A Scree Kangaroo!

The northern scree kangaroo – Macropus borealis pogachniki – is an almost extinct species which occurs on the scree slopes of the Slovenian mountain ranges. Rumours have it that it has been sighted as far away as the Dolomites but those rumours have not been confirmed. Only very few specimen survive and for decades the species has thought to be extinct. Sighting one specimen beneath the Splevta south face in the Julian Alps thus amounts to a zoological sensation.

Unlike its southern brethren the northern scree kangaroo does not bounce with both feet. It rather takes a few steps to accelerate, then takes off to land on all fours. It is a very specialized species having sprouted pole—like protuberances from its forearms, which help it to stabilize while landing. Moreover, Macropus borealis does not have a tail to keep it steady while airborne and it is a mystery to scientists how it stabilize its flight phase. It has a pouch, which - strangely enough – resembles a camera bag, strung tightly across its shoulder.)