In this article, we’ll answer the question:
“How high can a kangaroo jump?”
First, you’ll find a short summary explaining the maximum height kangaroos can jump vertically, followed by the length a kangaroo can jump horizontally in a single hop. There’s also information about the longest kangaroo jump on record, details about kangaroos hopping backwards, and an explanation about why these marsupials jump instead of running.
Kangaroos are a marsupial from the family Macropodidae in the order Diprotodontia and are indigenous to Australia and New Guinea.
How High Can a Kangaroo Jump?
A kangaroo can jump 6 feet high (2 meters vertically) in a single bound.
How Fast Can a Kangaroo Jump?
A kangaroo can jump over 30 mph using their large feet and strong legs that are built for speed.
Can Kangaroos Jump 30 Feet?
Kangaroos can jump 30 feet (9 meters) in a single bound due to their strong, muscular hind legs.
What Is the Longest Jump By a Kangaroo?
The longest jump by a kangaroo is 42 feet (12.8 meters), which occurred in New South Wales, Australia in January 1951.
There is no publicly recorded highest vertical jump by a kangaroo; however, some Red and Grey kangaroos have been known to jump up to 10 feet high.
Fact sources: Guinness World Records and Kids.org.
Can Kangaroos Jump Backwards?
Kangaroos cannot jump backwards because of their long, muscular tail that acts as a counterbalance to their front-facing movements. A kangaroo’s tail is also not very flexible and acts as the third leg which prevents a kangaroo from jumping backwards.
Can a Kangaroo Walk Without Jumping?
Kangaroos cannot walk without jumping because Kangaroos have huge feet made for hopping. The length of a kangaroo’s feet prevents this marsupial from taking steps forward.
Why Do Kangaroos Jump?
Kangaroos jump because jumping is an energy-efficient way of traveling long distances than four-legged running at the same speed. Jumping also allows kangaroos to evade predators in ways that walking or running cannot do.
Learn More About Kangaroos
Now that you know more about kangaroos and jumping, you may also be interested in these other educational guides on these marsupials:
- What do kangaroos eat?
- What eats kangaroos?
- Are kangaroos dangerous?
- Are kangaroos friendly?
- Why are kangaroos so buff?
Height a Kangaroo Can Jump Summary
You now know how high can a kangaroo jump.
As you discovered in this guide, kangaroos can jump 6 feet high (2 meters vertically) in a single bound and 30 feet (9 meters) in length on average. Kangaroos are also only able to hop forward; not backwards, because of the anatomy of their long tail that acts as a counterbalance and third leg.
I’m the lead editor and writer for Animal Answer Guide. I enjoy sharing expert knowledge on the various characteristics of common species within the five distinct groups of animals: amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles.
