The Wondiwoi tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus mayri) is a critically endangered, bear-like mammal native to tropical mountain forests in Western Papua. This elusive animal is a rare tree-dwelling species that lives in the remote ranges of New Guinea.
Scientists only knew of the species from a single male specimen collected by Ernst Mayr in 1928. For ninety years, researchers believed the animal might be extinct.
In 2018, a British naturalist named Michael Smith rediscovered the creature while exploring the Wondiwoi Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia. This sighting provided the first photographic evidence of the species in its natural habitat.
Today, the Wondiwoi tree-kangaroo is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. It remains one of the least understood and most threatened mammals on the planet.
Unique Appearance
This species has a very distinctive appearance that sets it apart from other kangaroos. Its fur has a blackish underlying color but is frosted with silvery yellow tips. The rump and limbs of the animal are reddish in color. The long tail is a pale color that appears almost white.
Only one physical specimen was studied before the recent rediscovery. This adult male was collected in 1928 and weighed about 9.25 kilograms.
Tree-kangaroos are expert climbers and spend the majority of their lives in the forest canopy. They have strong forelimbs and curved claws to help them move through the trees. Their long tails are used to maintain balance as they leap between branches. They are capable of jumping over thirty feet through the air while moving through the forest.
Like other marsupials, the mothers carry their young in a pouch. They primarily eat plant matter and help the forest by spreading seeds.
Searching the Remote Cloud Forests
Michael Smith was searching for rare flowers when he found the kangaroo. He had to hike through dense thickets of bamboo and thorns to reach the site.
His team looked for signs like scratch marks at the base of trees. They also found kangaroo poop on the ground and noticed a "foxy" scent in the air.
The animal was finally spotted sitting in a tree ninety feet above the forest floor. This occurred on the very last day of the difficult expedition.
Smith took several photographs of the animal before it could move away. These images were later confirmed as accurate by several wildlife experts.
These mossy forests are found at high elevations between 1,500 and 2,000 meters. The terrain is very steep and extremely difficult for humans to access.
Survival Threats and Conservation
Local hunters usually stay in the lower forests where it is easier to find water. This natural isolation has likely protected the kangaroos from human interference for decades.
Scientists believe the entire population lives within an area of only 300 square kilometers. Such a small range makes the species very vulnerable to environmental changes.
Hunting and habitat loss are the most significant threats to these animals. People sometimes hunt them for their valuable fur or for food.
Proposed mining projects in the Wondiwoi Mountains are also a major concern. Industrial activities could destroy the fragile mountain ecosystems where they thrive.
Experts believe there could be fewer than fifty mature individuals left in the wild. The survival of the species depends on strictly protecting their remote habitat.
Encouraging ecotourism could provide a different way for local people to earn a living. This would allow communities to protect their forests instead of using them for resources.
The rediscovery has given conservationists a new chance to save this bear-like marsupial. It is now a race against time to ensure the species does not vanish again.
