Measurement of defaecation rates in captive swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor)

Abstract

An observation trial was conducted on a group of three captive swamp wallabies (<I>Wallabia bicolor</I>) to determine the daily defaecation rate. Total number of pellets produced by wallabies was measured every 24 h, and the trial ran for four consecutive 24-h periods. Wallabies produced a mean of 73.2 ± 13.5 pellets per wallaby per day, with each wallaby producing a mean dry weight of pellets of 66.0 ± 13.9 g per wallaby per day. This is the first accurate estimate of the rate of pellet production by captive swamp wallabies, and will assist future attempts at monitoring this cryptic macropod.