A rare Matschie’s tree-kangaroo baby is captivating Roger Williams Park Zoo visitors… even though booping her little pink nose is not an option.
By Kim Knox Beckius
May 04 2023
Don’t miss the rare opportunity to see a baby Matschie’s tree-kangaroo in New England.
Photo Credit : Roger Williams Park ZooYour baby or your baby’s baby or your friend’s or neighbor’s baby is cute, for sure. But hands down, the most adorable little one in New England at the moment is Paia: a Matschie’s tree-kangaroo born at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence. In the wild, these endangered animals are found only in the mountainous cloud forests of the Huon Peninsula in northeastern Papua New Guinea. Hunting and habitat eradication from logging and mining have taken a grave toll, and there are estimated to be fewer than 2,500 adults of the species left on earth.
That makes Paia’s birth even more cause for celebration. Like their distant cousins in Australia, Matschie’s tree-kangaroos are marsupials, so Paia spent her first seven months in her mother Keweng’s pouch. Now, though, she’s growing up fast, trying new foods, and still taking the occasional pouch nap.
We checked in with the zoo’s director of marketing and PR, Vicki Scharfberg, for answers to our burning questions about baby tree-kangaroo Paia:
A: When Paia was born on June 27, 2022, she was the size of a lima bean and crawled blindly into mother Keweng’s pouch, where she continued to grow and nurse. Tree-kangaroos are marsupials, so a majority of their physical development occurs in the mother’s pouch. Tree-kangaroos are also mostly solitary, but mother/offspring pairs will form a strong bond until the offspring is old enough to take care of itself.
Morobe, Keweng’s male companion, was recommended by the tree-kangaroo Species Survival Plan (SSP). This pairing, and the birth of our little Paia, plays a significant role for the future of this endangered species. The zoo actively participates in the tree-kangaroo SSP, which focuses on breeding to ensure the survival of this endangered species.
A: Paia, which means fire, was named after her mom’s feisty personality.
A: Matschie’s tree-kangaroos are an endangered species with an estimated wild population of less than 2,500 individuals (IUCN). Habitat destruction caused by logging and mining exploration is a danger to tree-kangaroo populations. Tree-kangaroos play an important role in the culture and diet of the indigenous people, and unsustainable hunting practices threaten the survival of tree-kangaroos.
A: Tree-kangaroos are considered full-grown at about 18 months old.
A: This species is most active in the morning, when they receive their breakfast, and around noon, when they receive their lunch. Though we cannot guarantee that guests will see Paia and mom Keweng, they are usually most visible on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
A: Keweng is a first-time mom. She and her daughter Paia have a strong bond, and Keweng has been carefully tending to her little one.
A: Weekends tend to be the best days to visit and catch a glimpse of mom and baby. Stop by their habitat in the zoo’s World of Adaptations building first thing when the gates open, and you may see them munching on their breakfast full of fresh veggies and leaves. But it’s really up to them, not us!
Kim Knox Beckius is Yankee Magazine's Travel & Branded Content Editor. A longtime freelance writer/photographer and Yankee contributing editor based in Connecticut, she has explored every corner of the region while writing six books on travel in the Northeast and contributing updates to New England guidebooks published by Fodor's, Frommer's, and Michelin. For more than 20 years, Kim served as New England Travel Expert for TripSavvy (formerly About.com). She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and is frequently called on by the media to discuss New England travel and events. She is likely the only person who has hugged both Art Garfunkel and a baby moose.
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