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Section 9 Priorities for investment Investment needs to targeted at minimising <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> in regions where <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong> is greatest, <strong>and</strong> preventing <strong>the</strong> establishment <strong>of</strong> new <strong>feral</strong> species. Identification <strong>of</strong> species <strong>and</strong> regions that will benefit most from coordinated <strong>feral</strong> animal control activities is vital. Recovery plans for threatened species identify those species at risk <strong>and</strong> areas <strong>of</strong> habitat critical for <strong>the</strong>ir survival. Implementation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se plans should be accorded a high priority in national action to abate <strong>the</strong> threat posed by <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong>. Available resources will seldom, if ever, be sufficient to fully implement all <strong>the</strong> control measures required or recommended in recovery plans. Areas will need to be ranked on a nationally consistent basis to ensure that decisions about funding for control activities result in maximum conservation benefits. An agreed national methodology for ranking areas should be developed to cover protecting existing populations <strong>of</strong> endangered species, facilitating <strong>the</strong>ir expansion, <strong>and</strong> preparing areas for translocation A high degree <strong>of</strong> priority should also be given to managing newly established <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> or populations where control or eradication is possible (Sections 3 <strong>and</strong> 7). Effectively managing <strong>the</strong>se species before <strong>the</strong>y become widespread <strong>and</strong> well established is by far <strong>the</strong> most cost effective form <strong>of</strong> control <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> type <strong>of</strong> investment that will provide <strong>the</strong> greatest return. Imagine <strong>the</strong> triple-bottom-line benefits if foxes or rabbits had been eradicated from Australia before <strong>the</strong>y became established <strong>and</strong> widespread. The effectiveness, humaness <strong>and</strong> cost <strong>of</strong> implementation for control methods should also be a priority area for investment. Improving <strong>the</strong> range <strong>and</strong> availability <strong>of</strong> tools for l<strong>and</strong> managers in <strong>the</strong>ir efforts to mitigate <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> on biodiversity, will lead to greater <strong>management</strong> effectiveness <strong>and</strong> higher participation rates in control programs. Some current methods <strong>of</strong> control are deemed inhumane <strong>and</strong> to cause <strong>the</strong> <strong>animals</strong> great distress <strong>and</strong> discomfort. They are <strong>of</strong>ten only used because suitable alternative techniques are not available. Development <strong>of</strong> more humane options will likely lead to higher implementation rates <strong>and</strong> help improve <strong>the</strong> general public perception <strong>and</strong> acceptance <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal control. 9.1 Regional priorities This section identifies those regions in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s where increased effort is required. It is a summary chapter that draws upon <strong>the</strong> detailed information presented in Section 7, which is partly based upon assessments provided in Section 3. The Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory emerges as <strong>the</strong> jurisdiction requiring <strong>the</strong> highest level <strong>of</strong> investment, because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> large number <strong>of</strong> pests in <strong>the</strong> Territory not under adequate control. This lack <strong>of</strong> control partly reflects <strong>the</strong> rugged l<strong>and</strong>scapes <strong>and</strong> low population base <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory, but also reflects <strong>the</strong> large area <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong> under Indigenous ownership, within which <strong>feral</strong> animal control is usually inadequate due to lack <strong>of</strong> resources. 9.1.1 Western Australia In <strong>the</strong> Kimberley region, Feral Cattle are identified as <strong>the</strong> most damaging <strong>feral</strong> animal (Sections 3.7.15 <strong>and</strong> 7.1.5). They pose a serious threat to monsoon rainforest remnants (partly by facilitating destructive fires) <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y are damaging fragile 194
iparian habitats deep inside reserves. There is no effective <strong>management</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> Cattle within most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kimberley region. Fur<strong>the</strong>r investment is needed. A widespread cull <strong>of</strong> camels is necessary in arid areas <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> state (Sections 3.7.12 <strong>and</strong> 7.1.2). Camel numbers are multiplying out <strong>of</strong> control, <strong>and</strong> camels are fouling <strong>and</strong> depleting outback water supplies <strong>and</strong> altering vegetation structure by selectively grazing certain plants. The need for culling is most evident in <strong>the</strong> western <strong>and</strong> central deserts. Camels are also exp<strong>and</strong>ing in range in <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Goldfields, nor<strong>the</strong>rn Nullabor Plain, <strong>and</strong> slightly in <strong>the</strong> South Pilbara. Culling in <strong>the</strong>se areas would be prudent if <strong>the</strong>re is evidence to suggest <strong>the</strong> populations will increase in future. Goats are degrading many sheep properties in <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn Rangel<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> Western Australia (Section 7.1.7) Support should be given to l<strong>and</strong>holders who manage <strong>the</strong>ir l<strong>and</strong>s to reduce Goat numbers by fencing <strong>of</strong>f water supplies <strong>and</strong> install traps. 9.1.2 South Australia In <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> state, camels are multiplying to very destructive levels, <strong>and</strong> a widespread cull is needed (Sections 3.7.12 <strong>and</strong> 7.1.2). Rabbits are preventing or inhibiting Mulga regeneration in <strong>the</strong> Flinders <strong>and</strong> Gammon Ranges (Section 7.1.8). Support should be given to l<strong>and</strong>holders to rip rabbit warrens where this assists with mulga regeneration, especially in areas <strong>of</strong> known conservation values. Two herds <strong>of</strong> red deer occur near Port Augusta (Jesser 2004). They are <strong>the</strong> only herds <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> deer known from <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> South Australia <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y should be eradicated before <strong>the</strong>y multiply out <strong>of</strong> control (Section 7.1.1). The population <strong>of</strong> Barbary doves in Adelaide, if not controlled, will spread into <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s. This population should be eradicated. 9.1.3 New South Wales Goats are degrading many sheep properties in western New South Wales, for examples on MacCullochs Range, west <strong>of</strong> Cobar, <strong>and</strong> areas west <strong>of</strong> Engonnia (Section 7.1.7). Support should be given to l<strong>and</strong>holders who manage <strong>the</strong>ir l<strong>and</strong>s to reduce goat numbers <strong>and</strong> <strong>impact</strong>s by fencing <strong>of</strong>f water supplies <strong>and</strong> installing traps. Rabbits are preventing regeneration <strong>of</strong> woodl<strong>and</strong> in western New South Wales, for example in Kinchega National Park (Section 7.1.8). The situation is compounded by large numbers <strong>of</strong> goats <strong>and</strong> kangaroos. Warren ripping has been undertaken over large areas in western New South Wales, <strong>and</strong> fur<strong>the</strong>r ripping is merited in areas where woodl<strong>and</strong> regeneration is not occurring. Feral deer did not occur in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> New South Wales until recently, but now <strong>the</strong>re are small herds <strong>of</strong> red deer, fallow deer <strong>and</strong> chital deer, which may results in large deer populations in future (Sections 3.7 <strong>and</strong> 7.1.1, <strong>and</strong> Jesser 2004). Red deer are so widespread that this species might be beyond eradication in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> New South Wales, except for one isolated population on <strong>the</strong> Murray River. Fallow deer may also be beyond eradication. Chital <strong>of</strong>fer <strong>the</strong> best prospects <strong>of</strong> eradication because <strong>the</strong>re is one isolated population in <strong>the</strong> Ivanhoe region (Moriarty map page 295). Andrew Moriarty, who conducted <strong>the</strong> deer survey upon which <strong>the</strong>se comments are based, has mapped <strong>the</strong> localities <strong>of</strong> all <strong>feral</strong> deer populations in New South Wales. He now works for <strong>the</strong> Rural L<strong>and</strong>s Protection Board in New South Wales, <strong>and</strong> can be 195
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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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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
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 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<
Page 198 and 199: • Have the non-t
Page 200 and 201: provide opportunities for strategic
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</
Page 240 and 241: Northern Territory
Page 242 and 243: 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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