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

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way. Achilles heel research should be a priority because it can enhance <strong>the</strong> effectiveness <strong>of</strong> current <strong>feral</strong> animal control techniques, minimize <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se techniques on biodiversity, <strong>and</strong> potentially provide a high return on investment. It may also allow for currently restricted control techniques to be applied over broader scales, such as <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> a canid specific toxin that would allow aerial baiting to occur in areas where native species are not tolerant to 1080, <strong>and</strong> conventional 1080 aerial baiting cannot occur. Humaneness The RSPCA believes that it is unfortunate that most control techniques do not achieve a humane death (Jones 2003). To remedy this, <strong>the</strong>y propose that a priority research <strong>and</strong> development area in government <strong>management</strong> programs should be development <strong>of</strong> humane alternatives. The RSPCA stance is for non-lethal control unless suitable techniques are not available, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y strongly advocate fertility control <strong>of</strong> wild populations (Jones 2003). A priority area for investment is <strong>the</strong> assessment <strong>of</strong> integrated <strong>feral</strong> animal control techniques based on <strong>the</strong> most humane techniques. The SOPs <strong>and</strong> COPs being developed by Sharp & Saunders (2004) provide a good starting point, but <strong>the</strong>se need to be extended fur<strong>the</strong>r to include integrated control practices. Broad-scale control <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal populations Effective broad-scale <strong>feral</strong> animal control methods will allow <strong>feral</strong> animal populations <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>impact</strong>s to be controlled over large <strong>management</strong> units. Research is needed to develop broad-scale control methods for many <strong>feral</strong> animal species. The application <strong>of</strong> an effective <strong>and</strong> broad-scale means <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal control to areas <strong>of</strong> high conservation <strong>impact</strong> is potentially <strong>the</strong> greatest means <strong>of</strong> controlling <strong>feral</strong> animal <strong>impact</strong>s on <strong>the</strong> environment. Currently aerial shooting is <strong>the</strong> only effective means <strong>of</strong> broad-scale control <strong>of</strong> many <strong>feral</strong> species on conservation estates, particularly in remote or inaccessible locations. Ground baiting <strong>and</strong> trapping may allow broad-scale control over areas where road access occurs. Aerial baiting is potentially an alternative means <strong>of</strong> delivering effective <strong>feral</strong> animal control if it can be made more target-specific. Integrated <strong>management</strong> The use <strong>of</strong> multiple <strong>and</strong> integrated control methods has been advocated to increase <strong>the</strong> efficacy <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal control operations. However, <strong>the</strong>re are many different combinations <strong>of</strong> control methods <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>se methods can be applied at varying intensities <strong>and</strong> in different orders. In many scenarios, it is unknown which combinations <strong>of</strong> methods <strong>and</strong> efforts will produce <strong>the</strong> greatest conservation outcomes in <strong>the</strong> most effective way. The optimal combinations will vary across species, space <strong>and</strong> time, <strong>and</strong> will depend on <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong> that <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> are causing at different densities. However, research may reveal how best to apply integrated control programs. Research should be pursued to investigate how multiple control methods should be effectively applied during control operations to most effectively reduce <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>and</strong> maximise conservation benefits whilst minimising control costs. It must be remembered that <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> do not ‘respect’ property <strong>and</strong> jurisdictional boundaries <strong>and</strong> control needs to be implemented across entire <strong>feral</strong> animal populations where possible. A priority should be to develop mechanisms to improve <strong>the</strong> coordination <strong>of</strong> pest animal <strong>management</strong> programs across all relevant l<strong>and</strong> tenures <strong>and</strong> interest groups. Strategic control 198
A high priority for investment should be <strong>the</strong> funding <strong>of</strong> strategic <strong>feral</strong> animal <strong>management</strong>. Investing in programs where <strong>the</strong> objectives are long-term reductions in <strong>feral</strong> animal <strong>impact</strong>s on biodiversity will ultimately provide <strong>the</strong> best return on investment. These programs aim to curb <strong>feral</strong> animal <strong>impact</strong>s through proactive <strong>management</strong> ra<strong>the</strong>r than seek <strong>the</strong> short-term benefits from reactive <strong>management</strong> practices. 9.3 Knowledge <strong>of</strong> biodiversity <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>of</strong> pest animal The <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal populations on ecosystems The <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>of</strong> many <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> on ecosystems are not clearly known. This was highlighted at <strong>the</strong> workshop, where some natural resource managers described some current control as best bet ra<strong>the</strong>r than best practice. Lack <strong>of</strong> knowledge <strong>of</strong> ecosystem <strong>impact</strong>s is mostly due to a lack <strong>of</strong> resources needed to carry out creditable ecological research in areas <strong>of</strong> potential <strong>feral</strong> animal <strong>impact</strong>. It also partially results from <strong>the</strong> difficulty in clearly identifying cause <strong>and</strong> effect. Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> experts consulted had witnessed damage, but knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> potential population <strong>impact</strong>s on susceptible species by was deficient. This information is needed to allow <strong>the</strong> determination <strong>of</strong> which <strong>feral</strong> animal control methods are effective. Research to investigate <strong>the</strong> actual <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> on natural resources, especially threatened species or ecological communities is needed. This research should initially focus on nationally listed threatened species <strong>and</strong> ecological communities. Research should also trial <strong>the</strong> effectiveness <strong>of</strong> different <strong>feral</strong> animal control methods in reducing <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong> to ensure that such methods do actually reverse <strong>the</strong> damage to <strong>the</strong> species or community in question. Regional biodiversity A poor knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> biodiversity in many parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s is a serious issue that urgently needs to be addressed. Without this knowledge it is difficult to determine <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>feral</strong> animal species are having, let alone predict <strong>the</strong> damage to biodiversity that could occur if <strong>the</strong> distributions <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> species change. The lack <strong>of</strong> basic knowledge <strong>of</strong> both native species <strong>and</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal distributions proved to be <strong>the</strong> greatest hindrance in providing priority recommendations for regional <strong>management</strong> hotspots. Feral animal distribution <strong>and</strong> abundance A lack <strong>of</strong> detailed information on <strong>the</strong> distribution <strong>and</strong> abundance exists for many <strong>feral</strong> animal species within <strong>the</strong> rangel<strong>and</strong>s. This information is crucial for <strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong> effective control for conservation. It is heartening to see that more attention is now being focussed on this issue. The National L<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Water Resource Audit is placing more emphasis on <strong>the</strong> abundance <strong>and</strong> distribution <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> species in its work, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Invasive Animal CRC is attempting to address <strong>the</strong> issue by developing a national database <strong>and</strong> mapping system <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> vertebrates across <strong>the</strong> country. However, much more detailed information is still required for many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> remote regions in <strong>the</strong> arid <strong>and</strong> semi-arid zones <strong>of</strong> Australia. Density-dependent <strong>impact</strong>s on conservation This information is required to allow <strong>the</strong> appropriate level <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal control to reduce <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong>s by <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> to occur. The knowledge <strong>of</strong> desirable <strong>feral</strong> animal density reductions will affect <strong>the</strong> method <strong>of</strong> control that is most effective <strong>and</strong> cost- 199
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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
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In South Australia, between 30 <str
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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 202 and 203: Section 9 Priorities for investment
Page 204 and 205: contacted for exact locations <stro
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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