These are the largest of all kangaroos. Like other macropods, Red Kangaroos are pouched marsupials with strong, springy hind legs and muscular tails. They cover large distances by jumping with their back legs, using their tails for balance. Large individuals can cover many metres with a single jump. When walking, they use their front and back legs and tails.

Red Kangaroos live in some of the driest regions of Australia. To cope with this harsh environment they have evolved some amazing breeding strategies. Reproduction ceases during drought but begins within days of rain. While good conditions last, female Red Kangaroos breed all year round and can have three young of different ages simultaneously: a dormant embryo, a tiny newborn pouch young, and an older joey that has left the pouch. They produce two different kinds of milk at the same time.

These animals are mainly nocturnal, and sleep in the shade during the day. They lick their forelimbs to cool their blood by evaporation. At night they graze small plants using their specialised grinding teeth.

Male Red Kangaroos are much larger than females. They fight for access to females for breeding, standing high on their back legs and tails and ‘boxing’. When standing they can be over two metres tall. Males are redder than females, although both sexes can be grey-brown.