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

contacted for exact locations <strong>of</strong> deer populations, including herds that were
overlooked during his survey period. He was unable to supply this information in time
for this report.
9.1.4 Queensl<strong>and</strong>
Deer control should be a very high priority for investment in Queensl<strong>and</strong> because
complete eradication <strong>of</strong> many small populations is achievable, <strong>and</strong> will <strong>of</strong>fer a very
high return on investment by preventing <strong>the</strong> establishment <strong>of</strong> new <strong>feral</strong> pests with <strong>the</strong>
capacity to spread over wide areas (Section 7.1.1).
Red deer occur as one herd <strong>of</strong> fewer than 100 <strong>animals</strong> near Rockhampton (Moriarty
2004), <strong>and</strong> two populations in <strong>the</strong> Roma-Injune-Mitchell area, totalling between 100
<strong>and</strong> 500 (Jesser 2005). The latter populations may be beyond eradication, but <strong>the</strong>
Rockhampton herd should be a high priority for removal. Fur<strong>the</strong>r assessment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Roma-Injune-Mitchell population is needed before any decision is made about
control.
Rusa deer occur as one population near Townsville, one west <strong>of</strong> Mackay, <strong>and</strong> one
near Rockhampton (Moriarty 2004). There may also be population on Cape York
Peninsula north <strong>of</strong> Bamaga. These populations should be a very high priority for
eradication.
Chital deer occur as two separate populations near Burketown <strong>and</strong> Normanton in <strong>the</strong>
Gulf Country (Moriarty 2004). There are also three populations in <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn
Brigalow Belt west or north-west <strong>of</strong> Rockhampton (Moriarty 2004) <strong>and</strong> one at <strong>the</strong>
mouth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Burdekin River (Jesser 2005). These should all be a high priority for
eradication. There are also outlying populations around <strong>the</strong> Charters Towers that
should be investigated as prospects for eradication.
Andrew Moriarty, who conducted <strong>the</strong> deer survey upon which most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se
comments are based, has mapped <strong>the</strong> localities <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> deer populations in
Queensl<strong>and</strong>. He now works for <strong>the</strong> Rural L<strong>and</strong>s Protection Board in New South
Wales, <strong>and</strong> should be contacted for exact locations <strong>of</strong> deer populations. Peter Jesser,
who works for <strong>the</strong> DNRM in Queensl<strong>and</strong>, also has information about Queensl<strong>and</strong>
deer populations.
To avert extinction for two turtle species in <strong>the</strong> region, pigs urgently need to be
controlled around turtle nesting beaches on <strong>the</strong> western side <strong>of</strong> Cape York Peninsula,
mainly on Aboriginal l<strong>and</strong>s extending from <strong>the</strong> Jardine River to south <strong>of</strong> Weipa
(Section 7).
Foxes, pigs, dingoes <strong>and</strong> cats should be urgently controlled around breeding colonies
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Fitzroy River turtle <strong>and</strong> Burnett River snapping turtle in <strong>the</strong> Dawson-Fitzroy
Catchment, to avert extinction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se species (Section 7). (The same actions should
be undertaken outside <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s in <strong>the</strong> catchments <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Burnett <strong>and</strong> Mary
Rivers.)
9.1.5 Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory
Swamp buffalo are highly destructive. Their numbers were heavily controlled during
<strong>the</strong> 1980s, but <strong>the</strong>y are multiplying rapidly <strong>and</strong> culling should be undertaken as a high
priority throughout <strong>the</strong>ir range in <strong>the</strong> Top End <strong>and</strong> Victoria River District (Section
7.1.3). Catchments where control is urgently required include <strong>the</strong> Buckingham River,
Koolatong River, Liverpool River, Goyder River, Goomadeer River <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Blyth
196