Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus ursinus
Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus ursinus
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Location: Vogelkop and Fakfak Peninsulas, West Papua
This species is found only in the remote montane rainforests of the Vogelkop (Doberai) and Fakfak Peninsulas in Indonesian-occupied West Papua, at elevations ranging from sea level to 2,500 metres.
The Vogelkop #TreeKangaroo Dendrolagus ursinus, also known as the Ursine or Black Tree #Kangaroo, is one of the least known and most elusive tree kangaroos in the world. Endemic to the Vogelkop and Fakfak Peninsulas of West Papua, this striking marsupial is cloaked in jet-black fur, with pale cheeks, tufted ears, and a white-tipped tail. They live alone in the misty mountain forests. Yet even in the densest forest, lowland logging roads are growing, they are under threat from #hunting and relentless forest clearance for #palmoil agriculture and #timber. Take action to protect these rapidly vanishing forest dwellers when you #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife, be #Vegan and #BoycottMeat
Vogelkop Tree #Kangaroos 🦘😻 with their strong limbs, wooly fur and expressive faces are ancient guardians of the #forests in #WestPapua. Help them to survive against #PalmOil #ecocide and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🚜🔥⛔️#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/vogelkop-tree-kangaroo-dendrolagus-ursinus/
Share to BlueSky Share to Twitter Elusive Vogelkop Tree #Kangaroos 🦘🫶 can leap several metres through trees in #WestPapua. Help these #vulnerable #marsupials. They face grave threat from #PalmOil #deforestation. Fight for them #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸🧐🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/vogelkop-tree-kangaroo-dendrolagus-ursinus/
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Appearance and Behaviour
With their glossy black upper coat, pale underbelly, reddish or white cheeks, and soft white throat patch, Vogelkop Tree Kangaroos appear like ethereal guardians of the rainforest. Their long, tufted ears and thick fur are well-suited to the cool montane climate, while their strong limbs and curved claws make them agile climbers. The fur whorls on their shoulders may even help channel rainwater off their heads. Weighing up to 8 kg, they are larger than most tree-dwelling marsupials, yet they move with stealth and grace through the forest canopy. They are nocturnal and solitary, coming down to the ground only rarely to move between trees.
Diet
Very little is known about their natural diet, but captive individuals have been observed eating leaves, bark, and twigs from mulberry trees, figs, and breadfruit (Antocarpus) species. Like other members of the Dendrolagus genus, they are folivores and frugivores, likely foraging across a wide area to find seasonal fruits and foliage in the upper canopy.
Reproduction and Mating
As with most tree kangaroos, reproduction is poorly documented. It is thought that breeding can occur year-round. After a gestation of around 30 days, the tiny newborn crawls into the mother’s pouch to attach to a nipple, developing there for around 300 days. The lack of data on reproduction in this species makes it difficult to assess how quickly populations can recover from declines.
Geographic Range
Dendrolagus ursinus is confined to the Vogelkop (Doberai) and Fakfak Peninsulas in the far northwest of Indonesian-occupied West Papua. Their range is limited to high-altitude montane forests between 1,000 and 2,500 metres, although some sources note sightings as low as sea level. Once more widespread, their habitat has been fragmented by palm oil agriculture and hunting. The total range is estimated to be no more than 30,000 square kilometres, much of which remains unexplored.
Threats
Very little is known about the biology, ecology, and behaviour of D. ursinus, making conservation efforts challenging. The lack of detailed population studies, genetic analysis, and ecological monitoring prevents targeted protection strategies. This information vacuum has left the species largely ignored in regional conservation planning.
• Hunting by local communities for food
Hunting remains a significant pressure on Dendrolagus ursinus. Despite their remote, mountainous habitat, they are still actively targeted by some communities for bushmeat. As the species is solitary and slow-moving on the ground, they are vulnerable to hunters, especially in areas where hunting traditions persist or where economic hardship has increased reliance on wild animals for protein.
• Habitat loss due to forest clearance for palm oil agriculture
Much of the Vogelkop and Fakfak regions are undergoing rapid transformation, as forests are cleared to create farmland for crops and livestock. Shifting cultivation and permanent clearing for cash crops reduce available habitat and fragment populations. This not only restricts the tree kangaroo’s range but also increases encounters with humans, raising the risk of hunting.
• Palm oil expansion and timber logging
Although industrial-scale plantations are less established in the highlands, out-of-control palm oil operations are expanding in West Papua. Lowland deforestation pushes communities and agriculture further upslope into montane forests—the last refuges of species like the Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo. Logging, both legal and illegal, further degrades these habitats and opens access routes for hunters and poachers.
• Historical disappearance from more densely populated areas
The species has already vanished from parts of the Arfak Mountains, where growing human populations and increased land conversion have left little viable forest. This historical range contraction is an ominous sign, showing how even highland refuges are no longer safe. Without urgent intervention, similar disappearances could occur elsewhere in their remaining range.
Take Action!
Help protect the Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo by refusing to buy products made with palm oil, advocating for forest protection in West Papua, and supporting indigenous-led agroecology initiatives. Demand an end to deforestation driven by agriculture and logging. Speak up for Vogelkop Tree Kangaroos of the cloud forests and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #BoycottMeat
FAQs
How many Vogelkop Tree Kangaroos are left?
No formal population estimates exist, but the IUCN notes a suspected 30% population decline over the past three generations (roughly 30 years) due to hunting and habitat loss. The species now survives mostly in mountainous areas, having disappeared from the lowlands.
Are they the same as the Black Tree Kangaroo?
Yes. Dendrolagus ursinus is also known as the Black Tree Kangaroo, Ursine Tree Kangaroo, or Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo. These names refer to the same species, which is distinguished by their dark fur and limited range in northwestern New Guinea.
What makes Vogelkop Tree Kangaroos different from other tree kangaroos?
Genetic studies reveal that Dendrolagus ursinus represents one of five distinct evolutionary lineages within New Guinea’s tree kangaroos. Their thick black coat, tufted ears, and unique geographic isolation make them one of the most distinctive—and mysterious—members of the Dendrolagus genus (Eldridge et al., 2018).
Is it true Vogelkop Tree Kangaroos live in protected areas?
Some of their range may overlap with remote protected forests, but enforcement is minimal. Without community-led efforts to protect habitat and reduce hunting pressure, even these areas may not be enough to ensure the species’ survival.
Further Information
Eldridge, M. D. B., Potter, S., Helgen, K. M., Sinaga, M. H., Aplin, K. P., Flannery, T. F., & Johnson, R. N. (2018). Phylogenetic analysis of the tree-kangaroos (Dendrolagus) reveals multiple divergent lineages within New Guinea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 127, 589–599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.05.030
Leary, T., Seri, L., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Helgen, K., Singadan, R., Menzies, J., Allison, A., James, R., Dickman, C., Aplin, K., Salas, L., Flannery, T. & Bonaccorso, F. 2016. Dendrolagus ursinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T6434A21956516. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T6434A21956516.en. Downloaded on 26 January 2021.
Flannery, T., Martin, R., & Szalay, A. (1996). Tree Kangaroos: A Curious Natural History. Reed Books.
Tenkile Conservation Alliance. (2024). Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://tenkile.com/vogelkop-tree-kangaroo/
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Ursine tree-kangaroo. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursine_tree-kangaroo
You can support the conservation of this animal:
Tenkile Conservation Alliance
Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus ursinus
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