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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 33(1)

Fertility control in female eastern grey kangaroos using the GnRH agonist deslorelin. 1. Effects on reproduction

C. A. Herbert A C , T. E. Trigg B and D. W. Cooper A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.

B Peptech Animal Health Pty Limited, Locked Bag No. 2053, Macquarie Park, NSW 1670, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: cathherbert@unsw.edu.au

Wildlife Research 33(1) 41-46 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR04113
Submitted: 9 November 2004  Accepted: 23 November 2005   Published: 7 March 2006

Abstract

Eastern grey kangaroos are widespread on the east coast of Australia and frequently reach high densities in reserves and parkland near urban areas. Management of these populations is highly contentious and non-lethal fertility-control technologies are sought as an alternative option to manage population size. This study evaluated the potential of slow-release gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (deslorelin) implants to inhibit reproduction in female kangaroos. Deslorelin treatment effectively inhibited reproduction in adult females for periods of 559 ± 111 days (n = 6) and 651 ± 21 days (n = 5) after administration of one or two 10-mg implants respectively. Animals treated with the lower dosage tended to resume breeding earlier than those that received a total of 20 mg of deslorelin (minimum duration of 18 months). Deslorelin treatment had no effect on blastocyst reactivation in a single treated female and repeat treatment had no negative side-effects. This study has demonstrated that slow-release deslorelin implants can successfully inhibit reproduction for extended periods in the female eastern grey kangaroos. This approach may have potential application in reproductive management of problem kangaroo populations.


Acknowledgments

This project would not have been possible without the support of Ron Claassens, Anne Mouland and James Cook, whose expertise in macropod handling and husbandry made it possible to work with these animals. Numerous volunteers assisted with the husbandry of the animals. Thank you to Peptech Animal Health Pty Ltd for the generous supply of deslorelin implants. This project was supported by an ARC SPIRT grant awarded to DWC (C00001980). CAH was the recipient of an Australian Postgraduate Award.


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Woodward, R. , Herberstein, M. E. , and Herbert, C. A. (2006). Fertility control in female eastern grey kangaroos using the GnRH agonist deslorelin. 2. Effects on behaviour. Wildlife Research 33, 47–55.