Red kangaroos are the world's largest marsupials and are widely kept in zoos globally. Their welfare depends on appropriate space, social groups, and thermal management.
Red kangaroo welfare in captivity is most challenged by insufficient space for natural locomotion, inadequate social group sizes, and failure to provide appropriate thermoregulation opportunities in hot weather. Lone kangaroos or pairs show higher stress indicators than animals in larger groups. Walkthrough exhibits where visitors can enter kangaroo areas improve visitor experience but increase stress from unpredictable human proximity — management requires careful design to balance both. Joeys separated from mothers prematurely face significant developmental welfare harm.