Utilising GPS data loggers as a tool to establish site fidelity and home range in a peri-urban Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) population

GABRIEL E. MACHOVSKY-CAPUSKA; DEREK SPIELMAN; GEORGIA THOMAS; CATHERINE GRUEBER ; DASSIS, M.; CATHERINE HERBERT

Auckland

Conferencia; 29th AUSTRALASIAN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT SOCIETY ANNUAL CONFERENCE; 2016

The Australasian Wildlife Management Society

The Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is an overabundant mammal across numerous areas ofAustralia. This species characteristically thrives in peri-urban parklands, generally causing environmentaldamage, animal welfare concerns and public health risks. Considering these implications, as well as theirhigh fecundity and iconic public status, managing this species requires a multidisciplinary approach. Froman ecological perspective, fine scale details of individual populations need to be measured for efficientmanagement. Modern scientific tools, including GPS data loggers, allow us to achieve this level of detail.Information provided by these devices enables us to improve our understanding of animal home range andsite fidelity and thus the most viable methods of population management. This study presents data from ahigh density peri-urban eastern grey kangaroo population where data loggers have been utilised to determinekangaroo home range and site fidelity. A total of 51 GPS data loggers were attached to individual kangarooson the Nelson Bay golf course. These loggers recorded over an average of eight days, resulting in home rangedata for 46 kangaroos. Furthermore, five kangaroos had a second collar attached a year later to determinesite fidelity. Analyses in ArcGIS identified two main mobs residing on the golf course, with the majority ofanimals spending at least 50-70% of their time on the golf course. Such information allows the developmentof tailored management plans to effectively reduce and stabilise kangaroo populations.