Red and western grey kangaroos were surveyed from the air in Western Australia during the winter of
1981. The area covered, 1 528 000 km2 or 61% of the State, excluded only the Kimberleys in the north
and the Gibson and Great Sandy Deserts of the interior. Hence almost all kangaroo range within the
State was surveyed, to provide an estimate of 980 000 reds and 436 000 greys. Densities were much
lower than those of the eastern States. Red kangaroos were most abundant in mulga shrubland,
chenopod shrubland and tussock grassland, and least abundant in hummock grassland. Densities were
associated strongly with land-use categories, being high in areas used for extensive sheep grazing and low
in vacant Crown Land and arable land. In contrast to reds the western grey kangaroos were confined to
the south and west of the state, their distribution being related more directly to climate than to
vegetation or land use. They live in the winter rainfall zone. We suggest that their restricted breeding
season results in peak nutritional demands associated with lactation, and hence energy requirements,
being synchronized with the spring flush of pasture following winter rains. Approximately 14% of the
red kangaroo and 8% of the western grey kangaroo populations in Western Australia were harvested
legally in 1981.
Assessing the spatial and temporal organization of Red Kangaroo, Western Grey Kangaroo and Eastern Grey Kangaroo populations in eastern Australia using multivariate autoregressive state‐space models
