Tasmania's cute little pademelons
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325759)
Rockingham, Australia
June 11, 2018 6:25am CST
Today when we exited the chair-lift at Cataract Gorge near Launceston, Tasmania, we spotted three little wallabies beside the path. Later on a country road we saw probably ten or twelve in the bracken on the sides of the road. We have wallabies in Western Australia but rarely see them as they are very shy and timid. The ones we saw today seemed quite happy to pose for us, even the ones on the country road.
I don’t know much about Tasmania’s wildlife but I discovered these are not wallabies but pademelons, also called the rufous-bellied or red-bellied pademelon although I didn’t seen much sign of a red belly. They have a shorter, thicker tail which doesn’t have a lot of hair on it. The taxonomic name is Thylogale billardierii. It is now found only in Tasmania and has heavier and denser fur than its mainland relatives.
Males are quite a bit larger [12 kg (26.5 lbs)] than females which average 3.9 kg (8.6 lbs). They are widespread and abundant which would account for the number we’ve seen dead on the roads. It is nocturnal and supposed to be solitary although we saw a number quite close to each other.
It is a herbivore and is hunted for its pelt and sometimes to provide meat for farm dogs. Occasionally they are culled to reduce competition for grass for domestic animals. Their predators include the Tasmanian devil and quolls.
Edit: I'm really sorry but this is a Bennett's wallaby and not a pademelon.
14 people like this
14 responses
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Jun 18
You have the most amazing critters down under and Tassie is like a separate realm from the mainland.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40054)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jun 18
@JohnRoberts - I agree with you. I love Judy's posts, because they seem like they are from a different world!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 18
@DeborahDiane Am I out-of-this-world too? 
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
12 Jun 18
@JudyEv Kangaroo meat is authorized in France since the early 2000's, and there are a few farms breeding them for meat. It needs a special authorization and they are fed with rabbit food. Look at this animal seller selling couples of wallabies for people wanting themselves to create a farm, you will realize that you have a fortune devastating your garden.
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Le wallaby de Benett (ou kangourou ? cou roux) tr?s courant en Australie, ne se rencontre que trop rarement chez nous. Et pourtant il s'adapte tr?s bien ? nos climats.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 18
It seems kangaroos are the biggest then wallabies are a bit smaller and pademelons smaller still. So much of Tasmania is inaccessible to almost everybody that I don't think they are in much danger of extinction. I didn't know kangaroos were bred in France. They were be very difficult to 'farm' as they panic so easily. You'd never herd them into a yard.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 18
They are much smaller than our kangaroos. Apparently the macropods (big feet) are classified according the size. Kangaroos, then wallabies, then pademelons. We have lots of wallabies but they are very timid and you don't see them too often. They certainly don't sit around while you fiddle with exposures and light meters etc.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40054)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jun 18
@just4him - I agree! Miniature kangaroo is a great way to describe this cute little animal!
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (169963)
• United States
11 Jun 18
How cute! I saw Wallabees the last time I went to the zoo. They were in a separte area that cater s to kds. It was gated off from the main zoo. I was concerned about leaving the gate open..and them hoping out but the zoo people told me they won't. I guess they like their little area of the zoo.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (169963)
• United States
11 Jun 18
@JudyEv Yes, that is how this one was. It was more or less open. Eveeryone animal and human guests seemed well behaved.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
11 Jun 18
Cute little fella and he looks very alert there in the photo.
Sorry they get knocked down though and killed sometimes.
I guess the drivers try to miss them but its like here with the deer they just jump out all over the place where you least expect it.
We are supposed to swerve the car and try and avoid knocking them down but its difficult as they are so nervous and fast at the same time.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
12 Jun 18
@JudyEv
Here and this is so bizarre that if you do not try to avoid hitting them and for that you have to swerve you can get fined.
No one wants to knock down a deer or any animals so they should try and protect them more by putting fencing of some kind.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Jun 18
@lovinangelsinstead21 Sometimes it can be very difficult to avoid hitting them.
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@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 18
Yes, once but quite some years ago. It's a very interesting place.
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 18
I would be really excited if I saw deer in my backyard - but we only have kangaroos. 
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 18
He's gorgeous isn't he? And he has such cute little paws which he holds in front of him.
@wolfgirl569 (95165)
• Marion, Ohio
11 Jun 18
They are cute. I had never heard of them.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 18
We have quite a range of macropods (big feet) in Australia. There are also a couple of species in New Guinea.
@DeborahDiane (40054)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jun 18
@JudyEv - Thanks for sharing this, including the great photo. I learned about a new animal today!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40054)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jun 18
@JudyEv - Its an amazing photo!
1 person likes this
