Dama Wallaby
(Macropus eugenii)

Dama Wallabies, also known as Tammar Wallabies, were the first species of kangaroo to be seen by Dutch explorers when they landed on Australia in 1629. But, as a very small wallaby, they have fallen on hard times since that discovery. During the past 200 years, the European colonizers that settled Australia imported animals from their countries such as foxes, cats and rabbits. Those animals either prey on these small wallabies (foxes and cats) or directly compete with them for forage (rabbits). Because of this, Dama Wallabies are almost extinct now on mainland Australia and mainly survive on islands off the Southwestern coast. Because they have evolved to live on islands, they are actually able to drink salt water! The Kangaroo Conservation Center has a successful captive breeding program for the Dama Wallabies.

(Note: A wallaby is a small to medium species of kangaroo, and there are dozens of different wallaby species.)