Australia's tree-kangaroos: current issues in their conservation

Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi) and Bennett's tree-kangaro o (Dendrolagus bennettianus) are the two largest arboreal folivores in Aust ralia and are both restricted to the tropical rainforests and adjacent fore st communities in North Queensland. Both species display cryptic and secret ive behaviour, and consequently are poorly studied. Bennett's tree-kangaroo s are found within a relatively small area (similar to 2000 km(2)) of the W et Tropics, however the majority of this area is within a protected 'World Heritage Area', and consequently the conservation status of this species is considered moderately safe despite its rarity. The overall distribution of Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo, which is also considered rare, covers a larger a rea (similar to 5500 km(2)), which also has considerable overlap with the ' World Heritage Area' (WHA). Despite this, the species appears to maintain i ts highest densities in forest outside the WHA conservation zone. Lumholtz' s tree-kangaroos are more commonly found in the fragmented forests on the A therton Tablelands, and are often associated with remnant and secondary rai nforests on basalt soils. These forest communities are considered rare and are poorly represented in existing reserves. This paper considers the conse rvation issues for both of these species, but focuses particularly on Lumho ltz's tree-kangaroos for which more data is available. Issues discussed inc lude the loss of habitat outside the World Heritage Area, road deaths of an imals, predation by canids, traditional hunting, and fecundity and recruitm ent. Measures for the conservation of these species are suggested, includin g measures for the retention-of habitat on private land, public education, translocation and captive breeding. The applicability of-research on Austra lian tree-kangaroos to the conservation of the eight species of tree-kangar oos in Papua New Guinea is also considered. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.