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

Much as we might like it, <strong>the</strong> widespread eradication <strong>of</strong> most <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> in <strong>the</strong>
Rangel<strong>and</strong>s is currently not possible. Feral species that are newly established or only
occur in isolated populations are <strong>the</strong> only possible targets for eradication. During this
study, localised eradication was identified as practical <strong>and</strong> desirable for <strong>the</strong> species
shown in Table 18. The four deer species are <strong>the</strong> highest priority for eradication (see
Section 7). They occur in small populations at widely separated locations, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>
prospects <strong>of</strong> reinvasion are slight unless <strong>the</strong>re are fur<strong>the</strong>r escapes or releases from
deer farms. The banteng <strong>and</strong> horses inside Garig Gunak Barlu National Park are an
example where eradication is feasible but <strong>the</strong> socio-political environment is not
conducive. Because <strong>the</strong>y are constrained inside a fenced peninsula reinvasion would
not be possible, but <strong>the</strong>ir eradication would be opposed by <strong>the</strong> traditional owners <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> park.
Table 18 Pest populations susceptible to eradication over all or part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir range
within <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s
Pest Animal Location
Bali Banteng
Horse
Fallow Deer
Red Deer
Rusa
Chital
Helmeted Guineafowl
Spotted Turtle-dove
Barbary Dove
Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory
Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory
Inl<strong>and</strong> New South Wales <strong>and</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn Queensl<strong>and</strong>
SA, inl<strong>and</strong> New South Wales <strong>and</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn Queensl<strong>and</strong>
Central <strong>and</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn Queensl<strong>and</strong>
New South Wales, Queensl<strong>and</strong>, Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory
Charters Towers, Broome
Alice Springs
Alice Springs
Where eradication is not feasible <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> control to be implemented needs to be
decided. This will depend upon many factors including available resources, control
tools, <strong>the</strong> objectives for control <strong>and</strong> motivation/community interest. The general
options for control levels include:
1. No control - if numbers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pest are low <strong>and</strong> having only minimal <strong>impact</strong>, it is
only affecting a very small area, <strong>the</strong>re is no satisfactory method <strong>of</strong> control or
control is too expensive. Feral cats are an example <strong>of</strong> a pest that is usually not
subjected to any control in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s. Their <strong>impact</strong> may be substantial but
<strong>the</strong>re is no satisfactory method <strong>of</strong> control. ‘No control’ is an unsatisfactory option
if a pest is increasing in numbers <strong>and</strong> <strong>impact</strong>. Camels have not been adequately
controlled in <strong>the</strong> past <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir populations are now reaching highly destructive
levels. Deer are heading along <strong>the</strong> same trajectory. Buffalo were controlled in <strong>the</strong>
past, but are not adequately controlled at present, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir numbers are also rising
to disconcerting levels. Low numbers <strong>of</strong> a pest should not be used as a
justification for non control if <strong>the</strong> pest is multiplying <strong>and</strong> will incur much higher
costs in future. The age-old principle, ‘A stitch in time saves nine’, applies
especially well to pest control.
2. Management only when a crisis occurs e.g. when hundreds <strong>of</strong> camels congregate
around a desert waterhole during a drought.
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