The Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo (Weimang) (D. pulcherrimus) is found in mid-montane rainforest at elevations of 680-1120m in the Torricelli Mountain Range of Sandaun Province, PNG. It is one of three species of Tree Kangaroo found in this range. The Torricelli Mountains is the only area known to contain three species of Tree Kangaroo: Tenkile (D. scottae), Finsch's Tree Kangaroo (D. inustus finschi) and the Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo (D. pulcherrimus).
The Golden-mantled is now only found in the eastern end of the Torricelli. Previously it was found across the entire range but as is the case with Tenkile it is now residing in a fraction of its former range. Its present distribution is unknown but, from talking to villagers, is probably less than 50 square kilometres.
The Golden-mantled is the smallest member of the Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo complex. Only two female specimens have ever been weighed - 7 and 7.1kg.

TCA has received a young male Weimang and is looking after him in their tree kangaroo facility at Lumi. In March 2006, TCA established a hunting moratorium for Weimang with 12 villages in the Nuku District of Sandaun Province. TCA aims to implement the same programs as it has and is doing with the Tenkile villages. The distribution of Weimang in PNG is probably about 135 sq kms. TCA fells it is less threatened than Tenkile. There is also a population of the Golden-mantled in the Foja Mountains West Papua.

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo
(Weimang)
(Dendrolagus pulcherrimus)

Illustrations by Peter Schouten