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

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technique can allow for cost-effective location <strong>of</strong> small mobs or donkeys occurring at low-densities, which are <strong>the</strong>n usually culled by aerial shooting. Recreational hunting Recreational hunting can be used to help control <strong>feral</strong> mobs on private l<strong>and</strong>. Many hunting lodges <strong>and</strong> safari operators bring clients out to remote areas to hunt horses <strong>and</strong> donkeys. For example, ‘Hunt Australia Safaris’ runs <strong>feral</strong> animal culls on a large remote property south <strong>of</strong> Darwin (http://www.huntaust.com.au/home.html). Their description <strong>of</strong> a cull is as follows: “We shoot every <strong>feral</strong> animal we see right from <strong>the</strong> Toyota, or within a short walk. It makes very productive hunting with two shooters in one Toyota. We also hunt surrounding properties at <strong>the</strong> same time. In this combined area <strong>the</strong>re are 50,000 <strong>feral</strong> donkeys, horses, camels, dingoes, etc. Although we have taken just over 13,000 donkeys from this property so far, it is not making too much <strong>of</strong> an impression. We still need to reduce <strong>the</strong> remaining numbers dramatically. There is no bag limit, except on camels where a trophy fee applies. We like to hunt two hunters to each guide <strong>and</strong> Toyota as when we come across a big mob <strong>of</strong> donkeys (20 or 30, or up to 60 in a bunch) one shooter simply cannot shoot <strong>the</strong>m all. We let none get away. We always shoot every donkey we see so that <strong>the</strong>re are no escapees.” As <strong>the</strong> excerpt above attests, <strong>the</strong> small <strong>of</strong>f-take <strong>of</strong> recreational hunting rarely has an <strong>impact</strong> on <strong>feral</strong> donkey or horse population numbers. Victoria River District <strong>feral</strong> donkey control program In 2002-2003, to provide environmental benefits <strong>the</strong> Indigenous L<strong>and</strong> Corporation <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> NT Government conducted a <strong>feral</strong> horse <strong>and</strong> donkey eradication program in <strong>the</strong> Victoria River District (VRD). Surveys in 1996 <strong>and</strong> 2001 by <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>n NT Department for L<strong>and</strong>s, Planning <strong>and</strong> Environment indicated that <strong>feral</strong> donkeys <strong>and</strong> horses were in plague proportions across most properties in <strong>the</strong> VRD. Among <strong>the</strong> environmental problems <strong>feral</strong> horses <strong>and</strong> donkeys caused were: • Gully erosion caused <strong>and</strong> exacerbated by <strong>the</strong>ir hard hooves. • Competition with native <strong>animals</strong> for food increases <strong>and</strong> habitat is destroyed. • Waterholes are fouled <strong>and</strong> weeds are introduced to an area through seeds carried in <strong>the</strong>ir dung or manes <strong>and</strong> tails. • The large areas <strong>of</strong> vegetation needed to sustain both native wildlife <strong>and</strong> commercial herds <strong>of</strong> livestock are adversely affected. Thirty-nine properties in <strong>the</strong> VRD region undertook <strong>feral</strong> horse <strong>and</strong> donkey control. Negotiations with <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>holders from most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se properties indicated support for reducing <strong>the</strong> <strong>feral</strong> population across <strong>the</strong> whole region. The NT Government reported at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> 2002 that control works had resulted in <strong>the</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> 103,999 <strong>feral</strong> horses <strong>and</strong> donkeys. The results <strong>of</strong> control are an improvement in biodiversity, ecological integrity <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong> capability, which also improves prospects for sustainable l<strong>and</strong>-based enterprises. A major emphasis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> project was on increasing awareness <strong>and</strong> capacity to prevent a recurrence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> plague. The VRD Conservation Association managed a significant grant from <strong>the</strong> Natural Heritage Trust to assist in reducing <strong>feral</strong> population size. 140
Fertility control Fertility control has also been suggested but has limited application for widespread populations because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> difficulty in delivering <strong>the</strong> fertility agent, which usually has to be administered on a regular basis to ensure ongoing control <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> population. Current <strong>management</strong> NT - In <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn regions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> NT horses <strong>and</strong> donkeys have been effectively managed for <strong>the</strong> last 15 years. Although some mustering does occur, horse <strong>and</strong> donkey populations are usually maintained at low numbers through aerial culling in National Parks <strong>and</strong> some privately managed l<strong>and</strong>s. In <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn regions, <strong>feral</strong> horse <strong>and</strong> donkey control only occurs in <strong>the</strong> Victoria River District. Large numbers have been aerially culled in recent years, however <strong>the</strong> population appears to still be increasing, although at a significantly lower rate. WA - Little integrated <strong>feral</strong> horse <strong>management</strong> occurs. They are only abundant in <strong>the</strong> Kimberley, but <strong>the</strong>ir numbers appear to be restricted by <strong>the</strong> widespread occurrence <strong>of</strong> toxic plants (Dobbie et al. 1993). Low numbers <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> horses are opportunistically shot or captured for use as stock horses by local station managers. Donkeys are more <strong>of</strong> a problem <strong>and</strong> a more strategic <strong>management</strong> approach is taken. Trapping at water sources, a limited pet meat industry <strong>and</strong> aerial shooting are all used to control <strong>the</strong> donkey populations in WA. A concerted effort made in <strong>the</strong> Kimberly region using aerial shooting, reduced <strong>the</strong> donkey population in <strong>the</strong> East Kimberlys by 87% between 1980 <strong>and</strong> 1988. Judas donkeys have also been successfully used <strong>and</strong> it has been estimated that 25 000 were aerially culled between 1995 <strong>and</strong> 2000 using this technique. QLD – Ground shooting is <strong>the</strong> most commonly used control technique <strong>and</strong> has been reported to be successful on a number <strong>of</strong> smaller leases in nor<strong>the</strong>rn Queensl<strong>and</strong> (Dobbie et al. 1993). A small number <strong>of</strong> horses are mustered <strong>and</strong> used for <strong>the</strong> pet meat industry. SA – Little <strong>feral</strong> horse <strong>management</strong> occurs in SA. In <strong>the</strong> north ground shooting is <strong>the</strong> main form <strong>of</strong> control used, <strong>and</strong> limited mustering for sale occurs. During <strong>the</strong> BTEC operations in <strong>the</strong> 1980s shooting from helicopters was used to cull large numbers <strong>of</strong> horses. NSW – Limited control for <strong>feral</strong> horses occurs. In national parks <strong>and</strong> nature reserves, limited success has been had with mustering <strong>and</strong> trapping. Aerial culling was <strong>the</strong> alternative method, but this has recently been stopped due to public outcry by animal liberationists. Management <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> horses <strong>and</strong> donkeys in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s The most cost effective operations with <strong>the</strong> least financial risk, such as trapping on <strong>the</strong> flats, should be conducted first so that <strong>the</strong>y can provide funds for more risky or expensive operations such as helicopter mustering or aerial shooting. Aerial shooting is <strong>the</strong> most effective control method in many areas due to <strong>the</strong> inaccessible terrain. 141
Page 1:
Review of<
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Contributors Andrew Norris Pest Ani
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3.7.36 Common Myna (Acridot
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Table of figures F
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Section 2 Introduction Feral <stron
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Amanda Dimmock, QD
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Section 3 A status review o
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3.4 Birds Thirteen (or 14) species
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Information on the
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Summary A rodent that contributes t
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Dingoes can become a threat to wild
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The significance of</strong
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macropods and b<st
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^Lasiorhinus krefftii North
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Perceived threat Geopsittacus occid
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conservation areas. It is less clea
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Table 8 Rare species found in <stro
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Competition Several examples are re
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In truth, camels do substantial dam
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the Tanami. Buffal
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The situation today Buffalo numbers
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qualify under IUCN criteria as enda
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3.7.16 Goat (Capra hircus) Summary
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Drakonorchis drakeoides Hinged Drag
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3.7.19 Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Su
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Impacts Much is known about <strong
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Distribution Ostriches have won <st
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nest in tree hollows along
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Distribution The skylark is found i
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Distribution The blackbird is wides
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Land, and<
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have been translocated to o
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esources. Significant investment in
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many native species (Clarke et al.
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spread across the
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Section 4 Legislative framework 4.1
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protection, as long as it falls wit
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Native Vegetation Conservation Act
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ehabilitate existing native vegetat
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suppression, which is the</
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al. 1986, 1987). The use of
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5.1.4 Mustering Commercial musterin
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etal. (1997) found that many native
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the vaccine <stron
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Where possible, integration <strong
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strategy, relative cost-effectivene
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Fencing Feral buffalo have a reputa
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5.3 Management of
Page 98 and 99: Summary of <strong
Page 100 and 101: time comes for the
Page 104 and 105: Individual tracking Tracking is a l
Page 106 and 107: SA - Currently cats are not widely
Page 108 and 109: Method of control
Page 110 and 111: Aerial shooting Aerial shooting can
Page 114 and 115: 80% of export was
Page 116 and 117: ensuring effective treatment <stron
Page 118 and 119: the lower cost, wi
Page 120 and 121: 5.8 Management of
Page 122 and 123: conservation value rathe</s
Page 124 and 125: effort on the cont
Page 128 and 129: follow transect lines, one kilometr
Page 130 and 131: as a refuge from predators. Removal
Page 134 and 135: was completed it was the</s
Page 136 and 137: warren structure amenable to recolo
Page 138 and 139: Poisons Traditionally, strychnine,
Page 140 and 141: infected and steri
Page 142 and 143: of high priority.
Page 144 and 145: Method of control
Page 152 and 153: In South Australia, between 30 <str
Page 156 and 157: % respondents 100% 90% 80% 70% 60%
Page 158 and 159: a) b) Figure 3. a) Extent o
Page 160 and 161: Figure 4 Response frequency for lik
Page 162 and 163: distribution of <s
Page 164 and 165: Section 7 Key problems and<
Page 166 and 167: • Goats degrading temperate woodl
Page 168 and 169: conservation problems in Europe <st
Page 170 and 171: message that camels are a valuable
Page 172 and 173: In the Koolatong R
Page 174 and 175: environmental degradation’ (Nor<s
Page 176 and 177: ecause dingo and d
Page 178 and 179: Various control methods have been a
Page 180 and 181: Pascale Taplin, an Indigenous L<str
Page 182 and 183: Lack of a Strategi
Page 184 and 185: eradicated after seeing the
Page 186 and 187: In some situations, payment <strong
Page 188 and 189: could have led to better protocols
Page 190 and 191: Game hunting is a growing business,
Page 192 and 193: Much as we might like it, t
Page 194 and 195: conservation outcome. In such a sit
Page 196 and 197: community consultation and<
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• Have the non-t
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provide opportunities for strategic
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Section 9 Priorities for investment
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contacted for exact locations <stro
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way. Achilles heel research should
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efficient in any given situation. R
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west Queensland re
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Crossland, MR, 199
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Forsyth, DM, and P
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Lange, RT, and Gra
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Morgan, LA and But
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Parkes, JP, 1990, Feral goat contro
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Van Rensberg, PJJ, Skinner, JD, <st
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Appendix A Ferals animals</
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Indigenous lands I
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Appendix B Stakeholder survey form
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222
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224
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226
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Appendix C Database on past NHT fun
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Lachlan Rehabilitation of</
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Northern Territory
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Cape York Ambiilmungu-Ngarra tradit
Page 244 and 245:
Wet Tropics Expansion and</
Page 246 and 247:
Avon Protecting and</strong
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