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

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Game hunting is a growing business, promoted by <strong>the</strong> RIDC, as noted in <strong>the</strong> previous section. Various Australian enterprises advertise over <strong>the</strong> internet <strong>the</strong> hunting opportunities <strong>the</strong>y provide, including blackbuck antelope, buffalo <strong>and</strong> various deer species. A Google search on ‘blackbuck’ (or ‘black buck’) <strong>and</strong> ‘Australia’ produces many hits. The clients who hunt are mainly American <strong>and</strong> European. Foreign hunters are especially interested in species that are seldom available elsewhere including buffalo, blackbuck <strong>and</strong> hog deer. Hog deer were until recently confined to one population in Gippsl<strong>and</strong> but now <strong>the</strong>re are at least nine <strong>feral</strong> populations in three or four states (though none as yet in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s) (Moriarty 2004). Bioclimatic modelling suggests that hog deer could occupy vast tracts <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong> in nor<strong>the</strong>rn <strong>and</strong> eastern Australia (Moriarty 2004). On Cape York Peninsula two hunting enterprises have freed livestock onto unfenced l<strong>and</strong>. Blackbuck antelope, deer <strong>and</strong> Buffalo were released. The release <strong>of</strong> blackbuck was illegal <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>animals</strong> died or were destroyed. Due to recent changes in Queensl<strong>and</strong> law <strong>the</strong> releases <strong>of</strong> deer <strong>and</strong> buffalo did not contravene any law but <strong>the</strong> Queensl<strong>and</strong> Government is now likely to change <strong>the</strong>ir regulations to prevent fur<strong>the</strong>r releases. There is also a report <strong>of</strong> a couple <strong>of</strong> hundred blackbuck seen on Cape York Peninsula (P. Jesser pers. comm.). Governments should be monitoring <strong>the</strong> sport <strong>and</strong> industry <strong>of</strong> hunting to prevent new pest problems arising. The New South Wales Rangel<strong>and</strong>s may soon support <strong>feral</strong> populations <strong>of</strong> Californian quail, pheasant, Chukhar partridge <strong>and</strong> turkeys. There needs to be a better underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> motives <strong>and</strong> goals <strong>of</strong> hunters <strong>and</strong> hunting lodges. Any subsequent changes to legislation <strong>and</strong> policy should take account <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fact that some hunters are mavericks who ignore laws. 182
Section 8 Best practice planning <strong>and</strong> a checklist to assist regional planners 8.1 Best practice planning Over <strong>the</strong> last decade or so, <strong>the</strong> approach to managing <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> has changed. Ra<strong>the</strong>r than trying to kill as many pests as possible, it is now realised <strong>feral</strong> animal <strong>management</strong> needs to be carefully planned <strong>and</strong> co-ordinated. Feral animal control is usually just one aspect <strong>of</strong> an integrated approach to <strong>the</strong> <strong>management</strong> <strong>of</strong> natural resource systems. Ideally, <strong>feral</strong> animal <strong>management</strong> needs to be set within broader regional <strong>and</strong> local <strong>management</strong> plans. Most <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> are highly mobile <strong>and</strong> can readily replace those that are killed in control programs. Unless actions are well planned <strong>and</strong> co-ordinated across a broad area, individual control programs are unlikely to have a lasting effect. When planning pest <strong>management</strong>, <strong>the</strong>re are some important steps that should be considered. 1. Decide if <strong>the</strong>re is a problem <strong>and</strong> exactly what <strong>the</strong> problem is. Clearly underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> in <strong>the</strong> area. Their presence alone may not be enough to require <strong>management</strong>. 2. Determine how big <strong>the</strong> problem is. 3. Who is affected by <strong>the</strong> problem <strong>and</strong> who will take responsibility? Pests don’t respect boundaries <strong>and</strong> all those affected by <strong>the</strong> problem will need to be involved in solving it. Also <strong>the</strong>y will have different views, needs <strong>and</strong> resources. 4. Where is <strong>the</strong> problem? Identify <strong>and</strong> describe <strong>the</strong> area <strong>of</strong> concern 5. Measure <strong>the</strong> problem. This is difficult enough in farml<strong>and</strong>, but it is much more difficult in bushl<strong>and</strong>. Often, much research is needed over a considerable time. 6. Examine all <strong>the</strong> possible solutions to <strong>the</strong> problem <strong>and</strong> decide on a <strong>management</strong> plan. It is necessary to have all those people affected agree to <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> control you are aiming for, <strong>the</strong> timing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> program <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> expected cost. 7. Implement <strong>the</strong> control program. 8. Monitor <strong>the</strong> results <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> program. This must include <strong>the</strong> changes in biodiversity values. It should also include <strong>the</strong> costs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> initial program <strong>and</strong> any ongoing costs <strong>and</strong> improvements in bushl<strong>and</strong> quality as a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> control program. 8.1.1 Eradication or control The objective <strong>of</strong> many <strong>feral</strong> animal control programs in <strong>the</strong> past has been eradication, whe<strong>the</strong>r it is localised or widespread. Eradication is appealing because it requires no ongoing investment in control. To determine if <strong>the</strong> eradication <strong>of</strong> a pest species is possible, six criteria must be addressed (Olsen 1998): • Pests can be killed at a rate faster than <strong>the</strong>y can replace <strong>the</strong>mselves • Immigration can be prevented • All reproductive individuals must be at risk • Monitoring can occur at low densities • The socio-political environment supports eradication • The costs <strong>of</strong> eradication can be justified. 183
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
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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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Page 142 and 143: of high priority.
Page 144 and 145: Method of control
Page 146 and 147: 5.11 Management of
Page 148 and 149: technique can allow for cost-effect
Page 150 and 151: Summary of <strong
Page 152 and 153: In South Australia, between 30 <str
Page 154 and 155: Summary of <strong
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 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<
Page 198 and 199: • Have the non-t
Page 200 and 201: provide opportunities for strategic
Page 202 and 203: Section 9 Priorities for investment
Page 204 and 205: contacted for exact locations <stro
Page 206 and 207: way. Achilles heel research should
Page 208 and 209: efficient in any given situation. R
Page 210 and 211: west Queensland re
Page 212 and 213: Crossland, MR, 199
Page 214 and 215: Forsyth, DM, and P
Page 216 and 217: Lange, RT, and Gra
Page 218 and 219: Morgan, LA and But
Page 220 and 221: Parkes, JP, 1990, Feral goat contro
Page 222 and 223: Van Rensberg, PJJ, Skinner, JD, <st
Page 224 and 225: Appendix A Ferals animals</
Page 226 and 227: Indigenous lands I
Page 228 and 229: Appendix B Stakeholder survey form
Page 230 and 231: 222
Page 232 and 233: 224
Page 234 and 235: 226
Page 236 and 237: Appendix C Database on past NHT fun
Page 238 and 239: 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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