The Australian, or Matschie's, tree kangaroo is yet another species facing the threat of extinction due to habitat loss and hunting. Despite being listed as endangered by the IUCN, and being part of captive breeding programs worldwide, this species is still teetering on the edge of extinction. Part of this is because little is being done to conserve their natural habitat and curb hunting; the other problem is the fact that these kangaroos are very slow to reproduce, thus making it difficult to sustain the population.

Matschie's tree kangaroos only reproduce once a year, and scientists know very little of how mating occurs. They do know from observing kangaroos in the captive environment, that gestation lasts about 21 to 38 days, after which only one joey is born. The joey stays in its mother's pouch for another 10-12 months until it is fully mature. At this point it will leave its mother and strike out on its own. In the wild, this kangaroo can live up to 14 years, but in captivity, they can live up to 20 or more years.

Tree kangaroos are known to be solitary animals who usually will only come together during mating season. During the rest of the year, the kangaroos will go off on their own, and set up their own territories. Although both sexes set up their own territories, the males are the only ones who will aggressively defend it. Females are more relaxed and less aggressive than the males, and they are also known to meet up with other kangaroos and form small social groups.

These kangaroos live in the dense tropical rainforests of Australia and Papua New Guinea; however, the numbers in Papua New Guinea are so low, that they could easily be wiped out forever. The tree kangaroos can be found in forests from sea level to ones at elevations of 10,000 or more feet. Also, there are about 76 tree kangaroos in breeding programs throughout North America in addition to the 1,400 left in the wild.

The Matschie's tree kangaroo is especially vulnerable to habitat loss because of their dietary requirements. They primarily eat the fruits and leaves of the silkwood tree, a tree found only in the rainforests of Australia and Papua New Guinea. The kangaroos usually come out at night to feed; however, as more of their habitat is being destroyed, they are quickly running out of their main food source.

Currently, there is very little being done aside from captive breeding to save this species from extinction. Though captive breeding is proving to be successful, without a habitat, these captive-bred kangaroos have no place to call home. Hopefully, with increased awareness of the tree kangaroo's plight, logging in their forests can be halted before their habitat completely disappears.