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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 33(2)

Estimating the abundance of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia

A. R. Pople A D E , S. C. Cairns B , N. Menke A and N. Payne C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A The Ecology Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.

B Zoology, School of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Management, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

C Department of Environment and Conservation, PO Box 2111, Dubbo, NSW 2830, Australia.

D Current address: Land Protection, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water, GPO Box 2454, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia.

E Corresponding Author: Email: tony.pople@nrm.qld.gov.au

Wildlife Research 33(2) 93-102 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR05021
Submitted: 25 February 2005  Accepted: 13 February 2006   Published: 12 April 2006

Abstract

To provide an estimate of kangaroo numbers for harvest management, a survey was designed for an area of 29 500 km2 encompassing the agricultural and grazing lands of the Braidwood, Cooma, Goulburn, Gundagai and Yass Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB) districts in south-east New South Wales. An aerial survey using a helicopter was considered more efficient than ground survey because of the size of the area, relatively high relief and dense tree cover, and the need for regular monitoring. Tree cover and landscape relief was used to stratify the five RLPB districts into areas of probable high, medium and low kangaroo density. Kangaroo density estimated from helicopter surveys conducted in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales was used to suggest densities and thereby allocate survey effort in each stratum. A survey comprising 735 km of transect line was conducted in winter 2003 with a target precision of 20%. The survey returned an estimate of 286 600 ± 32 300 eastern grey kangaroos for the whole of the proposed south-east New South Wales kangaroo-management zone. In 2004, a trial harvest of slightly less than 15% of this estimate was taken. Success of the trial will be determined by the impact of harvesting on the population’s dynamics, by landholder and industry participation, and by the capacity to monitor population size, harvest offtake and compliance with regulations.


Acknowledgments

Numerous people provided helpful discussion on the distribution and abundance of kangaroos in the district, including Lisa Collins, Andrew Moore, Simon Allender and Pam O’Brien from NSW DEC offices, Mark McGaw, Tim Sears, Col Elphick, Ian Klingham and Kevin Baker from RLPB offices, and landholders Lindsey Butt, Geoff McFarlane, Tony O’Shea, Andrew Bain and John Betts, and Bruce Hazell from Bookham Agricultural Bureau. We also thank Stephen Naven of NSW DEC for providing coverages of RLPB districts, national parks and state forests. We thank David Bearup (NSW DEC) for being one observer and Ian Porter (Reid Heliwork) for piloting the helicopter. The feasibility study and survey were funded by NSW DEC. We also thank Joshua Gilroy (NSW DEC) for his encouragement and support of this project. The manuscript was improved by comments and suggestions by two anonymous referees.


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