A kangaroo is an iconic marsupial that stands out among others because of its recognizable pouch where they raise their young. To understand the kangaroo's pouch, imagine it as a reverse hoodie sweatshirt, where the pouch acts as the hood, and the mother's muscles function like drawstrings to open and close it.
Rick Schwartz, an animal care supervisor and spokesperson at the San Diego Zoo, told Live Science that the pouch can be compared to a hoodie that expands significantly at the mother's discretion.
What's Inside a Kangaroo Pouch? Florida Safari Park Shares A Video of What It Looks Like and Shocked Millions of People
An Inside Look of Baby Kangaroos Inside Their Mother's Pouch
A TikTok series showcasing the growth of baby kangaroos inside their mothers' pouches has captivated and startled viewers, Insider reported. Animal Edventure Park and Safari in Florida, known for featuring various furry creatures, including porcupines and otters, has gained significant attention by opening up kangaroo pouches and revealing the surprising contents.
In one video, which amassed 71 million views, a staff member gently exposes the pouch to unveil pinkish walls with a tiny, hairless baby kangaroo nestled inside.
@animaledventures Checking On Kalins Baby Inside Her Pouch! Want To Visit Our AMAZING #Animals ? Reserve Space Now www.AnimalEDventures.com #ForYouPage #FORYOU #FYP ♬ original sound - Animal EDventure Park & Safari
Contrary to common media depictions of kangaroo pouches with the joey's head sticking out, newborn joeys are initially the size of a jelly bean, lacking fur and sensory perception. These joeys are blind, deaf, and completely dependent on their mothers.
The pregnancy duration for kangaroos is approximately 33 days, followed by an eight-month period where the joey resides in the pouch, serving as a secondary womb for further development. The pouch expands to accommodate the growing joey and is equipped with robust muscles and ligaments that the mother can contract to ensure the joey's safety.
Viewers expressed surprise and shock upon witnessing the size and appearance of the pouch's interior, as they had imagined it would be lined with fur. The park staff continues to document the progress of the kangaroo inside the pouch, referring to the specific kangaroo featured in the videos as Kalin.
READ ALSO: Kangaroo Shows Off Its Jacked Arms in Adorable Video; Why Are These Hopping Marsupials so Muscular?
Kangaroo Pouch Has Everything A Joey Needs to Survive and Grow
The kangaroo's pouch serves as more than just a shelter for the joey. As per AZ Animals, it provides essential elements for the marsupial's survival and growth. The interior of the pouch resembles the texture of the kangaroo's skin, being soft, hairless, and warm with a temperature of around 105 degrees Fahrenheit. It has the capacity to accommodate a 13-pound juvenile kangaroo and has a slightly sticky nature.
Inside the pouch, there are four teats for feeding the premature joey. The remarkable aspect of the marsupial's pouch is its ability to adapt to the growing joey. It expands in size as the joey develops and the milk supplied by the teat changes in nutrient composition based on the joey's age. The pouch's skin secretes antimicrobial substances, minimizing the risk of infection for the baby kangaroo.
Female kangaroos can have up to three joeys at different stages simultaneously. They give birth to one joey at a time, with the others either growing in the womb, residing in the pouch, or already exploring outside while still depending on milk from the pouch.
A young joey remains in the pouch for at least six months before venturing out for the first time. Afterward, it spends most of its time with the mother and can still return to the pouch if desired. Weaning typically occurs around 10 to 12 months, at which point the joey no longer uses the pouch.
RELATED ARTICLE: Marsupial Evolution: New Study Shows That These Pouched Mammals Could Be More Evolved Than Previously Thought
Check out more news and information on Animals in Science Times.
