Sprawling urban development is fragmenting the landscape and native wildlife habitats on the Australian east coast. The impact of this rapid urbanization on wildlife health is largely unknown. This study surveyed the health of a high-density (5.4 individuals per ha) population of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) affected by urban encroachment and prolonged drought. Blood parameters (hematological and serum protein), trace element and heavy metal concentrations, and parasite counts (fecal worm egg counts, ticks, and mites) are reported for a sample of ≤ 54 kangaroos at Look at Me Now Headland, New South Wales, Australia. These parameters were compared to lower density kangaroo populations from other sites in New South Wales. We found the health and welfare of this population to be severely compromised, with nonregenerative anemia and nutritional deficiencies evident. Our results indicate that high-density kangaroo populations isolated by urban encroachment are at significant health risk. To prevent further decline in this population’s health, we discuss management strategies that could be employed, concurrent with ongoing health and disease monitoring, to mitigate the poor health outcomes in this population. We conclude that it is essential to retain habitat connectivity when altering land use in areas with resident kangaroo populations if managers are to maintain healthy populations.

中文翻译：

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最大容量的袋鼠：沿海岬角自由放养的东部灰袋鼠的健康评估

庞大的城市发展正在分割澳大利亚东海岸的景观和原生野生动物栖息地。这种快速城市化对野生动物健康的影响在很大程度上是未知的。这项研究调查了受城市侵占和长期干旱影响的高密度（每公顷 5.4 人）东部灰袋鼠 (Macropus giganteus) 种群的健康状况。新南威尔士州 Look at Me Now Headland 的 ≤ 54 只袋鼠样本报告了血液参数（血液学和血清蛋白）、微量元素和重金属浓度以及寄生虫计数（粪便蠕虫卵计数、蜱虫和螨虫），澳大利亚。这些参数与来自新南威尔士州其他地点的低密度袋鼠种群进行了比较。我们发现这些人的健康和福利受到严重损害，伴有明显的非再生性贫血和营养缺乏。我们的研究结果表明，因城市侵占而孤立的高密度袋鼠种群面临着重大的健康风险。为了防止该人群的健康进一步下降，我们讨论了可以采用的管理策略，同时进行持续的健康和疾病监测，以减轻该人群的不良健康结果。我们得出的结论是，如果管理者要维持健康的种群，在改变有袋鼠种群的地区的土地利用时，保持栖息地的连通性至关重要。同时进行持续的健康和疾病监测，以减轻该人群的不良健康结果。我们得出的结论是，如果管理者要维持健康的种群，在改变有袋鼠种群的地区的土地利用时，保持栖息地的连通性至关重要。同时进行持续的健康和疾病监测，以减轻该人群的不良健康结果。我们得出的结论是，如果管理者要维持健康的种群，在改变有袋鼠种群的地区的土地利用时，保持栖息地的连通性至关重要。