Meet Our Animals

Did You Know?

• Kangaroos can’t walk backward easily. Their large tails and powerful hind legs make moving backward difficult.
• A baby kangaroo is called a joey. Newborn joeys are incredibly small and continue developing inside their mother’s pouch.
• Kangaroos are built for hopping. Their strong hind legs allow them to travel quickly and efficiently across long distances.
• Their tails are incredibly strong. Kangaroos use their muscular tails for balance and support while moving.
• Kangaroos are herbivores. Their diet mainly consists of grasses, leaves, and other vegetation.
• A group of kangaroos is called a mob. Mobs can range from just a few kangaroos to much larger groups.
• Kangaroos are most active at night. Kangaroos are generally nocturnal, meaning they tend to be most active from dusk through the nighttime and early morning hours.
• Kangaroos aren’t known to carry rabies. Australia is free of classic rabies, so native Australian kangaroos do not naturally carry the rabies virus.
• Kangaroos are native to Australia. At Kentucky Down Under, you don’t have to travel across the world to meet one up close!

Did You Know?

• Lemurs use their tails like scarves! During colder winter weather, they may wrap their long, fluffy tails around their bodies to help stay warm.
• Lemurs are native to Madagascar. Nearly all wild lemurs are found on this island off the coast of Africa.
• Their tails help with balance. Lemurs use their long tails to help steady themselves as they climb and leap through trees.
• They’re very social animals. Many lemur species live together in groups and communicate using sounds, scents, and body language.
• Their tails aren’t for grabbing. Unlike some primates, lemurs don't have prehensile tails, so they can't use them to grip branches.
• They love to sunbathe. Ring-tailed lemurs are known for sitting upright with their arms stretched out to soak up the warmth of the sun.

Did You Know?

• Meet Mary Kate & Ashley! Kentucky Down Under’s resident dingoes are named Mary Kate and Ashley.
• Dingoes are native to Australia. They’ve lived on the continent for thousands of years and can be found in many different habitats.
• They’re excellent hunters. Dingoes have sharp senses of sight, hearing, and smell that help them locate prey.
• Dingoes are very athletic. They can run, jump, and travel long distances while exploring their territory.
• They’re different from your dog at home. Although dingoes look similar to domestic dogs, they are wild dogs with their own unique behaviors and instincts.
• Dingoes are naturally curious. They’re intelligent animals that use their senses to investigate and understand their surroundings.

Did You Know?

• They have an important job! Our Woolshed dogs are specially trained to help move and guide sheep as a team.
• Herding comes naturally. Herding dogs have strong instincts that help them control the movement of a flock.
• They’re great listeners. Working dogs learn commands from their handlers using words, whistles, and other signals.
• They use more than just speed. Herding sheep requires focus, patience, quick thinking, and knowing exactly where to position themselves.
• Every dog has its own personality. Just like pets at home, working dogs have individual personalities and different ways of approaching their job.
• Dogs and handlers work as a team. Successful sheep herding depends on communication and trust between the dog and its handler.

Did You Know?

• They’re related to camels! Llamas belong to the camelid family, along with alpacas and camels.
• Llamas communicate with their ears. The position of their ears can give clues about whether they’re relaxed, curious, or unhappy.
• Yes, llamas really do spit! They usually spit at other llamas to communicate or settle disagreements, although they may spit at people if they feel threatened or annoyed.
• They make a humming sound. Llamas hum to communicate with each other and may hum when they’re curious, content, or concerned.
• Llamas are herbivores. They mainly eat grasses, hay, and other plants.
• They’re stronger than they look! Llamas have traditionally been used as pack animals because they can carry supplies across rugged terrain.

Did You Know?

• Meet Bongo, Kiara & Loki! These three spotted servals call Kentucky Down Under home.
• Servals are wild cats from Africa. They’re commonly found in grasslands and wetlands where tall vegetation provides plenty of cover.
• Those big ears serve a purpose! Their excellent hearing helps them detect small animals moving through tall grass.
• They have remarkably long legs. In fact, servals have some of the longest legs relative to body size of any cat.
• Their spots are one of a kind. Each serval has its own unique pattern of spots and stripes.
• Servals are carnivores. Their diet consists of meat, and in the wild they hunt animals such as rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, and insects.
• They’re skilled hunters. Servals combine excellent hearing, quick reflexes, and powerful jumps to locate and catch prey.

Did You Know?

• Lynx are built for cold weather. Their thick fur helps keep them warm when temperatures drop.
• Those big paws act like snowshoes! Their wide, furry feet help spread their weight across the snow so they can move more easily.
• Lynx are carnivores. They eat meat and hunt animals such as rabbits, hares, rodents, and birds.
• They have excellent hearing. The lynx’s sharp senses help it locate prey, even when it may be difficult to see.
• Those ear tufts are a signature feature. Lynx are easily recognized by the long black tufts of fur at the tips of their ears.
• They have short tails. Unlike many other wild cats, lynx have a naturally short, bobbed tail with a dark tip.
• Lynx are usually solitary. In the wild, they typically live and hunt alone except during breeding or when a mother is raising kittens. 

Did You Know?

• Alligators are reptiles. They’re cold-blooded, which means they rely on their surroundings to help regulate their body temperature.
• They have an incredibly powerful bite. Alligators use their strong jaws to capture and hold onto prey.
• They’re excellent swimmers. Their muscular tails propel them through the water, while their webbed feet help with movement and steering.
• Their eyes and nostrils are on top of their heads. This allows alligators to see and breathe while keeping most of their bodies underwater.
• Baby alligators can make sounds before they hatch! They make high-pitched calls from inside their eggs that help signal their mother when it’s time to hatch.
• They’ve been around for a very long time. The broader alligator lineage dates back millions of years, with ancestors living alongside dinosaurs.

Did You Know?

• Wolves are very social animals. They live in family groups called packs and work together to raise young, defend territory, and find food.
• They communicate in many ways. Wolves use howls, growls, body language, facial expressions, and scent to communicate with one another.
• Every wolf has a unique howl. Different howls help pack members recognize and locate each other over long distances.
• They have an incredible sense of smell. A wolf's powerful nose helps it locate food, recognize other wolves, and understand what's happening in its territory.
• Wolves can travel long distances. Their strong legs and endurance allow them to cover many miles while searching for food and patrolling their territory.
• Wolves play an important role in nature. As predators, they help keep ecosystems balanced by influencing prey populations and animal behavior. 

Did You Know?

• Cows are very social. They form relationships with other members of their herd and often prefer spending time with familiar companions.
• Goats have rectangular pupils. Their unusual eyes give them a wide field of vision, helping them keep an eye on their surroundings.
• Goats are excellent climbers. Their specialized hooves help them balance and navigate rocky, uneven terrain.
• Both cows and goats are herbivores. Their diets consist primarily of grasses, hay, leaves, and other plants.
• Goats are naturally curious. They love investigating their surroundings and may use their mouths to explore new objects.
• Goats have four stomach compartments, too! Like cows, goats are ruminants and regurgitate partially digested food, called cud, to chew it again.
• You can meet them up close! Stop by the Petting Zoo during your visit to Kentucky Down Under to spend some time with our friendly farm animals.