Bennett's Wallaby

Macropus rufogriseus

Bennett's wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) is the Tasmanian form of the red-necked wallaby, a medium macropod with gray-brown fur, a reddish wash around the shoulders and neck, and strong hind legs for hopping. It is hardy compared with many wallabies and has been kept in zoological collections and private deer-park style settings in cooler parts of the world. Like other wallabies, females carry tiny newborn joeys in the pouch for months before they begin grazing independently.

People keeping Bennett's wallabies need secure pasture or paddock space, shelter from severe weather, and fencing that prevents both escape and dog harassment. Diet is based on grass, hay, browse, and appropriate macropod pellets, not rich livestock grain. Quiet handling and low-stress capture are important because wallabies can injure themselves if panicked. Breeding groups require attention to pouch young, weaning age, and male behavior. Local rules vary widely, so prospective keepers should check permits, veterinary access, and long-term placement before treating a wallaby as a backyard novelty.