established 44 years ago. One of only four children’s zoos in the country, the Lincoln Children’s Zoo’s mission is “to enrich lives through firsthand interaction with living things.” Recently, Parent Magazine ranked the zoo among the top 25 zoos for kids. The Zoo continues to create an engaging environment for children in our community, while receiving no financial support from the city, county or the state. For more information on membership, weekly events, parties and giving opportunities, visit www.lincolnzoo.org.
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