Cinci Kangaroos

​Cincinnati Kangaroo Behavior: Do the 9 CZBG Kangaroos spend more time inside the shelter or outside in the exhibit during zoo hours?

Hotspot

Where is the Western Grey and Red Kangaroos native range?

Native range and Climate

Western Grey Kangaroos are native to the southern region of Australia, and Red Kangaroos are native to western/central Australia (Australian Wildlife Journeys, n.d.).
Central Australia is made up mostly of a desert climate zone with some grasslands and temperate zones to the South


Australian Wildlife Journeys. (n.d.). Climate & Seasons. Australian Wildlife Journeys. https://australianwildlifejourneys.com/plan-your-trip/climate-and-seasons#:~:text=Desert%20arid%20and%20semi%2Darid,%C2%B0C%20in%20the%20winter.

Red and Western Gray Native regions

According to Austin & Ramp, Kangaroos in the wild vary in their amount of interactions with people; some groups around campsites and golf courses show no reservation when approaching people, and others actively avoid humans. This study also observed groups are larger where there is an absence of hunters (a characteristic that would be shared in a zoo exhibit).




Austin, C. M., & Ramp, D. (2019). Behavioural Plasticity by Eastern Grey Kangaroos in Response to Human Behaviour. Animals, 9(5). https://doi-org.proxy.lib.miamioh.edu/10.3390/ani9050244

Kangaroo Behavior in the Wild: people

A previous study done in the Melbourne and Healesville zoos in Australia showed that visitor number did not impact the stress levels or avoidance behavior that Kangaroos exhibited.






Sherwen, S. L., Hemsworth, P. H., Butler, K. L., Fanson, K. V., & Magrath, M. J. L. (2015). Impacts of visitor number on Kangaroos housed in free‐range exhibits. Zoo Biology, 34(4 pp.287–295), 287–295. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.miamioh.edu/10.1002/zoo.21226

Kangaroo Behavior in zoos: people

Prior research indicates that other zoo kangaroos have minimal interactions with each other, possibly due to an established hierarchy (Cicala et al., 1970).
According to CZBG employees, there is an established hierarchy amongst the 9 kangaroos seen in the exhibit.




Cicala, G., Albert, I., & Ulmer, F. (1970). Sleep and other behaviours of the red kangaroo (Megaleia rufa). Animal Behaviour, 18

(Part 4), 787-790. doi:10.1016/0003-3472(70)90027-8

Kangaroo Behavior in Zoos: Other Roos

Question and Observe

They had a shelter with a door open that was hard to see into.
Kangaroos spent a lot of time in the sand and shade.
Kangaroos were swatting at flies with their paws and ears.
Trees were wrapped with chain-link
Branches laid in grass for them.
How much time do they spend outside?
Why are the trees wrapped?
Are they vegetarian?
Why do they lay in the sand?

Uncover Comparative Questions

Do the 9 kangaroos at the CZBG spend more time in their shelter or outside in the exhibit area during zoo hours?

Poll

What do you think?

• CZBG roos spend more time in the shelter

• CZBG roos spend more time out in the exhibit

• There is no difference; they spend time in both areas

Explore Predictions

Prediction: The Cincinnati Kangaroos spend more time out in the exhibit than in the Shelter during zoo hours. (Rosa and Julie)
Null Hypothesis: There is no significant difference between the number of Roos that hang out in and outside the shelter during zoo hours. (Meghan and Jeff)

Start Action Plan/Gather Data

Methods

1. When in the Kangaroo area, count the number of roos inside the shelter and outside in the open every 5 minutes (Julie, Rosa)

2. In addition to how many roos are in which location, record temperature (from Apple Weather App) and weather condition (Rain or No Rain). (Jeff)

3. Analyze data to see if there is a significant difference of the number of roos inside and outside the shelter. (Meghan)

Start Action Plan/Gather Data

Materials

1. Notebook, pen, phone/clock, Apple Weather App, Google Sheets, Social Science Statistics Website, Kangaroo exhibit (all 9 roos)

Start Action Plan/Gather Data

Data

​# Data points	​Avg. Temp (F)	​Avg. in Shelter	​Avg. Out shelter	​STDEV in Shelter	​STDEV out Shelter
​25	​77.56	​0.64	​8.36	​0.7	​0.7

Start Action Plan/Gather Data

Data

Start Action Plan/Gather Data

Data: Chi-Squared test

​	​Observed	​Expected	​Difference	​Diff. Sq./ EXp Fr.	​Diff. Sq./Exp Fr.
​INSIDE	​16	​113	​-97	​9409	​83.27
​OUTSIDE	​209	​112	​97	​9409	​84.01

​Chi-Squared value: 167.274
P-value 0.00001 << 0.05
Significant difference!

Think hard and Share!

Kangaroos at the Cincinnati zoo tend to spend more time outside. Zoo keepers and designers can use this to ensure enrichment opportunities are ample outside of the shelter.
As foraging animals, Kangaroos need a large amount of space in order to graze and engage in behavior that they would exhibit in the wild (Fowler, n.d.).

Fowler, A. (n.d.). Pasture management for Growing Kangaroos. Australian Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference. https://www.awrc.org.au/uploads/5/8/6/6/5866843/fowler.pdf

Variables

In this observational study, we did not manipulate any variables, only measured the number of kangaroos in or out of the shelter every 5 minutes.
Confounding variables we believe could affect these numbers are:
Number of guests and small children, weather, temperature, open/closed door, temperament of kangaroos, health of kangaroos.

Further Questions/Wonderings

Do they spend more time outside because of the access to sand?
How do the number of people in the exhibit affect how many kangaroos go in the shelter?
Does weather and/or temperature affect how many kangaroos go in the shelter?

Conclusion

Kangaroos spend significantly more time outside in the exhibit than inside the shelter. This is important for zoo keepers and designers to be made aware of to build environments for them.
We ran into a number of obstacles in this process, but, this shows that inquiry is a fluid, organic journey that we can still engage in, even when we have to pivot!

References

Austin, C. M., & Ramp, D. (2019). Behavioural Plasticity by Eastern Grey Kangaroos in Response to Human Behaviour. Animals, 9(5). https://doi-org.proxy.lib.miamioh.edu/10.3390/ani9050244

Australian Wildlife Journeys. (n.d.). Climate & Seasons. Australian Wildlife Journeys. https://australianwildlifejourneys.com/plan-your-trip/climate-and-seasons#:~:text=Desert%20arid%20and%20semi%2Darid,%C2%B0C%20in%20the%20winter.

Cicala, G., Albert, I., & Ulmer, F. (1970). Sleep and other behaviours of the red kangaroo (Megaleia rufa). Animal Behaviour, 18(Part 4), 787-790. doi:10.1016/0003-3472(70)90027-8

Fowler, A. (n.d.). Pasture management for Growing Kangaroos. Australian Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference. https://www.awrc.org.au/uploads/5/8/6/6/5866843/fowler.pdf

Sherwen, S. L., Hemsworth, P. H., Butler, K. L., Fanson, K. V., & Magrath, M. J. L. (2015). Impacts of visitor number on Kangaroos housed in free‐range exhibits. Zoo Biology, 34(4 pp.287–295), 287–295. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.miamioh.edu/10.1002/zoo.21226

Questions?