LONDON, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Sangria the tree kangaroo is to make her public debut at Thursday at a new exhibit area at Chester Zoo.
She is the first time in the zoo's near-90 year existence that it has become home to what is a highly endangered species.
Tree kangaroos are on the brink of extinction in the mountainous rain forests of their native Papua New Guinea, due to hunting and habitat loss. Half of its population has been lost in the last 30 years.
Only 23 are cared for by zoos across Europe, making Sangria an incredibly special resident at Chester where the 15 year old will be introduced to a male in the hope the pair will start a new furry family.
Sangria, a Goodfellow's tree kangaroo, has arrived at the zoo as part of a global conservation breeding program for the species. Much smaller than their common cousins, tree kangaroos live off the ground, using their tails to hang from branches and their strong limbs for climbing.
After moving into a new exhibit inside the zoo's South East Asian Islands zone, Sangria will live alongside the Britain's only dusky pademelons, a rare species of miniature wallaby.
Much smaller than their common cousins, tree kangaroos live off the ground, using their tails to hang from branches and their strong limbs for climbing.
Chester Zoo director Mike Jordan said: "Many people associate kangaroos with Australia but the Goodfellow's tree kangaroo actually comes from Papua New Guinea.
"They are very well adapted to live in forests with a long tail to give balance when jumping from branch to branch, curved claws and rubbery soles to help with grip when climbing and strong, stocky arms to help them grasp tree trunks.
"Sadly though, these remarkably charismatic and highly interesting animals are teetering on the brink of extinction. Hunting for their meat and body parts, combined with deforestation for wood and timber and coffee and rice plantations, has all severely reduced their range and subsequently their numbers."
The new tree kangaroo and dusky pademelon habitat will open to visitors to Chester Zoo for the first time on Thursday (May 24). Other new species also making their first appearances in the zoo's Islands zone include Prevosts's squirrels, cloud rats and tree shrews.
