Information below is from Lynda Stakers book " Don't step backwards" ( with permission )
Swamp Wallabies are the only totally solitary macropod, although in captivity,
they will feed with their own kind or other species. In the wild, it is
very rare to see a mother Swampy with young at foot, or two Swampies together.
A combination of genetic, reproductive, dental and behavioural characteristics
separate the Swamp wallaby from all other macropods , it is therefore classified
as the sole living member of the genus ‘Wallabia’. While wallabies of the genus
Macropus have 16 chromosomes,the Swampy has 11 in the male , and 10 in the female.
Also called ‘Stinkers’, the sub-adults and adults have a very strong musky type
odour, particularly around the base of the ears, and their cloaca.
Contrary to what it’s name implies, Swampies inhabit all types of habitat,
including moist thickets, rocky outcrops, rainforests, dry forests and
even parts of the dry interior. They can be found all over Eastern Australia,
from Cape York to southern Victoria.
They are browsers, feeding on a wide range of plants, shrubs, bushes, grasses,
herbs, ferns etc., and are noted for the fact that they can eat poisonous
plants such as Bracken Fern and Hemlock, without any ill effect, whereas these
plants can kill humans and stock. Like the Agile wallaby, the Swampy has a fourth
pre molar which is never shed, and is used for cutting coarse plant material.
Swamp wallabies are mostly a ‘grizzled’ black, with a black mask across their
eyes, black ears trimmed in a golden-orange, the base of the ears are also
golden orange, black feet and hands, black tail, with some having a white tip
or white underside of the tail. Golden orange or rufous cheek stripes, and a golden
orange belly makes this animal very attractive.
I like to refer to them as little ‘beady- eyed bandits’, as they do have very black beady eyes.
Older animals tend to get a white grizzled muzzle, which tends to make them
appear really old. Young joeys are more a creamy colour where the older
animals are the rufous colour.
Breeding occurs in both sexes between the ages of 15-18 month. After a gestation
period of 33-38 days, a single young is born.
They mate a second time 8 days prior to the birth of the established foetus,
therefore the gestation period is longer than the oestrous cycle.
Pouch life is complete by 8-9 months, and suckling continues until approximately
15 months of age.
When Swampies attack, they jump high, then scratch with their claws, bite, and
kick to injure their victim at a height. None of the subtle sneaking up and
biting business for them. You don’t expect to get attacked high, and usually
end up with an injured head!
In comparison to the Agile and Whiptail wallabies, they mature quickly, and are
outside day and night as early as nine months of age.
Swampies are probably the most furtive and elusive macropod, and are seldom
seen in the wild. Usually just a black streak is all that one gets to see.
These unfortunate wallabies are a constant target for man’s wrath, because they
relish tree saplings. Consequently, they are baited with poisoned
carrots, because of their love of young pines and other saplings. If money was
not the objective, tree guards could be used to protect the saplings.
They are a ‘one person’ macropod to raise, and do not take readily to strangers.
In captivity, other macropods tend to put them on the bottom of the pecking order.
Information below is from Lynda Stakers book " Don't step backwards" ( with permission )
Older animals tend to get a white grizzled muzzle, which tends to make them
appear really old. Young joeys are more a creamy colour where the older
animals are the rufous colour.
