Habitat: Northeast Asia – Manchuria
Height: 3 meters
Length: 5-6 meters (with tail)
Weight: 95 kg
Lifespan: 12-15 yrs.
Diet: Nuts, berries, fruits, leaves, roots, small rodents, small insects & small reptiles

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Giant Jerboas are the distant cousin of the common place Jerboa. Due to their hind-legs they are commonly thought to be a variety of Kangaroo – however this is in fact not true. They are bipedal and have been clocked up to speeds of 20 kilometres per hour.

The Giant Jerboa is very similar to it’s small cousin in a lot of regards – it has been a mystery to modern day scientist why this variety were able to grow so large in the same region of Manchuria, China. They live in rock formations and small caves – some dens are set for life – and often times they have been known to drive out predators from these locations. Unlike their smaller cousin the Giant Jerboa are known to live and hunt in packs – working together to find and secure food.

Within their colony – they are known to be polygynous with their breeding habits. The time period starting in the beginning of Spring and can happen several times a year for the female to produce a new litter. The litter is between 1-3 young.

Sadly the Giant Jerboa is an Endangered Species – these two here are the last two known to the planet, named “Betta” & “Alex.” Both are females – there is no hope at reproducing or having this species live past these two. In an effort for their conservation they have been removed from their natural lands and environment. The majority of their natural home has been altered and or destroyed by human intervention – with no efforts of a natural conservation.

Raising the question as to the ethics of how as Humans we co-live with other species and fellow animals. Which is the worst crime; the destruction of natural environments or the removal of animals to a foreign environment. How can we prevent this from happening to other species of animals?

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Giant Jerboa (Gigantis magna auri) – Found In Berlin