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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, 6
ei<strong>the</strong>r by preying upon <strong>the</strong>m or by competition <strong>and</strong> habitat degradation. Rabbits, goats, buffalo, donkeys, pigs, horses, <strong>and</strong> <strong>feral</strong> cattle – in <strong>the</strong> approximate order listed - have caused major l<strong>and</strong>scape degradation. Banteng, red deer <strong>and</strong> chital deer have caused significant l<strong>and</strong> degradation more locally. Feral mammals, unlike o<strong>the</strong>r groups <strong>of</strong> exotic vertebrates, occur throughout <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s. There are vast tracts <strong>of</strong> inl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> north-western Australia that do not support introduced birds, reptiles, amphibians or fish, but <strong>the</strong>re are no Rangel<strong>and</strong>s areas, apart from some mangrove forests, that do not support exotic mammals. Most localities support several species, <strong>of</strong>ten half a dozen or more. Feral mammals have permanently transformed Australia. Ho<strong>of</strong>ed mammals are now <strong>the</strong> largest <strong>animals</strong> in most terrestrial habitats in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s. Foxes <strong>and</strong> cats are now <strong>the</strong> main mammalian predators. Most habitats are missing several native mammals because <strong>of</strong> predation by <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong>. Many l<strong>and</strong>scapes are permanently eroded by <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong>. As a threatening process, <strong>feral</strong> mammals are most harmful to o<strong>the</strong>r mammals, <strong>and</strong> to plants. Very few birds are threatened by <strong>feral</strong> mammals within <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s (<strong>the</strong> Malleefowl is a noteworthy exception). No reptiles or amphibians are threatened by <strong>feral</strong> mammals within <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s, apart from marine <strong>and</strong> freshwater turtles, which lose eggs to foxes, dingoes <strong>and</strong> pigs, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Great Desert skink, which apparently suffers predation from <strong>feral</strong> predators. Turtles appear to be particularly susceptible to egg predation from exotic mammals, <strong>and</strong> this is a major cause for concern (Section 7). Regrettably, this survey has found that eight species <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal are increasing <strong>the</strong>ir range within <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> two species have newly colonised (Table 1). The blackbuck <strong>and</strong> Rattus tanezumi (see under Black Rat) may also represent new colonists but information is lacking. Table 1 Exotic mammals in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s that are exp<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>the</strong>ir range or newly colonising it. Exp<strong>and</strong>ing in range Where Scale <strong>of</strong> problem Black Rat Red Fox Pig One-humped Camel Swamp Buffalo Feral Cow Fallow Deer Chital Deer NT (Kakadu) NT (?) <strong>and</strong> Qld NT (Top End) WA, NT NT (Arnhem L<strong>and</strong>) WA (Kimberley) NSW, QLD NSW, QLD 7 Low (?) High (?) Locally high High Locally high High Medium High New to <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s Where Scale <strong>of</strong> problem Red Deer Rusa Deer NSW, QLD NSW, QLD High High Insufficient information Where Scale <strong>of</strong> Problem Blackbuck Rat (Rattus tanezumi) Spreading in QLD? Present in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s? Unknown Low
Page 1: Review of<
Page 4 and 5: Contributors Andrew Norris Pest Ani
Page 6 and 7: 3.7.36 Common Myna (Acridot
Page 8 and 9: Table of figures F
Page 10 and 11: Section 2 Introduction Feral <stron
Page 12 and 13: Amanda Dimmock, QD
Page 16 and 17: 3.4 Birds Thirteen (or 14) species
Page 18 and 19: Information on the
Page 20 and 21: Summary A rodent that contributes t
Page 22 and 23: Dingoes can become a threat to wild
Page 24 and 25: The significance of</strong
Page 26 and 27: macropods and b<st
Page 28 and 29: ^Lasiorhinus krefftii North
Page 30 and 31: Perceived threat Geopsittacus occid
Page 32 and 33: conservation areas. It is less clea
Page 34 and 35: Table 8 Rare species found in <stro
Page 36 and 37: Competition Several examples are re
Page 38 and 39: In truth, camels do substantial dam
Page 40 and 41: the Tanami. Buffal
Page 42 and 43: The situation today Buffalo numbers
Page 44 and 45: qualify under IUCN criteria as enda
Page 46 and 47: 3.7.16 Goat (Capra hircus) Summary
Page 48 and 49: Drakonorchis drakeoides Hinged Drag
Page 50 and 51: 3.7.19 Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Su
Page 52 and 53: Impacts Much is known about <strong
Page 54 and 55: Distribution Ostriches have won <st
Page 56 and 57: nest in tree hollows along
Page 58 and 59: Distribution The skylark is found i
Page 60 and 61: Distribution The blackbird is wides
Page 62 and 63: 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
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Summary of <strong
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time comes for the
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Summary of <strong
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Individual tracking Tracking is a l
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SA - Currently cats are not widely
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Method of control
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Aerial shooting Aerial shooting can
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Summary of <strong
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80% of export was
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ensuring effective treatment <stron
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the lower cost, wi
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5.8 Management of
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conservation value rathe</s
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effort on the cont
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5.9 Management of
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follow transect lines, one kilometr
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as a refuge from predators. Removal
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Summary of <strong
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was completed it was the</s
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warren structure amenable to recolo
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Poisons Traditionally, strychnine,
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infected and steri
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of high priority.
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Method of control
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5.11 Management of
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technique can allow for cost-effect
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Summary of <strong
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In South Australia, between 30 <str
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Summary of <strong
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% respondents 100% 90% 80% 70% 60%
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a) b) Figure 3. a) Extent o
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Figure 4 Response frequency for lik
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distribution of <s
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Section 7 Key problems and<
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• Goats degrading temperate woodl
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conservation problems in Europe <st
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message that camels are a valuable
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In the Koolatong R
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environmental degradation’ (Nor<s
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ecause dingo and d
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Various control methods have been a
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Pascale Taplin, an Indigenous L<str
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Lack of a Strategi
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eradicated after seeing the
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In some situations, payment <strong
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could have led to better protocols
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Game hunting is a growing business,
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Much as we might like it, t
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conservation outcome. In such a sit
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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
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Wet Tropics Expansion and</
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Avon Protecting and</strong
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