Deep in the Daintree rainforest a small number of rare Bennetts Tree-kangaroo’s can count their lucky stars, or in their case their lucky trees, now saved from development. Living on the seventh and eight properties purchased through the Daintree Buy Back and Protect Forever Project means their habitat is now safe, yet clearing of the Daintree rainforest through rural residential settlement remains a significant threat for their fellows and many species.

Fragmentation of the rainforest is a particularly threatening process for the Bennetts Tree-kangaroos, a species that rarely comes to the ground and needs a continuous canopy of trees for its survival.

Until recently the Bennett’s Tree-kangaroo remained a little known species. This is partly because its range is restricted to a fairly small region of northeast Queensland rainforest. It’s now known that Bennett’s Tree-kangaroo subsists almost solely upon the leaves of various rainforest trees and vines.

It is largely solitary and almost entirely nocturnal, spending the day hidden in a dense mass of vegetation in the rainforest canopy. Indeed, it is a highly cryptic species. It is possible for a person to be in close proximity to where it occurs at high density and yet rarely sees one.
Lives only in the Rainforest of Far North Queensland north of the Daintree River.

• Males are much larger than females and can almost 14 kilograms in weight
• Subsists almost solely upon the leaves of rainforest trees and vines
• Is largely solitary and nocturnal
• Is cryptic and rarely seen
• Spends the day hidden in dense vegetation in the rainforest canopy

You can help save the habitat of the Bennetts Tree-kangaroo and over 100 threatened species. Please make a tax-deductible donation to Rainforest Rescue’s Daintree Buyback & Protect Forever Project or purchase a Daintree Gift Card.