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Tree Kangaroo

Ashley SilvaDanielle Iwatsu

Kim Doan

Tree Kangaroo

� Evolved from kangaroos and related marsupials.

� Macropods, adapted for life on trees.

� Found in rainforests of New Guinea and Queensland.

� Have large stomachs that function as fermentation vats, similar to other herbivorous ruminants.

Ref: Wikipedia

Nutrient Requirements

� They eat a variety of foliage and browse.� Lemon Aspen� Potato Vine� Tree Fern� Umbrella Tree

Ref: Kazmeier

Carbohydrates

� Complex Carbohydrates (ex- hemicellulose, cellulose)� Broken down by microbial enzymes into

volatile fatty acids (VFA�s).� Plant polysaccharides are primary source of

energy.

Ref: Steenberg and Blessington

Carbohydrates

� Simple Carbohydrates (ex- starch, sugars)� Consumption needs to be regulated

� Leads to high quantity of VFA�s, which decreases the pH of contents in foregut.

� Creates shifts in microbial populations.

Ref: Steenberg and Blessington

Fiber� Tree kangaroo needs high plant fiber diets. � Helps regulate pH in foregut.� Regulate tree bark intake which is high in

indigestible lignin.� Feed fiber biscuit to supplement fiber in the diet.� Low nutritional value.

� Practice coprophagy.

Ref: Steenberg and Blessington; Mullet, Yoshi and Steenberg

Protein

� Two primary sources of protein for foregut fermentors.� Dietary sources� Microbial sources

� Recommended not to feed non-protein nitrogen sources in the diet, or feed-grade urea.

Ref: Steenberg and Blessington

Water

� Intake from free water source and from feed consumed.

� Water is metabolically produced from oxidation of energy sources.

� Losses from urine, feces, lactation, evaporation, and perspiration.

Ref: Steenberg and Blessington

Macro Minerals� Macro Minerals include the

following:� Calcium� Phosphorus� Sodium� Chlorine� Magnesium� Potassium� Sulfur

Ref: Steenberg and Blessington

Trace Minerals� Trace Minerals include the following:

� Iron� Iodine� Copper� Molybdenum� Zinc� Manganese� Cobalt� Selenium� Fluorine

� Trace Mineral Salt Block

Ref: Steenberg and Blessington

Vitamins

� Fat Soluble Vitamins� Include Vitamins A, D, E, K

� Water Soluble Vitamins� Include Vitamins C and B complex

� Bacterial Fermentation� Synthesis includes B complex and K in

gastro-intestinal tract

Ref: Steenberg and Blessington

Vitamin and Mineral Requirements

Ref: Steenberg and Blessington

Food Preparation

� Cut up vegetables large enough to grab, but in different sizes in order to keep animal occupied.

� Provide salt licks and other mineral mixes.� Do not allow tree kangaroo to self-select

food.� Select food for nutritional requirement and

dietary need.

Ref: Steenberg and Blessington; Mullet, Yoshi and Steenberg

Natural Habitat

� Browsing herbivores in tropical rainforests in Australia and New Guinea.

� Small Home Ranges (average is .0048 mi2).� Sedentary Lives � Males vs. Females.� Natural Diets include ferns, fruits, bark, moss, flowers, and

vines.� Opportunistic carnivores.

� Arboreal vs. Terrestrial.� Enemies - Indigenous tribesmen, dingos, domestic dogs,

parasites and industrialized communities.Ref: Newell

Captive Habitat

� House individually or in small groups.� Captive diet includes apples, carrots, yams, corn

on the cob, celery, kale/romaine, high fiber primate biscuits, hard-boiled eggs, various types of browse and mineral salt.

Ref: Woodland Park Zoological Society

Tree Kangaroo in comparison to Domestic Animals

We estimate the tree kangaroo to be between the sheep and the horse in fiber digestion.

Sheep�Foregut fermentation producing VFA�s and other gaseous products.

�Regurgitates and re-chews in a process called merycism.

�Prone to acidosis similar to ruminants.

Horse�Practices coprophagy to recover lost nutrients not absorbed during digestion.

Ref: Kreuder

smallintestine

cecum

largeintestine

stomach

Kangaroo GI tract

Sheep

Rabbit Horse

Digestibility Trial Results

Animal % DM % NDF % CP % EESheep 64.08 28.83 69.77 64.08Horse 50.9 23.9 75.44 46.72Rabbit 44.61 7.85 74.26 66.89

Tree Kangaroo est imates

~ 53 ~27 ~73 ~59

Tree Kangaroo Tidbits

� Tree kangaroos need tannins found in tree leaves to maintain their coat color.

� The protein content of the mom's milk is 3% at birth and 10% when the joey leaves the pouch.

� Their teeth are adapted for 'shearing' leaves rather than 'grinding' grass.

� Blessington, J.; Steenberg, J. Ed. Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus spp.) Nutrition Husbandry Manual (revised 2001). Retrieved February 1, 2006 from http://www.nagonline.net/Diets%20pdf/Tree%20Kangaroo%20Nutrition%20Chapter.pdf

� Kreuder, Amanda. �Comparison of Digestive System Adaptations of Placental Ruminants and the Herbivorous Marsupials of Australia�. Retrieved March 1, 2006 from http://www.biology.iastate.edu/intop/1Australia/04papers/keuderDigSys.htm.

� Lumholtz's Tree-Kangaroo: Conserving a rare marsupial. Retrieved February 25, 2006 from http://rainforest-australia.com/tree-kangaroo.htm

� Mullet, T., Yoshimi, D., Steenberg, J (11:1990). Tree Kangaroo Husbandry Manual. Retrieved February 22, 2006 from http://nagonline.net/Diets%20pdf/Tree%20Kangaroo%20Nutrition.pdf.

� Newell, Dr Graeme. Lumholtz's Tree-Kangaroo:Conserving a rare marsupial. Retrieved March 1, 2006 from http://rainforest-australia.com/tree-kangaroo.html.

� Tree-Kangaroo and Mammal Group Inc. Yes - There are Tree Kangaroos That Live In Trees. Retrieved March 6, 2006 from http://www.tree-kangaroo.net/tkinfo.htm

� Wikipedia. Tree Kangaroo. Retrieved March 3, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_kangarooo. � Woodland Park Zoological Society. Matschie's Tree Kangaroo

Dendrolagus matschiei . Retrieved March 1, 2006 from http://www.zoo.org/educate/fact_sheets/roo/treeroo.htm

� www.avs.uidaho.edu/avs305/Comparative Digestion.ppt

� www.anslab.iastate.edu/Class/AnS320/ 02%20Comparative%20Digestive%20Physiology.ppt

References