This time under the title of Did You Know? we bring to you about Kangaroo, this time we will be sharing about a totally different species of animal. We will also discuss its birthing process.

A kangaroo gives birth in a very unique way because it is a marsupial. Here’s how it works:

• The baby, called a joey, is born extremely tiny, underdeveloped, and hairless—about the size of a jellybean.
• Birth happens after a very short pregnancy (around 30–36 days depending on the kangaroo species).
• The newborn joey uses its strong front limbs to crawl from the birth canal. It moves into its mother’s pouch without any help.
• Once inside, it latches onto one of the teats. The teat then swells in its mouth, keeping it attached. This process allows it to feed and continue developing.

Time in the pouch:

• The joey usually stays in the pouch for about 6–8 months, depending on the species.
• After that, it starts peeking out, hopping out for short times, but returns to the pouch for feeding and safety.
• By around 10–12 months, the joey leaves the pouch permanently, though it may still nurse for several more months.

Hena’s Blog For Paws © 2019 by Hena Osman is licensed under CC BY 4.0