Review of the management of feral animals and their impact on ...

Section 3 A status review <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> in <strong>the</strong>
Rangel<strong>and</strong>s
3.1 Species covered
House Mouse Brown Rat Black Rat
Dingo Red Fox Cat
Rabbit European Hare Horse
Donkey Pig One-humped Camel
Swamp Buffalo Bali Banteng Cow
Goat Blackbuck Fallow Deer
Red Deer Sambar Deer Rusa Deer
Chital Deer Ostrich Helmeted Guinea-fowl
Mallard Rock Dove Laughing Turtle-dove
Spotted Turtledove Barbary Dove Skylark
House Sparrow Nutmeg Mannikin European Goldfinch
Common Blackbird Common Starling Common Myna
Asian House Gecko Flowerpot Snake Cane Toad
3.2 Introduction
Nearly all exotic vertebrates found within <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s are described here, <strong>and</strong>
<strong>the</strong>ir <strong>impact</strong> on biodiversity is summarised. The information on <strong>impact</strong>s derives
largely upon interviews with more than 40 biodiversity managers <strong>and</strong> pest managers
(see page 8) working for state <strong>and</strong> federal agencies. (More than 100 reports <strong>and</strong>
journal articles were consulted as well). By drawing upon a wide pool <strong>of</strong> experts
working across <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>the</strong> assessments <strong>of</strong> <strong>impact</strong>s are more current than
would be possible if reports <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r publications were <strong>the</strong> main source <strong>of</strong> data.
Indeed, many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> problems identified here are not adequately documented in <strong>the</strong>
published literature. The information presented here provides <strong>the</strong> basis for Section 7
which identifies gaps in spending on <strong>feral</strong> animal <strong>management</strong>.
This chapter begins with sections that summarise each vertebrate class before
describing species individually.
Species listed on Schedule 1 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Endangered Species Protection Act 1992, as
facing a threat or perceived threat from a particular <strong>feral</strong> animal, are listed under that
<strong>feral</strong> animal. These lists have been edited to remove species that do not occur in <strong>the</strong>
Rangel<strong>and</strong>s. The lists are not comprehensive, <strong>and</strong> not necessarily accurate.
3.3 Mammals
Twenty two species <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> mammal are thought to occupy <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s today.
(The presence <strong>of</strong> one species, <strong>the</strong> Brown Rat, has not been confirmed but seems
highly likely). Australia has more introduced mammals than introduced birds, reptiles,
or amphibians <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir overall <strong>impact</strong>s have been far greater. Foxes <strong>and</strong> cats are
believed to have caused or contributed to various extinctions <strong>of</strong> marsupials <strong>and</strong> native
rodents. Foxes, cats, pigs <strong>and</strong> goats pose a threat to various rare <strong>animals</strong> <strong>and</strong>/or plants,
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