Contraception of prepubertal young can increase cost effectiveness of management of overabundant koala populations
Emily F. Hynes
A C , Geoff Shaw B , Marilyn B. Renfree B and Kathrine A. Handasyde B
A Ecoplan Australia Pty Ltd, PO Box 968, Torquay, Vic. 3228, Australia.
B School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: emily.hynes@ecoplanaustralia.com.au
Wildlife Research 46(4) 317-325 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR18109
Submitted: 5 July 2018 Accepted: 5 March 2019 Published: 6 June 2019
Abstract
Context: With limited resources for wildlife management and conservation, it is vital that the effectiveness of management programs is maximised and costs reduced. Koala populations need to be reduced in locations where they are locally overabundant and over-browsing their food trees. Subcutaneous contraceptive implants containing levonorgestrel are currently used to control koala fertility to assist in reducing population densities. Dependent young are caught with their mothers, so are also available for contraception.
Aims: The overall aim was to investigate whether the effectiveness of koala contraception programs can be improved by administering levonorgestrel implants to female young along with their mothers. This was achieved by: (1) determining if implanting females before sexual maturation affects their fertility, growth and pouch development; and (2) developing a stage-structured population growth model to compare two management scenarios.
Methods: Juvenile female koalas (11–17 months old) were treated with either a control (n = 5) or 70 mg levonorgestrel implant (n = 5). Koalas were caught every 4 to 6 weeks for 15 months, then every 3 to 12 months for 5 years. Koalas were weighed and head length measured. Pouches were checked for young. Pouch development was assessed as a proxy for sexual maturation. A stage-based population model simulating koala population growth was developed to compare different management scenarios: no treatment; treatment of adults only; and treatment of adults plus their dependent young.
Key results: Levonorgestrel implants prevented births with no effect on growth, survival or timing of sexual maturation. Population growth simulations indicate that treating dependent young with their mothers results in earlier population reduction.
Conclusions: The treatment of prepubertal female koalas with levonorgestrel implants is a safe and effective method that increases the effectiveness of koala contraception programs.
Implications: Development of novel strategies may provide opportunities to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of management programs with constrained resources.
Additional keywords: female fertility control, levonorgestrel implants, management, marsupial, Phascolarctos cinereus, pouch development, sexual maturation.
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