The Goodfellow Tree-Kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi) is the only species of arboreal (tree living) kangaroos in the world. Other kangaroos are terrestrial, living on the ground.
The kangaroo, such as the Goodfellow Tree-Kangaroo, exhibits non-aggressive social behaviour towards other members of their mob (group).
It has behaviours such as nose touching and sniffing to enforce social cohesion and social order (hierarchy) without aggression.
If one kangaroo is smaller than the other it will generally move its head to the ground and quiver its head, which may possibly to show submission.
Greetings may include sniffing and licking each other’s fur, with mainly the older or more dominant one cleaning the younger one. Larger males will often show protective behaviour over females and younger males. Mother kangaroos will also show protective behaviour over their young.
Grooming, cleaning, nuzzling, and sniffing, and even putting their paws on or around each other, are common behaviours to reinforce their social and group bonding.
Location of photographs: Paris Zoo, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM