Commonly Observed Native Animals in the NT
Agile wallaby (Macropus agilis)
Family: Macropodidae
Other names: Sandy wallaby, Kimberley wallaby, Jungle wallaby, Grass wallaby, River wallaby.
Conservation Status
- Australia: Least Concern
- NT: Least Concern
Description
The Agile wallaby is the most common wallaby in northern Australia. It grows to 65cm and 80cm in height for females and males respectively. It is a pale sandy colour with a distinctive darker stripe from the nose to eye. They also have a lighter stripe on their thigh. They have black tips on their ears and tail.
Distribution
Agile wallabies are found throughout coastal northern Australia including the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory. Agile wallabies are also native to Papua New Guinea, however their populations there are at risk from over hunting.
Preferred habitat for the species is along rivers in open forest and grasslands; in the NT they also inhabit coastal sand dunes and inland hills. In floods wallabies will retreat to higher ground. In the NT wallabies are attracted to fresh green grasses and easily accessible roots on land regenerating after fire.
Ecology
The Agile wallaby’s diet consists of native grasses, grass roots and some leaves. They particularly like Coolabah leaves and fruits of Leichhardt trees and native figs. In urban areas, feeding from humans has meant the species has lost fear of humans, and in some cases, males have become aggressive towards people.
Agile wallabies are social animals, living in groups of up to ten individuals, but can be seen in larger mobs where food is available. This species can breed throughout the year, only one young is produced each time. As with all macropods, Agile wallabies have a short pregnancy period of only 30 days after which the young is kept in the pouch for 7-8 months and leaves the pouch at 10-12 months. Female wallabies generally mate again soon after giving birth but the new embryo remains dormant until the pouch becomes available.
Potential Threats
Agile wallabies are decreasing in population size, however they are still classed as secure due their large home range and ability to increase in population size when conditions are good.
In the past, when numbers were high, over-hunting and poisoning campaigns in WA and NT reduced wallaby numbers significantly. In Darwin, the City Council has observed large population fluctuations due to changes in habitat quality and has written a management plan to conserve the population of Agile wallabies at East Point Reserve.
One threat to the species is an illegal commercial trade of the species in northern Australia. It is illegal to hunt, keep or trade Agile wallabies or any other native species without a relevant permit.
Impacts
Agile wallabies can also be seen as a pest to agriculture, quickly inhabiting irrigated areas in large numbers and browsing on crops and pastures.
