A novel observation of dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) attacking a swimming eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)

Purcell, Brad

doi:10.1071/am10001

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Domestic sheep have no antipredatory defences of any consequence against wild dogs but kangaroos use size (Shepherd ), speed and stamina to avoid predation. When in water (Corbett & Newsome ; Purcell ) or backed against structures that prevent wild dogs from attacking from behind (Thomson ), adult kangaroos will use their claws and powerful hind feet to defend themselves and will sometimes kill wild dog attackers. Cattle also have a variety of antipredatory behaviours that dissuade wild dogs from attacking calves.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic and functional responses of wild dogs to poison baiting

Allen¹

2015

Eco Management Restoration

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Summary Lethal control of wild dogs -that is Dingo (Canis lupus dingo) and Dingo/ Dog (Canis lupus familiaris) hybrids -to reduce livestock predation in Australian rangelands is claimed to cause continental-scale impacts on biodiversity. Although top predator populations may recover numerically after baiting, they are predicted to be functionally different and incapable of fulfilling critical ecological roles. This study reports the impact of baiting programmes on wild dog abundance, age structures and the prey of wild dogs during large-scale manipulative experiments. Wild dog relative abundance almost always decreased after baiting, but reductions were variable and short-lived unless the prior baiting programme was particularly effective or there were follow-up baiting programmes within a few months. However, age structures of wild dogs in baited and nil-treatment areas were demonstrably different, and prey populations did diverge relative to nil-treatment areas. Re-analysed observations of wild dogs preying on kangaroos from a separate study show that successful chases that result in attacks of kangaroos by wild dogs occurred when mean wild dog ages were higher and mean group size was larger. It is likely that the impact of lethal control on wild dog numbers, group sizes and age structures compromise their ability to handle large difficult-to-catch prey. Under certain circumstances, these changes sometimes lead to increased calf loss (Bos indicus/B. taurus genotypes) and kangaroo numbers. Rangeland beef producers could consider controlling wild dogs in high-risk periods when predation is more likely and avoid baiting at other times.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic and functional responses of wild dogs to poison baiting

Allen¹

2015

Eco Management Restoration

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“…Dogs surrounding both sites were observed, and predation of a wallaroo Macropus robustus by dogs was reported at the natural site during the study period (personal communication Simone Brooks). Dingoes Canis familiaris have been reported to attack eastern grey kangaroos (Purcell 2010). Since dogs are present at both sites, the increased vigilance at the developed site is more likely to be related to human activity and landscape differences than predation.…”

Section: A) C) B) D)mentioning

confidence: 98%

Town roo, country roo: a comparison of behaviour in eastern grey kangaroos Macropus giganteus in developed and natural landscapes

Green-Barber

Old

2018

Australian Zoologist

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Many species have adapted their behaviour to survive in anthropogenically developed environments (hereafter referred to as developed). Eastern grey kangaroos Macropus giganteus are common in developed areas, however very few studies have evaluated their behavioural adaptations to developed landscapes. This study compared the behaviour of eastern grey kangaroos in a developed environment to those surrounded by a natural environment. Data were collected using infra-red camera traps that recorded one minute videos. Population density was calculated using pellet counts. The population of eastern grey kangaroos at the developed site had a higher density, spent more time in larger groups, and had an earlier peak activity time than those at the natural site. More vigilance and less feeding were observed at the developed site. A positive relationship between population density and group size was observed. The higher population density at the developed site is likely to be due to increased resources and restricted dispersal. Kangaroos in developed environments may be active earlier in the day in response to human activity occurring later in the day, and artificial lighting (street lighting) likely impacted nocturnal activity. Increased vigilance may be due to increased human activity, and visual barriers in developed landscapes that reduce the line of sight. Reduced feeding time is probably due to the increased nutritional content of pasture grasses at the developed site. Knowledge of the behavioural differences of kangaroos in developed areas will assist in designing management strategies.

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“…Plenty Gorge Parklands and Yan Yean Reservoir Catchment) were exposed to incursions by domestic Dog ( Canis lupus ) from neighbouring farms and suburbs at times, but only Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve had a resident population of Dingo ( C. l. dingo ), which are capable of killing adult kangaroos (e.g. Purcell 2010).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early warning signs of population irruptions in Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)

Wilson¹,

Coulson²

2021

Eco Management Restoration

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SummaryLeft unchecked, macropods (kangaroos and wallabies) can exhibit irruptive population dynamics, rising rapidly to a peak, then crashing when overwhelmed by inadequate resources. This predictable population trajectory frequently leads to overabundance issues, particularly in peri‐urban parks and nature reserves. Management decisions are usually guided by estimates of population density, which can be difficult to obtain, sometimes inaccurate and often inadequate because long‐term data are needed to estimate population growth. Alternatively, density‐dependent vital rates could be used to predict the growth trajectory of a population before management issues become evident. We applied a framework of sequential changes in vital rates to examine potential indicators of population growth trajectory. We sampled 16 populations of Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) in south‐eastern Australia. Using a range of methods, we measured one vital rate (female reproductive rate) and one surrogate rate (adult sex ratio). As population density increased before irruptive peaks, female reproductive rate (90% breeding) was higher than during post‐peak declines (66% breeding). Similarly, sex ratios in increasing populations were at parity and then became more female‐biased (65% females) after peaks. These variables are readily measured in small parks and reserves, and therefore offer promising indicators of population growth trajectory, which can be used to forecast management issues and initiate timely management actions.

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A novel observation of dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) attacking a swimming eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)

Cited by 10 publications

References 29 publications

Demographic and functional responses of wild dogs to poison baiting

Demographic and functional responses of wild dogs to poison baiting

Town roo, country roo: a comparison of behaviour in eastern grey kangaroos Macropus giganteus in developed and natural landscapes

Early warning signs of population irruptions in Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)

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