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

Various control methods have been applied in a localised or ad hoc way, but <strong>the</strong>re is
no satisfactory on-going control <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> pigs on <strong>the</strong> Peninsula. Aerial baiting with
1080 poses a high risk <strong>of</strong> killing non-target species such as goannas. At one site near
Weipa, nest guards are put over nests by a tourist group, but only on a very small
scale (M. read, pers. comm.). At Mapoon, one Indigenous community has been
putting mesh over a small number <strong>of</strong> nests, but Col Limpus describes this as ‘hellishly
labour intensive’. He says <strong>the</strong> best recent control action was an aerial shoot by <strong>the</strong>
Australian Quarantine <strong>and</strong> Inspection Service (AQIS)last year. Because pigs are
vectors <strong>of</strong> serious diseases, including Japanese encephalitis, which appeared in Torres
Strait a few years ago <strong>and</strong> caused two human deaths, <strong>the</strong>ir presence on <strong>the</strong> Cape in
large numbers, is a serious quarantine issue. Aerial shooting from a helicopter is <strong>the</strong>
best option. The l<strong>and</strong> is mostly Aboriginal l<strong>and</strong> or mining lease. A program <strong>of</strong>
coordinated long-term culling <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> pigs on Cape York Peninsula, in co-operation
with AQIS, is urgently required. Mining companies holding leases along some
stretches <strong>of</strong> coastline may be willing to assist.
Olive Ridleys <strong>and</strong> flatbacks also nest along <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory coast but predation
by pigs is not a concern <strong>the</strong>re, even though pig numbers are high (R. Chatto pers.
comm.). Excavation <strong>of</strong> turtle eggs is a learned behaviour which Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory
pigs seem mostly unaware <strong>of</strong>.
7.1.10 Dingoes <strong>and</strong> dogs in <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory
Dingoes <strong>and</strong> dogs are preying on <strong>the</strong> eggs <strong>of</strong> endangered Olive Ridley turtles <strong>and</strong>
vulnerable flatback Turtles along <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory coast east <strong>of</strong> Darwin (R.
Chatto pers. comm.). Ray Chatto <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> NT Parks & Wildlife Commission is
preparing a report on this matter which may recommend dog control at particularly
important sites, nearly all <strong>of</strong> which occur on indigenous l<strong>and</strong>s. Dogs are much fewer
in number along <strong>the</strong> north Queensl<strong>and</strong> coast <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y do not pose a threat to turtle
eggs <strong>the</strong>re (M. Read pers. comm.).
7.1.11 Foxes, pigs, dingoes <strong>and</strong> cats in Queensl<strong>and</strong>
A new report, recently completed for <strong>the</strong> Queensl<strong>and</strong> Government, identifies
predation by foxes, pigs, dingoes <strong>and</strong> cats as threatening <strong>the</strong> future <strong>of</strong> two endangered
turtle species, <strong>the</strong> Burnett River snapping turtle (Elseya albigula) <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Fitzroy
River turtle (Rheodytes leukops) (C. Limpus, pers. comm.). These turtles are now
failing to breed properly because <strong>the</strong>ir communal nesting sites along river banks are
now heavily exploited by foxes, pigs, dingoes, cats, goannas <strong>and</strong> water rats.
According to Col Limpus (pers. comm.) well over 90 per cent <strong>of</strong> nests are being lost
to predation, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> turtle population now consists almost entirely <strong>of</strong> adults, with no
juveniles recruiting into <strong>the</strong> population. The Fitzroy River turtle is listed under <strong>the</strong>
EPBC act as vulnerable, while <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r species is not listed because it has only
recently been described, but both species qualify as endangered on this new evidence.
Long-term programs to control predators are urgently required, but <strong>the</strong> protocols have
not been developed yet. Foxes, dingoes <strong>and</strong> pigs are worse predators than cats (C.
Limpus) although <strong>the</strong> latter can easily be shot at night using spotlights. Goannas have
emerged as a problem because <strong>the</strong>y now forage more intensively along river banks
than previously, because vegetation away from rivers has been cleared. Both species
<strong>of</strong> turtle occupy <strong>the</strong> Fitzroy-Dawson River catchment in central coastal Queensl<strong>and</strong>.
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