A capture technique for free-ranging eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) habituated to humans

Abstract

Available methods to capture free-ranging kangaroos differ in ease of use, selectivity, risk of injury and suitability to specific environments. We describe a simple technique involving the syringe from a ‘jabstick’ attached to an extendable, aluminium pole. We also examine responses of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) to a range of doses of Zoletil®. We captured 307 eastern grey kangaroos that were habituated to humans in Victoria, Australia, from November 2007 to October 2009. We approached kangaroos on foot, and injected the hind limb muscle mass with the pole syringe extended up to 4.85 m. We used Zoletil® 100 at a dose rate of 4.1 ± 1.3 mg kg–1 (mean ± s.d., n = 274). Induction was rapid (4.3 ± 2.0 min, n = 185) and only weakly related to dose (r2 = 0.06). There was no clear relationship between age, sex or body condition and induction time. This pole syringe technique can be successfully and safely used wherever animals can be approached closely, regardless of body condition. The technique provides an effective means to immobilise habituated kangaroos for research and management.