While hiking the trail through Mandu-Mandu Gorge in the Cape Range National Park, Western Australia, my wife spotted a male Black-flanked Rock-wallaby high up the rock face, keeping a watchful eye on the trail below. After stopping and observing him for a few minutes, our eyes chanced upon another animal (likely a female) about fifteen metres away, on the same escarpment. Behind her, in a dark cave opening were two youngsters, nervously popping their heads out from time to time, playflighting with each other and nagging their mother for attention. It was lovely to see, and I was lucky to get close enough to shoot this portrait of mum and one of her young once the group had accepted us as non-threatening. These animals are listed as vulnerable in Australia, and have evolved to be masters of this rocky habitat. Feral goats however compete for food and shelter, and the european fox preys upon them if they let their guard down while feeding or traversing flatter terrain.
wallabies, joey, wallaby, rock wallaby, endangered, vulnerable, cape range national park, rock, mandu mandu gorge, gorge
Comments
1 Day ! 2011/07/02

Thanks Margaret! My pleasure!
– Dan & Emma Monceaux
Thanks Ray!
– Dan & Emma Monceaux