Terrifying tourists and wary wallabies: responses of macropodid species to the presence of humans

Abstract

The responses of four species of macropodid to humans at a wildlife sanctuary were investigated experimentally. Bridled Nailtail Wallabies Onychogalea faenata, Red-necked Wallabies Macropus rufogriseus and Swamp Wallabies Wallabia bicolor all spent less time feeding, resting, grooming, interacting and more time looking up or moving in the five minutes after being approached by the researcher. Eastern Grey Kangaroos M. giganteus, Red-necked Wallabies and Bridled Nailtail Wallabies fled at shorter distances from an approaching researcher in a vehicle than from a researcher on foot. The proportion of macropodids found in grassland compared with forest was not significantly affected by a recent tour.