Mobility of the Red Kangaroo, Megaleia rufa

Abstract

The distribution and abundance of red kangaroos was studied in inland New South Wales by a series i f aerial surveys. Thro'ughout the study the population density of kangaroos fell sharply in each area studied and there is little doubt that a drastic decline occurred in the number of red kangaroos in in!and New South Wales during the period April 1960 to January 1963. Possible causes are discussed. The distribution of kangaroos was determined by the abundance of short green grass; long herbage was avoided as were dry pastures. The greatest abundance of animals occurred on Danthonia and Stipa grasslands, especially where shade was available from clumps of timber and where local movements were controlled by the availability of forage. In the study area with the milder climate, red kangaroos were very sedentary, but in the more arid area rather more extensive movements occurred in response to the changing distribution of green herbage. It is suggested, however, that red kangaroos were, on the whole, not stronlgly nomadic in the period studied.