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

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L<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> by 1970 had reached Darwin. It <strong>the</strong>n spread southwards to Ti Tree, travelled west into Western Australia, colonising sites in <strong>the</strong> Kimberley, <strong>and</strong> reaching S<strong>and</strong>fire Roadhouse, halfway between Broome <strong>and</strong> Port Headl<strong>and</strong> (Greer 2005). It also colonised towns in north Queensl<strong>and</strong>, including Townsville <strong>and</strong> Weipa. In 1983 it appeared in Brisbane (Low 1999), possibly as a new introduction from overseas. Since <strong>the</strong>n it has colonised much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> central Queensl<strong>and</strong> coast, spread south into New South Wales, <strong>and</strong> moved west into some inl<strong>and</strong> Queensl<strong>and</strong> towns including Goondiwindi (P. Couper, Queensl<strong>and</strong> Museum, pers. comm.). This nocturnal lizard has almost certainly travelled to Australia on ships coming from Asia. In Brisbane it was first recorded at a container terminal, <strong>the</strong>n at <strong>the</strong> wharves (Low 1999). It is evidently moved around Australia amongst produce <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r goods. Impacts The Asian house gecko is mainly confined to urban areas, where it inhabits buildings <strong>and</strong> nearby walls <strong>and</strong> trees, <strong>and</strong> as such it has no <strong>impact</strong> upon biodiversity o<strong>the</strong>r than some displacement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> native gecko (Gehyra dubia). Around Darwin it occurs inside monsoon rainforest but is unlikely to be having much <strong>impact</strong> upon biodiversity apart from <strong>the</strong> consumption <strong>of</strong> some insects. 3.7.38 Flowerpot Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus) Summary This tiny burrowing snake is confined to Townsville <strong>and</strong> coastal towns in <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory where it is very unlikely to pose any threat to biodiversity. Distribution Darwin, <strong>the</strong> Kimberley, towns along <strong>the</strong> Pilbara coast, <strong>and</strong> Townsville, mainly in urban gardens (Wilson & Swan 2003). Also recorded from Torres Strait isl<strong>and</strong>s. It is easily overlooked <strong>and</strong> is probably more widespread in urban areas than <strong>the</strong> records indicate. Native to Asia but now found in many parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world. Impacts This small burrowing snake presumably reached Australia in pot-plants. It appears to be confined to urban areas where it is highly unlikely to have any <strong>impact</strong> on biodiversity. 54
Amphibians 3.7.39 Cane Toad (Bufo marinus) Summary A highly invasive animal, actively invading north-western Australia, that poisons predators <strong>and</strong> which has caused a dramatic decline in numbers <strong>of</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn quolls, which are now endangered. Distribution Eastern <strong>and</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn Queensl<strong>and</strong>, extending well inl<strong>and</strong>. In 1982-83, toads entered <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory, along <strong>the</strong> plains fronting <strong>the</strong> Gulf <strong>of</strong> Carpentaria, <strong>and</strong> during <strong>the</strong> last decade <strong>the</strong>y reached <strong>the</strong> Top End <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory. They are still spreading in <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory <strong>and</strong> will soon invade Darwin <strong>and</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn regions <strong>of</strong> Western Australia. They are also present in nor<strong>the</strong>rn New South Wales, <strong>and</strong> global warming will assist <strong>the</strong>ir southward movements. Cane toads occupy many habitats, but <strong>the</strong>y always forage on open ground where <strong>the</strong>y can see nearby movement <strong>of</strong> insects <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r prey. They utilise rainforests, woodl<strong>and</strong>s, grassl<strong>and</strong>s, swamps, mangrove fringes, beaches, dry river beds <strong>and</strong> farml<strong>and</strong> (Covacevich & Archer 1975). They shun habitats with a thick under storey (tall grass, bracken, dense shrubs) but will forage along roads <strong>and</strong> walking tracks that pass through thick vegetation. Impacts Cane toads prey on native fauna, compete for resources (food, shelter, breeding sites), <strong>and</strong> poison native predators. This last <strong>impact</strong> is by far <strong>the</strong> most significant, <strong>and</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn quolls are <strong>the</strong> species most affected. In 2004, WWF submitted a successful nomination to have predation, competition <strong>and</strong> lethal ingestion caused by cane toads recognised as a key threatening process under <strong>the</strong> EPBC Act, largely because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong> on nor<strong>the</strong>rn quolls. Poisoning <strong>of</strong> predators Cane toads <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir eggs <strong>and</strong> tadpoles are toxic to a wide range <strong>of</strong> predators including mammals, reptiles, frogs, fish, insects <strong>and</strong> snails. Many <strong>animals</strong> find cane toads distasteful <strong>and</strong> learn to avoid <strong>the</strong>m. O<strong>the</strong>rs are poisoned fatally. When cane toads reach a new region, deaths <strong>of</strong> various predators occur. The evidence indicates that numbers <strong>of</strong> quolls, goannas, frilled lizards, <strong>and</strong> frog-eating snakes drops when cane toads arrive, although numbers <strong>of</strong> most species recover in time, although not necessarily to <strong>the</strong> original level. The <strong>impact</strong> <strong>of</strong> toads on various predators was reviewed comprehensively by van Dam et al. (2002), <strong>and</strong> less completely by Crossl<strong>and</strong> (1992), Crossl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Alford (1998), Burnett (1997) <strong>and</strong> Covacevich <strong>and</strong> Archer (1975). The following points can be made, drawing especially upon van Dam et al. (2002): Among mammals, quolls (marsupial carnivores) are poisoned fatally when <strong>the</strong>y mouth toads, <strong>and</strong> dramatic reductions in quoll numbers occur when toads invade, with quolls disappearing from some sites (Burnett 1997, van Dam et al. 2002). In 2005 <strong>the</strong> federal government listed <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn quoll as endangered, with poisoning from cane toads identified as <strong>the</strong> most significant threatening process. A collapse in quoll numbers has been recorded from monitored sites in Kakadu National Park. Quolls 55
Page 1:
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
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 40 and 41: the Tanami. Buffal
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 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
Page 92 and 93: strategy, relative cost-effectivene
Page 94 and 95: Fencing Feral buffalo have a reputa
Page 96 and 97: 5.3 Management of
Page 98 and 99: Summary of <strong
Page 100 and 101: time comes for the
Page 102 and 103: Summary of <strong
Page 104 and 105: Individual tracking Tracking is a l
Page 106 and 107: SA - Currently cats are not widely
Page 108 and 109: Method of control
Page 110 and 111: 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
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% respondents 100% 90% 80% 70% 60%
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a) b) Figure 3. a) Extent o
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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
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conservation problems in Europe <st
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message that camels are a valuable
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In the Koolatong R
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environmental degradation’ (Nor<s
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ecause dingo and d
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Various control methods have been a
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Pascale Taplin, an Indigenous L<str
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Lack of a Strategi
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eradicated after seeing the
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In some situations, payment <strong
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could have led to better protocols
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Game hunting is a growing business,
Page 192 and 193:
Much as we might like it, t
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conservation outcome. In such a sit
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community consultation and<
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• Have the non-t
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provide opportunities for strategic
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Section 9 Priorities for investment
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contacted for exact locations <stro
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way. Achilles heel research should
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efficient in any given situation. R
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west Queensland re
Page 212 and 213:
Crossland, MR, 199
Page 214 and 215:
Forsyth, DM, and P
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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
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224
Page 234 and 235:
226
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Appendix C Database on past NHT fun
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Lachlan Rehabilitation of</
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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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