Microchips for macropods: First use of a microchip-automated door by a bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata)

Sabrina J Muns; Julia M Hoy; Peter J Murray

doi:10.1002/zoo.21419

Microchips for macropods: First use of a microchip-automated door by a bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata)

Zoo Biol. 2018 Jun 19. doi: 10.1002/zoo.21419. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Sabrina J Muns¹, Julia M Hoy², Peter J Murray^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
² Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre, The University of Queensland, Grandchester, Queensland, Australia.

PMID: 29923213
DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21419

Abstract

Commercially available microchip-automated devices for companion animals also have potential application with captive wildlife. To explore this potential, a captive bridled nailtail wallaby was trained to use a SureFlap Microchip Pet Door. Throughout the 62 day study the wallaby's interactions with the door increased in frequency and intensity, culminating in the repeated use of the microchip-automated door. This was the first record of any captive macropod being trained to use a microchip-automated device and demonstrates proof-of-concept that captive macropods can successfully utilize commercially available microchip-automated devices. Further research is recommended to develop methodology and evaluation techniques for training captive macropods while also exploring intra- and inter-species variations in responses.

Keywords: automation; captive wildlife; microchip; radio-frequency identification (RFID).