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

3.7.22 Chital Deer (Axis axis)
O<strong>the</strong>r names
Axis Deer, Spotted Deer, [Cervus axis]
Summary
A deer that is rapidly exp<strong>and</strong>ing in range, as a result <strong>of</strong> deliberate releases, <strong>and</strong> which
has <strong>the</strong> potential to occupy most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> to reduce biodiversity values.
Distribution
As recently as 1995 chital deer were known only from one <strong>feral</strong> population in
Australia, near Charters Towers (Strahan 1998), but now <strong>the</strong>re are at least 28 wild
populations (Moriarty 2004), with about 13 in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s. These populations
occur near <strong>the</strong> Gulf <strong>of</strong> Carpentaria in Queensl<strong>and</strong> (two populations), in inl<strong>and</strong> regions
<strong>of</strong> north <strong>and</strong> central Queensl<strong>and</strong> (10 populations), <strong>and</strong> in central-western New South
Wales (1 population). The new populations have resulted from people freeing deer
(Moriarty 2004).
Chital are native to <strong>the</strong> Indian region where <strong>the</strong>y occur in forest glades <strong>and</strong> cropl<strong>and</strong>.
Impacts
Chital in <strong>the</strong> Charters Towers area are ‘causing significant environmental damage,
with vegetation grazed to bare ground. Pest plants such as rubber vine (Cryptostegia
gr<strong>and</strong>iflora), chinee apple (Zizyphus mauritiana) <strong>and</strong> par<strong>the</strong>nium (Par<strong>the</strong>nium
hysterophorus) are also flourishing in areas where chital are not adequately
controlled’ (Jesser 2005). Rubber vine <strong>and</strong> par<strong>the</strong>nium are two <strong>of</strong> Australia’s 20 worst
weeds.
A population <strong>of</strong> perhaps 2,000 chital on an isl<strong>and</strong> at <strong>the</strong> mouth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Burdekin River
occupies a belt <strong>of</strong> mangroves <strong>and</strong> tidal flats extending inl<strong>and</strong> from <strong>the</strong> ocean, but
enters cropl<strong>and</strong> to feed at night. According to Jesser (2005), ‘Signs <strong>of</strong> chital were seen
along all water courses, including damage caused to saplings by antler rubbing. Thus
<strong>the</strong> deer are causing damage to <strong>the</strong> natural environment as well as to agricultural
crops.’
Bioclimatic modelling indicates that chital could occupy most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Australian
Rangel<strong>and</strong>s, with populations able to establish in woodl<strong>and</strong>s almost everywhere
except in temperate Western Australia <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nullabor Plain (Moriarty 2004),
provided water is permanently available. Chital thus have <strong>the</strong> potential to become a
major <strong>feral</strong> pest.
Birds
3.7.23 Ostrich (Struthio Camelus)
Summary
Probably present in small numbers at a couple <strong>of</strong> sites in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s, but not in
sufficient numbers to have much <strong>impact</strong> on biodiversity. It is not known whe<strong>the</strong>r
ostriches could become widespread <strong>and</strong> successful <strong>feral</strong> birds in Australia.
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