DOI: 10.5061/dryad.18931zd9v
title: Assessing physiological, behavioral and movement responses to Suprelorin® implant delivery methods in free-ranging eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus)

description: Overabundant populations of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) in
 peri-urban areas pose ecological and social challenges. Current management
 strategies are often hindered by animal welfare and logistical concerns.
 This study aimed to assess stress responses of kangaroos to two
 contraceptive delivery methods. We assessed physiological and behavioral
 responses of females treated with Suprelorin® (deslorelin acetate)
 implants delivered remotely as an alternative to the traditional
 capture-treatment method. Sexually mature females were assigned to one of
 three groups: SC (4.7 mg implant via subcutaneous injection after
 capture), Dart (4.7 mg implant remotely via dart), and Control (no
 treatment or capture). We used a before-after control-impact framework to
 quantify stress-induced response to both methods through assessment of
 changes in behavior (which may also indicate pain) and fecal
 glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations. Additionally, we assessed
 changes in movement patterns using GPS collars. No significant changes in
 FGM concentrations, behavior, or movement were detected across treatments
 or time periods. During the treatment window (5-9 April 2018), the Dart
 group displayed a temporary reduction in step length while the SC group
 shifted from nocturnal to crepuscular activity, with both groups returning
 to pre-treatment patterns after the treatment window. The SC group showed
 weak evidence of increased vigilance and decreased grooming throughout the
 treatment window, though individual variability was high. Remote dart
 delivery avoids risk associated with sedation and capture and imposes
 fewer behavioral disruptions, presenting a safer alternative for
 administering injectable contraceptives to kangaroos in a peri-urban area.
 Therefore, remote delivery offers a less invasive, more welfare-friendly
 and practically advantageous option for managing overabundant populations.
 Future research should enhance the utility of remote delivery by
 addressing logistical challenges (e.g., identifying treated animals) and
 evaluating efficacy in other species. Adoption of remote delivery
 contraceptives in wildlife management policies could enhance ethical and
 practical management of overabundant populations.
description: # Assessing physiological, behavioral and movement responses to
 Suprelorin® implant delivery methods in free-ranging eastern grey
 kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.18931zd9v](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.18931zd9v) ##
 Description of the data and file structure This dataset is organised
 around a Before-After Control-Impact (BACI) experimental framework to
 assess how two contraceptive delivery methods impact kangaroo movements,
 behavior, and physiological stress. ### Files and variables #### File:
 Data_LAMN.csv **Description:** Contains individual-level data on eastern
 grey kangaroos related to physical metrics, reproductive history, and
 treatment groups. ##### Variables * ID: Unique individual kangaroo
 identifier * Weight_kg: body weight in kilograms * ADG_g: Average daily
 weight gain in grams * Leg_cm: leg length in centimetres * PY_Treat0:
 Pouch young (PY) presence on initial capture * PY_birth_treat: Month of
 birth of pouch young present at time of treatment *
 PY_Season_treat: Season of birth of pouch young present at time of
 treatment * Interbirth_pre: Interval between previous births before
 treatment (days) * Treat1: Assigned contraceptive group * PY_Treat1: Pouch
 young present at the time of treatment * PY_Treat1_bin: Pouch young
 present at the time of treatment binary (1 = present; 0 = absent) *
 PY_age_Treat1: Pouch young age (days) at the time of treatment *
 Interbirth_post_Treat1: Interbirth interval post treatment (days) *
 PY1_post_Treat1: Pouch young birth post treatment (days) *
 PY1_post_Treat1_season: Pouch young birth post treatment (season) *
 Pregnant_Treat1: Female pregnant at treatment * Pregnant_Treat1_bin:
 Female pregnant at treatment binary (1 = pregnant; 0 = not pregnant) *
 Blast_Treat1: Blastocyst at treatment * Blast_Treat1_bin: Blastocyst at
 treatment binary (1 = blastocyst; 0 = no blastocyst) #### File:
 EGK_FGM_Datalong_29Sep24.csv **Description:** dataset of fecal
 glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentration used to measure
 physiological stress responses before and after contraception delivery.
 ##### Variables * ID: animal individual identifier * Treat: Treatment
 group * Treat date: contraceptive delivery date * Pre_Post: indicates
 whether the sample was collected before or after treatment. Pre72 = 72
 hours pre treatment; Pre48 = 48 hours pre treatment; Pre24 = 24 hous pre
 treatment; Post24 = 24 hours post treatment; Post48 = 48 hours post
 treatment; Post72 = 72 hours post treatment.  * Day_time: time of day
 sample was collected * Bef_Aft: binary indicator distinguishing before and
 after treatment periods (0 = pre treatment; 1 = post treatment) * Conc:
 concentration of glucocorticoid metabolites in fecal samples, indicating
 stress levels (ng/g) #### File: GPS_clean.csv **Description:** cleaned
 location tracking data from GPS collars fitted on kangaroos to observe
 movement patterns before and after contraceptive treatment. #####
 Variables * period: before or after treatment * ID: individual kangaroo
 identifier * year, month, day, hour, minute: timestamp for GPS fix * tfix:
 timestamp converted format * x, y: latitude/ longitude #### File:
 Video_behaviours_new_4Sep2024.csv **Description:** behavioral observations
 recorded from video monitoring sessions, assessing kangaroo activity and
 specific behaviours before and after contraceptive treatments. #####
 Variables * ID: individual kangaroo identifier * Date_treat: date of
 treatment * Treat: assignment treatment groups * Time_of_day: observation
 time * Bef_Aft: binary indicator of pre or post treatment period (0 = pre
 treatment; 1 = post treatment) * Vid_duration: duration of video recorded
 (seconds) *
 Grazing_d, Lying_d, Locomotion_d, Standing_d, Grooming_d, Vigilance_d:
 duration spent in each behaviour (seconds) *
 Groom_head_fr, Groom_body_fr, Hopping_fr, Pentapedal_fr, Shake_ears_fr:
 frequencies of discrete behaviours (grooming head, grooming body, hopping,
 pentapedal walk, and shaking ears) during observation sessions Missing
 data in all files are represented by the code NA ## Code/software All
 files are in csv format.