A new study is calling on residents and visitors on the Fraser Coast to submit photos of eastern grey kangaroos to help build a picture of the marsupial’s population in the region.
University of the Sunshine Coast researchers, working with the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, Fraser Coast branch, will use images collected by “citizen scientists” to investigate the threats facing the region’s eastern grey kangaroos.
Urban development, habitat loss and vehicle collisions were all contributing factors in the decline of the species in parts of southeast Queensland in recent decades, UniSC wildlife ecologist Dr Beth Brunton said, but little was known about the full impact on Fraser Coast populations.
“We don’t know how many kangaroos there are in the region and where they occur,” Dr Brunton said.
“By finding their preferred habitat areas and movement patterns we can better understand if populations are disappearing and where they are most at risk.”
The loss of habitat has also led to some negative encounters on the Fraser Coast, including a kangaroo attack at Maaroom last year that caused a woman serious injuries.
Residents and visitors are invited to join two Kangaroos in Focus events hosted by UniSC and Wildlife Queensland, including a free public workshop on June 24, presented by Dr Brunton and UniSC Honours student Nuala McClernon.
The session will include insights on local kangaroo populations and provide some innovative approaches to help them. It will be held from 2pm to 4pm at Building B, UniSC Fraser Coast campus, Old Maryborough Road, Hervey Bay.
University of the Sunshine Coast researchers, working with the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, Fraser Coast branch, will use images collected by “citizen scientists” to investigate the threats facing the region’s eastern grey kangaroos.
The following day on June 25, people are invited to take part in Kangaroo Survey Day, co-ordinated by Wildlife Queensland’s Fraser Coast Branch.
President of Wildlife Queensland Fraser Coast Branch John Williams said the aim was to gather as many kangaroo photos as possible.
“We are asking people to go anywhere they may have seen kangaroos on the Fraser Coast to take photos on their mobile phones on Sunday morning. Dawn is the best time to search for kangaroos,” Mr Williams said.
“Try to get as many kangaroos as possible in the one picture, and remember to keep your distance to stay safe.”
Images of kangaroos can be uploaded to www.FraserCoastKangaroos.wordpress.com. There are also options to record data manually.
The photos will be analysed along with bioclimatic and spatial data as part of Ms McClernon’s UniSC Honours research project, supervised by Dr Brunton and Dr Gabriel Conroy, that aims to help minimise impacts on wildlife.
Dr Brunton said the research would provide important baseline data for Wildlife Queensland and other stakeholders to inform management of kangaroo populations in the region.
“Southeast Queensland has already seen large declines of up to 40 per cent in populations of eastern grey kangaroos, especially in coastal areas where urban development is greatest,” she said.