A Trapping and Immobilisation Technique for Small Macropods

Abstract

A technique for trapping and immobilising small macropods is described and tested on forest-dwelling Tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii Desmarest). The trapping method uses wire fencing and a monofilament nylon drop-net. The animals were immobilised with ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine. Tammar wallabies are reputedly hard to catch, but our technique produced higher trapping rates, lower trap-avoidance rates and lower death rates than other methods. In all, 46 Tammars were captured in 29 trap-nights. No deaths occurred during, or in the four weeks following, trapping.