The red-necked wallaby is a medium-sized wallaby of eastern Australia and Tasmania. It is common in forests and farmland and is often seen grazing at dawn and dusk.
Interesting facts
- It is named for the reddish-brown fur on its neck and shoulders.
- The Tasmanian form is called Bennett’s wallaby.
- A free-living population of red-necked wallabies lives on the Isle of Man, descended from escapees.
- Wallabies are smaller relatives of kangaroos.
- They often graze at dusk on the edges of forest clearings.
- Females can pause the development of an embryo until conditions are right.
Behaviour
Red-necked wallabies are mostly solitary, though they gather loosely at feeding areas. They rest in dense vegetation during the day.
Breeding and young
After about a month, a tiny joey crawls into the pouch, where it stays for about nine months. It continues to nurse for several more months.
Threats and conservation
The species is common, although it is killed on roads and culled on farms in some areas.
Where to see it
- Cradle Mountain and Maria Island, Tasmania
- Bruny Island, Tasmania, for white wallabies
- Lamington National Park, Queensland
- The Curraghs, Isle of Man (introduced population)
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
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