How does diapause help kangaroo populations recover after drought?

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Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) — marsupial Red kangaroo (*Macropus rufus*). The home range of this species spans much of Australia's interior, and it is the largest member of the family Macropodidae.

Embryonic diapause is a vital reproductive strategy that allows many kangaroo species to recover their population numbers rapidly following a drought.1

During periods of environmental stress, such as drought, breeding typically ceases and the state of diapause is prolonged. Under normal conditions, a female marsupial can conceive a new embryo while her previous joey is still developing in the pouch. This second embryo enters a dormant state until the older offspring begins to leave the pouch or environmental conditions become favorable.1

Once the pouch becomes vacant or conditions improve, the development of the dormant embryo resumes, leading to birth after a gestation period of approximately 30 days. This mechanism ensures that the mother can produce a new offspring almost immediately after the previous one matures, allowing the population to rebound efficiently once the harsh conditions of a drought have passed.1