Training a wild-born marsupial to use microchip-automated devices: the brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) as proof of concept
M. C. Edwards
A C , J. M. Hoy B , S. FitzGibbon A and P. J. Murray A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.
B Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre, The University of Queensland, Grandchester, Qld 4340, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: megan.edwards@uqconnect.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 41(2) 279-282 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM18017
Submitted: 12 June 2018 Accepted: 18 October 2018 Published: 8 November 2018
Abstract
Microchip-automated feeders and doors allow individualised access to supplementary food and shelter during soft-release of wildlife. A wild-caught brush-tailed phascogale was used to test whether a wild animal could be trained to use microchip-automated devices. The phascogale was trained to use each device in less than a month.
Additional keywords: behaviour, Dasyuridae, marsupial, wildlife management.
References
Butler, K., Paton, D., and Moseby, K. (2018). One-way gates successfully facilitate the movement of burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) through exclusion fences around the reserve. Austral Ecology , .| One-way gates successfully facilitate the movement of burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) through exclusion fences around the reserve.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gibbons, W., and Andrews, K. (2004). PIT tagging: simple technology at its best. Bioscience 54, 447–454.
| PIT tagging: simple technology at its best.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Guy, A. J., and Banks, P. (2012). A survey of current rehabilitation practices for native mammals in eastern Australia. Australian Mammalogy 34, 108–118.
| A survey of current rehabilitation practices for native mammals in eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Guy, A. J., Curnoe, D., and Banks, P. B. (2013). A survey of current mammal rehabilitation and release practices. Biodiversity and Conservation 22, 825–837.
| A survey of current mammal rehabilitation and release practices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hoy, J. M. (2010). The use of implantable RFID microchips as a tool to automate enrichment practices for captive animals. Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Hoy, J. M., Murray, P. J., and Tribe, A. (2010). The potential for microchip-automated technology to improve enrichment practices. Zoo Biology 29, 586–599.
| The potential for microchip-automated technology to improve enrichment practices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jackson, S. (2007). Carnivorous marsupials. In ‘Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management’. (Ed. S. Jackson.) pp. 126–193. (CSIRO: Melbourne.)
Letty, J., Marchandeau, S., and Aubineau, J. (2007). Problems encountered by individuals in animal translocations: lessons from field studies. Ecoscience 14, 420–431.
| Problems encountered by individuals in animal translocations: lessons from field studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Menkhorst, P., Rhind, S. G., and Ellis, M. (2008). Phascogale tapoatafa – The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org/details/summary/16890/0 [accessed 15 August 2016].
Moseby, K. E., Hill, B. M., and Lavery, T. H. (2014). Tailoring release protocols to individual species and sites: one size does not fit all. PLoS One 9, e99753.
| Tailoring release protocols to individual species and sites: one size does not fit all.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Muns, S. J., Hoy, J. M., and Murray, P. J. (2018). Microchips for macropods: first use of a microchip-automated door by a bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata). Zoo Biology 37, 274–278.
| Microchips for macropods: first use of a microchip-automated door by a bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rhind, S. G. (2004). Direct impacts of logging and forest management on the brush-tailed phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa and other arboreal marsupials in a jarrah forest of Western Australia. In ‘Conservation of Australia’s Forest Fauna’. (Ed. D. Lunney.) pp. 639–655. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney.)
SurePetCare (2018). Microchip pet feeder. Available at: http://www.surepetcare.com/en-nz/support/microchip-pet-feeder [accessed 20 October 2018].
Tribe, A., and Brown, P. R. (2000). The role of wildlife rescue groups in the care and rehabilitation of Australian fauna. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 5, 69–85.
| The role of wildlife rescue groups in the care and rehabilitation of Australian fauna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
