Macropus giganteus

3 Eastern Grey Kangaroo at Garran, ACT

Request use of media

Identification history

	Macropus giganteus	1 Jan 2020	DonFletcher
	Macropus giganteus	1 Jan 2020	BIrdsinCanberra

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

The Eastern Grey Kangaroo named Dillwyia, which I photographed on 30 November 2019 at 4244232, was still in the same area. She still had a joey in her pouch but she appeared to be tired or weak. She was originally standing when I approached but she reclined when I stopped short of her. I circled around her to get a better position and she stayed reclined the whole time. When I approached a little close she unsteadily got up but did not move, she waited and reclined again in the same spot when it was clear I was not getting any closer. I am unsure if it was her age or just that the heat and smoke, combined with a lack of water, that is making the kangaroos feel weak. There were a lot of kangaroos that were reclining, not unusual in itself, but they did not seem to be in a hurry to move as I walked pass them.

2 comments

DonFletcher wrote:

2 Jan 2020

Is there still a dam with water in it on FGC? I guess there would be.

Due to the drought, kangaroos will be losing condition now in most areas and some of the older ones will die this summer. The shortage of pasture is even evident in the photos. Starving kangaroos let you get closer and are more reluctant to hop away. The FGC kangaroos are very relaxed with people but it seems you have allowed for that. So maybe this is Dilwynnia's last summer? Remember she is old. She will have begun wearing down her 4th and last set of molars. So what grass she does eat will not be properly crushed, i.e. many of the plant cells will pass through her entire and unbroken, meaning she gets less nutrient and energy from a quantity of food than a kangaroo with unworn teeth would get. So she has to chew more food, which wears her teeth more (especially in current conditions with grit in it), and so on.

BIrdsinCanberra wrote:

2 Jan 2020

Hi Don, Many thanks for the information. I suspect you may be right about Dillwyia. I have looked back at the photos from 30 November, and it may just be me, but she does appear to be thinner and more worn in these recent photos. There are still dams on the FGC but the water levels are getting down and, as you observed from the photographs, even the fairways at the FGC are getting yellow. I really appreciate this information Don. For such common animals I know so little about them so your comments have really been very useful for me. I hope Dillwyia can hold on a bit longer but I think Canberra needs some decent rain to help her.

Please Login or Register to comment.