The Wonders of God’s Creation
There are 39 known varieties of this interesting animal. Some of the pale-colored wallabies look like large rats while others are similar to rabbits, but most look like small kangaroos since they are part of the kangaroo family. However, the fur of most wallabies is brighter colored than kangaroos'. Wallabies’ tails are more slender and bushy or tufted at the tip, whereas kangaroos’ tails are quite plain.
These animals are known as marsupials, meaning the mothers carry their little ones in a pouch. The Creator has adapted them to the rocky areas of Australia, New Guinea and neighboring islands. (Australia is sometimes called the “Land Down Under” because it lies entirely south of the equator.) Most of them are speedy and if startled hop swiftly away on their strong hind legs. At other times they will hide in a cave or rocky crevice.
Wallabies live on grasses, but also eat foliage and bark from trees and roots of various kinds. They usually feed in the cool of the evening, at night or in early morning, leaving the shelters where they rest throughout the day. Another provision of the Creator is in providing them, in their hot, dry homelands, with bodies that get along very well on the moisture in their food, although they will drink water when it is available. One kind, the tammer, even drinks salt water when fresh water is not available.
Each year mothers have just one blind, helpless baby (like a baby kangaroo which is called a Joey), and it remains several months in her pouch until it can eat solid food. Even then it stays near her, until big enough to care for itself, and is not ashamed to jump back into her pouch if danger is near. Babies are not born in this pouch, but, although tiny and blind, their sensitive noses tell them that’s where their food supply is, and they make their own way into it to enjoy the rich, nourishing milk.
Usually brownish-beige in color, or occasionally red, gray or blackish, they are much like miniature kangaroos, having short front feet, long back feet and long, strong tails which they use for balance, support when sitting, and help in leaping. Full of curiosity, they usually stop grazing to watch a person going by.
Wallabies are content with the heat and dryness of their homes, and if they knew about their Creator and could speak, they would surely thank Him for His care over them. But boys and girls do have that ability, and God (your Creator, too) likes to have you thank Him. One Bible verse expresses it this way: “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:2020Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20). Be sure to do this every day!
(to be continued)
ML-03/01/1987