Rare kangaroo found in Irian

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Researchers for the World Wide Fund for Nature have reportedly found an unusual type of kangaroo in the 2.5 million hectare Lorentz National Park, but do not yet know if the animal constitutes a new species.

An organization official, Benjamin Mambai, said here on Monday that the tree kangaroo (dandrologus sp.) found in the reserve differed from the type commonly found in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia.

The animal found in the reserve has pale white fur and is larger and taller than the brown colored animal identified in PNG and Australia, Antara reported.

According to the Fund's records, a kangaroo of this description has never before been described.