Tenkile Conservation Alliance — Saving Lives in PNG

A second subspecies, the Fiwo, lives in the adjacent Bewani Mountains and is smaller and less threatened. Illustrations by Peter Schouten.

Two subspecies: the grey-faced D. i. inustus of West Papua, and the black-faced Finsch's (D. i. finschi) of the Torricelli — to our knowledge the only tree kangaroo to raise twins. Illustrations by Peter Schouten.

Critically Endangered

Wondiwoi Tree KangarooDendrolagus mayri

Blackish fur frosted with yellow, silver-tipped at certain angles, with reddish rump and limbs and an almost-white tail.

Males9.25 kg (one specimen)
Elevation~1,600 m
RangeWondiwoi Peninsula, ~300 km²

One of the most poorly known mammals on Earth — not recorded since 1928, and then from a single male. It may already be extinct; if it survives, perhaps only 50 animals remain. Hunting and mica mining on the Wondiwoi Peninsula both threaten it.

Endangered

Dingiso Tree KangarooDendrolagus mbaiso

Striking black-and-white markings — white stripes either side of the muzzle and a white star on the forehead — over a thick coat for high-altitude life.

Females8–9 kg
Elevation2,700–3,500 m
RangeTembagapura & Kwiyawagi, ~4,000 km²

A large, mostly black subalpine tree kangaroo of West Papua, only described by Tim Flannery in 1995. In parts of its range the Moni people revere it and will not hunt it — a traditional belief that has helped protect it where habitat loss and hunting press elsewhere.

Endangered

Goodfellow's Tree KangarooDendrolagus goodfellowi

Brownish-red, with two golden stripes running from the base of its red-and-gold ringed tail at least halfway up the back.

Males7.9 kg
Females8.2 kg
Elevation680–2,865 m
RangeAlotau through the Central Cordillera

One of the most striking tree kangaroos, widespread across New Guinea and familiar from zoos worldwide. Often seen in pairs — unusual among tree kangaroos. Hunting pressure in the centre of its range has pushed it to Endangered.

Endangered

Ifola Tree KangarooDendrolagus notatus

Very dark chocolate-brown coat with yellow rings around the tail base, silvery-tipped hairs over the back and limbs, and a black-and-yellow tail.

Males8.2 kg
Females6.3 kg
Elevation900–3,100 m
RangeCentral highlands, ~40,000 km²

The Ifola has the largest potential range of any tree kangaroo — but it lives in one of the most densely populated regions on Earth, where it is prized for food and bride-price and has been hunted out of much of its range. It survives in several protected areas.

Endangered

Matschie's Tree KangarooDendrolagus matschiei

Reddish-brown with a golden-yellow tail, belly, feet, nose and ear-tips, a short tail, and variable white facial markings unique to each individual.

Males9 kg
Females9 kg
Elevation1,000–3,300 m
RangeHuon Peninsula only, ~5,000 km²

The classic 'zoo' tree kangaroo, found only on the Huon Peninsula. Each animal's facial markings are unique. It is the focus of long-running work by the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Project, which has secured a Conservation Area across much of its range.

Vulnerable

Doria's Tree KangarooDendrolagus dorianus

Sombre brown fur lacking silver tipping, and more strongly adapted for arboreal life than other tree kangaroos.

Males13.3 kg
Females10.2 kg
Elevation600–3,000 m
RangeSE New Guinea, ~15,000 km²

A large, robust, dark-brown tree kangaroo of south-eastern New Guinea's montane forests. Captive studies show it is among the most social of all macropods — living in one-male groups, with mother–daughter coalitions and at least six distinct adult vocalisations.

Vulnerable

Seri's Tree KangarooDendrolagus stellarum

Part of the Doria's complex. Young animals have a bright yellow tail and very dark body; older animals darken, with silvery tips on the limbs.

Males9.5 kg
Females6.8 kg
Elevation2,600–3,200 m
RangeW & central New Guinea, ~30,000 km²

A tree kangaroo of high mossy alpine forest in the west and centre of New Guinea, found solitary or as females with young. Little is known of its biology, and it has declined in parts of its range.

Vulnerable

Vogelkop Tree KangarooDendrolagus ursinus

A black back with a pale belly, pale-to-reddish cheeks, tufted ears, and a white tail tip.

WeightUnrecorded
Elevation0–2,500 m
RangeVogelkop & Fak Fak peninsulas, ~30,000 km²

One of the first tree kangaroos ever described, yet still barely studied — there is no reliable weight data for the species. Restricted to the far west of New Guinea, it is thought to have lost about 30% of its population over the last three generations.

Near Threatened

Bennett's Tree KangarooDendrolagus bennettianus

Black chest, belly and under-tail with a brown-grey back and limbs — a reversal of the usual mammal pattern, thought to camouflage it when seen from below.

Males13 kg
Females10 kg
Elevation0–1,400 m
RangeFar north Queensland, <2,000 km²

One of only two tree kangaroos found in Australia, in the rainforests of far north Queensland. Males defend large territories overlapping those of two or three females. With Aboriginal hunting now ceased and its range inside a World Heritage area, its numbers have recovered, though habitat quality is declining.

Least Concern

Lowland Tree KangarooDendrolagus spadix

Uniform reddish-brown with a sparse, short coat, a paler belly, and a notably long tail.

Males7–9 kg
Elevation0–800 m
RangePapuan Plateau lowlands, ~20,000 km²

The only true lowland tree kangaroo, living in swampy rainforest of the Gulf and Western Provinces. Known from only seven animals, it is buffered from hunting by the region's low population and inhospitable limestone country — though logging and oil-palm proposals loom.

Least Concern

Lumholtz's Tree KangarooDendrolagus lumholtzi

A cream chest and belly, black feet, and a grey back with black-tipped fur. The smallest of all tree kangaroos.

Males7.2 kg
Females5.9 kg
Elevation300–1,600 m
RangeFar north Queensland, ~5,500 km²

The second Australian species and the smallest tree kangaroo of all. Its compact home range lets it live at high densities, and it has rebounded in Queensland's rainforests since Aboriginal hunting ceased — though individuals are still vulnerable to dogs and cars when crossing open ground.