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

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<strong>the</strong> Tanami. Buffalo distribution, as mapped in 1985, is shown in Bayliss <strong>and</strong> Yeomans (1989). Buffalo are still exp<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>the</strong>ir range in parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory, for example <strong>the</strong> Victoria River Basin (Nor<strong>the</strong>rn L<strong>and</strong> Council 2004). Native to South East Asia. Impacts Buffalo are larger than cattle, more aquatic in behaviour, <strong>and</strong> more destructive in <strong>the</strong>ir feeding habits, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y cause massive disturbance to natural habitats when <strong>the</strong>y occur in high numbers. Their <strong>impact</strong>s were summarised by McKnight (1976): ‘Their overgrazing, trampling, <strong>and</strong> puddling cause much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> grassy plains area to be denuded during <strong>the</strong> dry season, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> under storey <strong>of</strong> adjacent woodl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> forest communities is strikingly depleted. Sheet <strong>and</strong> gully erosion are accelerated <strong>and</strong> many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dry season waterholes <strong>and</strong> billabongs have become severely silted, with obviously deleterious effects on aquatic life. The extent <strong>and</strong> seriousness <strong>of</strong> habitat deterioration cannot be measured in any meaningful way, but <strong>the</strong> results are conspicuous, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> process continues.’ Letts et al. (1979) in <strong>the</strong>ir report, Feral <strong>animals</strong> in <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory, provide many photographs illustrating buffalo damage to various environments. They describe ‘a silt plain <strong>of</strong> about 100 square kilometres in area which is undergoing accelerated sheet <strong>and</strong> gully erosion due to overgrazing <strong>and</strong> trampling.’ Buffalo damage to Kakadu National Park is described in depressing detail by Skeat et al. (1996), <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir review provides <strong>the</strong> most detailed overview <strong>of</strong> buffalo <strong>impact</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> also includes graphic photos. Damage to vegetation Especially significant are <strong>the</strong> swim channels created when buffalo push <strong>the</strong>ir way through muddy plains. The freshwater required by aquatic plants drains away, allowing seawater to penetrate up to 35 kilometres inl<strong>and</strong>, leading to <strong>the</strong> deaths <strong>of</strong> large st<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> paperbarks <strong>and</strong> associated wetl<strong>and</strong> plants such as lotus lilies (Letts et al. 1979) <strong>and</strong> wild rice, a staple food <strong>of</strong> magpie geese (Skeat et al. 1996). Levees have been bulldozed into place to stop this happening but buffalo have sometimes broken <strong>the</strong>m down. Buffalo grazing <strong>and</strong> damage have an <strong>impact</strong> on many different plant species <strong>and</strong> habitat types. Buffalo deplete st<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> common reed (Phragmites species), native hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis) <strong>and</strong> p<strong>and</strong>anus (P<strong>and</strong>anus species). Unlike cattle, buffalo pull out plants before <strong>the</strong>y eat <strong>the</strong>m, thus causing greater damage (Skeat et al. 1996). Palms (Livistona species) are pushed over <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> crowns eaten (Braithwaite et al. 1984). Erosion caused by buffalo kills paperbarks (Melaleuca species), Leichardt trees (Nauclea orientalis), <strong>and</strong> bamboo (Letts et al. 1979). Buffalo (<strong>and</strong> to a lesser extent pigs) are blamed for a massive decline in <strong>the</strong> area <strong>of</strong> p<strong>and</strong>anus thickets in nor<strong>the</strong>rn Australia. Explorer Ludwig Leichhardt saw impenetrable thickets <strong>of</strong> p<strong>and</strong>anus in <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory in 1845, but <strong>the</strong>se no longer occur today (Braithwaite 1994-5). These thickets were an important habitat for a wide range <strong>of</strong> wildlife. Buffalo also degrade monsoon rainforests, killing large trees by trampling <strong>and</strong> changing <strong>the</strong> hydrology, <strong>and</strong> promoting invasion by weeds such as hyptis <strong>and</strong> cassias 32
(Skeat et al. 1996). Braithwaite et al. (1984) assessed monsoon rainforests in Kakadu <strong>and</strong> reported that buffalo have a ‘marked compacting influence on <strong>the</strong> soil, decrease ground vegetation abundance <strong>and</strong> generally reduce plant biomass <strong>and</strong> productivity.’ In woodl<strong>and</strong>s buffalo promote a transition from perennial to annual grasses, <strong>the</strong>reby increasing <strong>the</strong> potential for soil erosion, <strong>and</strong> hotter <strong>and</strong> more frequent fires (Skeat et al. 1996). They also reduce <strong>the</strong> survival rate <strong>of</strong> young eucalypts. Buffalo also trample paperbark forests. Harm to Fauna Buffalo <strong>impact</strong>s on fauna have not been sufficiently documented. Georges <strong>and</strong> Kennett (1989) studied <strong>the</strong> pitted-shelled turtle, a large freshwater turtle with a limited distribution, <strong>and</strong> concluded: ‘Trampling by stock was a source <strong>of</strong> nest mortality at <strong>the</strong> Daly River… <strong>and</strong> even a misplaced human heel is sufficient to destroy many eggs in <strong>the</strong> shallow nests <strong>of</strong> Carettochelys. It is unlikely that many nests would survive in heavily stocked regions, <strong>and</strong> current [in 1989] moves to remove buffalo from Kakadu National Park are welcomed.’ Buffalo are thought to pose a threat to <strong>the</strong> endangered Alligator Rivers subspecies <strong>of</strong> yellow chat, a small bird, by destroying its habitat (Garnett & Crowley 2000, Nor<strong>the</strong>rn L<strong>and</strong> Council 2004). The vulnerable water mouse, or false water rat, may also be affected (Nor<strong>the</strong>rn L<strong>and</strong> Council 2004). Skeat et al. (1996) studied various small vertebrates (b<strong>and</strong>icoots <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r small mammals, reptiles, frogs) in sites containing buffalo <strong>and</strong> sites fenced to keep <strong>the</strong>m out, <strong>and</strong> suggested from <strong>the</strong>ir data that ‘high densities <strong>of</strong> buffalo were a major factor in suppressing populations <strong>of</strong> small vertebrates on <strong>the</strong> [Kakadu] floodplains’. They attributed <strong>the</strong> differences to changes in vegetative cover. Braithwaite et al. (1984) studied fauna abundance in forested habitats in Kakadu, which support much lower numbers <strong>of</strong> buffalo than wetl<strong>and</strong>s. They compared various forested sites with relatively high <strong>and</strong> low buffalo density <strong>and</strong> found that some fauna suffered from buffalo, o<strong>the</strong>r fauna was not affected, <strong>and</strong> some species benefited from buffalo activity. Fauna that suffered included sea-eagles, orange-footed scrubfowl, pheasant councals <strong>and</strong> white-gaped honeyeaters. Species that were unaffected included cuckoos, kingfishers, flying foxes <strong>and</strong> goannas. Species that benefited included barking owls <strong>and</strong> various lizards (which probably preferred an open under storey). It should be emphasised that Braithwaite et al. (1984) did not assess <strong>the</strong> major habitats utilised by buffalo. Woinarski (1993) studied birds in monsoon rainforest patches in Kakadu <strong>and</strong> found that ‘Bird species more typical <strong>of</strong> eucalyptus open forests were abundant in patches most disturbed by buffalo, pigs, weeds <strong>and</strong> fire’. Spread <strong>of</strong> weeds Buffalo spread <strong>the</strong> seeds <strong>of</strong> mimosa, hyptis <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r weeds <strong>and</strong> facilitate <strong>the</strong>ir invasion by removing native plants <strong>and</strong> disturbing soil. In a survey <strong>of</strong> Kakadu National Park, buffalo were blamed for assisting <strong>the</strong> spread <strong>of</strong> many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 87 weed species (Skeat et al. 1996). Massive spread <strong>of</strong> mimosa (Mimosa pigra) on <strong>the</strong> Victoria River floodplain occurred after buffalo were removed. Buffalo may have suppressed this weed by eating its seedlings. 33
Page 1: Review of<
Page 4 and 5: Contributors Andrew Norris Pest Ani
Page 6 and 7: 3.7.36 Common Myna (Acridot
Page 8 and 9: Table of figures F
Page 10 and 11: Section 2 Introduction Feral <stron
Page 12 and 13: Amanda Dimmock, QD
Page 14 and 15: Section 3 A status review o
Page 16 and 17: 3.4 Birds Thirteen (or 14) species
Page 18 and 19: Information on the
Page 20 and 21: Summary A rodent that contributes t
Page 22 and 23: Dingoes can become a threat to wild
Page 24 and 25: The significance of</strong
Page 26 and 27: macropods and b<st
Page 28 and 29: ^Lasiorhinus krefftii North
Page 30 and 31: Perceived threat Geopsittacus occid
Page 32 and 33: conservation areas. It is less clea
Page 34 and 35: Table 8 Rare species found in <stro
Page 36 and 37: Competition Several examples are re
Page 38 and 39: In truth, camels do substantial dam
Page 42 and 43: The situation today Buffalo numbers
Page 44 and 45: qualify under IUCN criteria as enda
Page 46 and 47: 3.7.16 Goat (Capra hircus) Summary
Page 48 and 49: Drakonorchis drakeoides Hinged Drag
Page 50 and 51: 3.7.19 Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Su
Page 52 and 53: Impacts Much is known about <strong
Page 54 and 55: Distribution Ostriches have won <st
Page 56 and 57: nest in tree hollows along
Page 58 and 59: Distribution The skylark is found i
Page 60 and 61: Distribution The blackbird is wides
Page 62 and 63: Land, and<
Page 64 and 65: have been translocated to o
Page 66 and 67: esources. Significant investment in
Page 68 and 69: many native species (Clarke et al.
Page 70 and 71: spread across the
Page 72 and 73: Section 4 Legislative framework 4.1
Page 74 and 75: protection, as long as it falls wit
Page 76 and 77: Native Vegetation Conservation Act
Page 78 and 79: ehabilitate existing native vegetat
Page 80 and 81: suppression, which is the</
Page 82 and 83: al. 1986, 1987). The use of
Page 84 and 85: 5.1.4 Mustering Commercial musterin
Page 86 and 87: etal. (1997) found that many native
Page 88 and 89: the vaccine <stron
Page 90 and 91:
Where possible, integration <strong
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strategy, relative cost-effectivene
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Fencing Feral buffalo have a reputa
Page 96 and 97:
5.3 Management of
Page 98 and 99:
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
Page 132 and 133:
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,
Page 140 and 141:
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
Page 150 and 151:
Summary of <strong
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In South Australia, between 30 <str
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Summary of <strong
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% respondents 100% 90% 80% 70% 60%
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a) b) Figure 3. a) Extent o
Page 160 and 161:
Figure 4 Response frequency for lik
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distribution of <s
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Section 7 Key problems and<
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• 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
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environmental degradation’ (Nor<s
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ecause dingo and d
Page 178 and 179:
Various control methods have been a
Page 180 and 181:
Pascale Taplin, an Indigenous L<str
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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<
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• 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
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way. Achilles heel research should
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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
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Parkes, JP, 1990, Feral goat contro
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Van Rensberg, PJJ, Skinner, JD, <st
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Appendix A Ferals animals</
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Indigenous lands I
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Appendix B Stakeholder survey form
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222
Page 232 and 233:
224
Page 234 and 235:
226
Page 236 and 237:
Appendix C Database on past NHT fun
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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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