Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo
CR

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo

Dendrolagus pulcherrimus

Stable

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden-mantled_tree-kangaroo

Overview

The golden-mantled tree-kangaroo, also known as weimang, is a critically endangered, furry, bear-like mammal found only in mountain rain forests on the island of New Guinea. Like other tree-kangaroos (Dendrolagus), it lives in trees and feeds on plant matter. It belongs to the macropod family (Macropodidae) with kangaroos, and carries its young in a pouch like other marsupials.

The range is restricted to two small mountain areas in the north and it is threatened by hunting and habitat loss.

The Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in Papua New Guinea's montane forests. Hunting pressure for subsistence and traditional purposes has intensified as human populations expand into previously remote areas. Mining activities and agricultural conversion continue to reduce the species' already restricted habitat, while climate change threatens to shift suitable temperature and precipitation zones upward beyond available mountain habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits primary and secondary montane rainforests at elevations between 1,000-3,000 meters in Papua New Guinea's central highlands. It requires dense canopy cover with interconnected tree branches for arboreal movement and forages primarily in the upper forest layers.

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies managementSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsLinked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

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Threatened in Papua New Guinea

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Cryptocarya pergamentacea

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo classified as Critically Endangered?
Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in Papua New Guinea's montane forests. Hunting pressure for subsistence and traditional purposes has intensified as human populations expand into previously remote areas. Mining activities and agricultural conversion continue to reduce the species' already restricted habitat, while climate change threatens to shift suitable temperature and precipitation zones upward beyond available mountain habitat.
Where does Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo live?
Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo occurs in Papua New Guinea. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo?
The main threats to Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo are 5.1, 5.3, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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