An interim finding of the comprehensive ground survey of Peninsula Eastern Grey Kangaroos (EGK) (conducted by a wide range of local volunteers and archived on iNaturalist) has found a total population of perhaps 2,000, with the bulk occurring in a broad arc from Bushrangers Bay to Greens Bush, Arthurs Seat, and up to Devilbend – plus a resident mob at Cerbrus (see figure).

Assessed kangaroo numbers as of August 10, with each number representing the likely population at that location. Yellow indicates confirmed numbers, blue numbers are initial estimates from areas yet to be fully observed.

This number is comparable to, but lower than the 3,000 obtained by a previous survey for the Shire by Mal Legg in 2007-2011. The differences indicate that the Peninsula population may have declined in the past decade, or perhaps we have not yet found all mobs. This will be checked as the count continues.

The count is much less than a recent 2020 DELWP assessment of 7,000 as part of their Victoria-wide kangaroo count. Their estimates were based on EGK density values for all of Gippsland based on sophisticated interpolation algorithms between aerial observations from helicopter. No data were collected on the Peninsula and the assessment was made on the assumption of a uniform EKG density across all of Gippsland.

Table 1 provides a comparative summary of the CYM and DELWP assessments. It is notable that the kangaroo density estimates are essentially the same, the only real difference is with the area over which kangaroos are found. DELWP assumes an even coverage across the entire Shire outside the heavy bush areas of Greens Bush and Arthurs Seat. This is not consistent with local knowledge and the ground observations collected for CYM.Table 1: Comparison of DELWP and Count Your Mob (CYM) survey results.

Discussions with the Shire, Parks, and DELWP are under way and the results will be reported in future newsletters.

– Article by Greg Holland, Virginia Carter and Mark Mooney – full details here. Many thanks to the many folk who devoted valuable time to contributing observations to CYM. More observations are still needed, particularly in areas on iNaturalist without kangaroos – contact me if help is needed.