Matschie's tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus matschiei); this individual is in a zoo.
Image: Postdlf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Matches source — IUCN's 2016 global assessment of Dendrolagus matschiei says EndangeredChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
Matschie's tree-kangaroo is a stocky, reddish tree-dwelling kangaroo found only on the Huon Peninsula of Papua New Guinea. It is assessed as Endangered.
Unlike ground kangaroos, it climbs and lives in the forest canopy.
Range & habitat
Mountain rainforests of the Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Hunting
- Habitat loss
- A small, restricted range
Why it matters
A canopy-dwelling kangaroo found only in New Guinea, Matschie's tree-kangaroo is a flagship for the island's threatened mountain rainforests.
Sources
Sources for Matschie's Tree-kangaroo
- IUCN Red List — look up Matschie's Tree-kangaroo (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a kangaroo live in trees?
Tree-kangaroos have shorter legs, strong forelimbs, and long tails for balance, letting them climb and move through the forest canopy rather than hopping across open ground.
Why is Matschie's tree-kangaroo Endangered?
Published assessments cite hunting, habitat loss, and a small, restricted range. See the IUCN Red List.