Scientists find out why giant kangaroos disappeared

Scientists from Australia have used the latest technology to analyse ancient teeth to understand how these prehistoric giants lived.

Details: Christopher Laurikainen Gaete et al, Megafauna mobility: Assessing the foraging range of an extinct macropodid from central eastern Queensland, Australia, PLOS ONE (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319712

"Imagine ancient GPS trackers!" - says Scott Hocknell of the Queensland Museum.

By chemical "signatures" in the enamel of teeth, researchers were able to track the movements of ancient animals: where they ate, where they lived and even how they died.

🌴 When the green paradise disappeared

Around 300,000 years ago, Australia's rainforests began to dry up. The climate became increasingly dry and unstable. Giant kangaroos, as it turned out, were very 'homebodies' - they didn't stray far from their homelands even when food ran out.

And it was this attachment to their home range that became their fatal mistake. In a rapidly changing environment, their inability to adapt quickly led to extinction.

Nevertheless, some species of giant kangaroos managed to survive in other parts of Australia and New Guinea - the latter populations disappeared only about 40,000 years ago.

🧬 How new technology is unlocking the mysteries of antiquity

The scientists used a technique comparing the composition of elements in teeth and in layers of ancient rocks. This allowed them to understand:

• What territories the animals lived in

• How far they travelled in search of food

• How their lifestyles changed before extinction

"We can now look at the extinction of mega-beasts not just in general, but for each individual and each place!" - says Anthony Dosseto from the Isotope Geochronology Laboratory at the University of Wollongong.

🌏 Who else lived in Australia before humans?

Australia was once home to:

• Giant echidnas

• Huge wombat-like herbivores weighing over 2 tonnes

• Giant predatory lizards

All of these giants disappeared - and now, thanks to modern techniques, we can finally understand why.

Theconclusion: climate change was a death trap for Australia's largest animals. But the latest research shows ancient bones can still tell their story - you just need to know how to read it.