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

Where possible, integration <strong>of</strong> <strong>management</strong> strategies between <strong>feral</strong> species should
also occur, to increase <strong>the</strong> environmental benefit to an area <strong>and</strong> minimise control
costs.
Operation Bounceback
Operation Bounceback is a large-scale ecological restoration project in <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn
Flinders, Gammon <strong>and</strong> Olary Ranges that focuses on <strong>the</strong> restoration <strong>of</strong> ecological
resources principally through <strong>the</strong> control <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong>. The program has provided
significant support to rural l<strong>and</strong>holders that led to a major reduction in <strong>feral</strong> goat
populations on pastoral properties within <strong>the</strong> region. Individual properties, such as
Plumbago Station in <strong>the</strong> Olary Ranges, have also been recognised for <strong>the</strong>ir efforts to
protect <strong>the</strong> natural environment through <strong>feral</strong> animal control. Operation Bounceback
has also supported a significant community effort in <strong>the</strong> eradication <strong>of</strong> an invasive
environmental weed, wheel cactus.
By far <strong>the</strong> most damaging <strong>feral</strong> species in <strong>the</strong> region, <strong>the</strong> rabbit, was also targeted by
<strong>the</strong> program. A reduction in rabbit numbers met with limited success, until <strong>the</strong> arrival
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rabbit calicivirus in November 1995. The virus wiped out over 80 percent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
rabbit population, <strong>and</strong> a program <strong>of</strong> ripping up <strong>the</strong>ir warrens has continued so that <strong>the</strong>
<strong>animals</strong> cannot get re-established in <strong>the</strong> area. As a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> reduction in rabbit
numbers, <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> foxes <strong>and</strong> <strong>feral</strong> cats also dropped dramatically. The loss <strong>of</strong> so
many rabbits, a key source <strong>of</strong> food for <strong>the</strong>se <strong>animals</strong>, meant that <strong>the</strong> foxes <strong>and</strong> cats
readily turned to <strong>the</strong> baits that have been laid out since 1994.
The continuation <strong>of</strong> Operation Bounceback <strong>and</strong> similar l<strong>and</strong>scape-scale ecological
restoration is a key strategic direction for ensuring <strong>the</strong> long term survival <strong>of</strong> South
Australia's species <strong>and</strong> ecosystems.
5.1.12 Pest or resource – <strong>the</strong> value <strong>of</strong> commercial harvesting
One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most confounding issues in <strong>the</strong> <strong>management</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> is <strong>the</strong>ir value
as a resource to sections <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> community. A classic example <strong>of</strong> this is <strong>the</strong> harvesting
<strong>of</strong> goats in western New South Wales. Many farmers regard goats as a secondary
source <strong>of</strong> income <strong>and</strong> as such make no efforts to control <strong>the</strong>m, o<strong>the</strong>r than to muster
<strong>the</strong>m for market when prices are high. Some farmers have actually relied on income
from <strong>the</strong> sale <strong>of</strong> goats to sustain <strong>the</strong>m through <strong>the</strong> recent drought (Saunders pers.
comm.). In <strong>the</strong>se areas <strong>the</strong>re is intense social pressure not to control <strong>the</strong>m as a <strong>feral</strong>
species, regardless <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> biodiversity <strong>impact</strong> <strong>the</strong>y are having. In o<strong>the</strong>r areas <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
country, commercial harvesting is integrated into existing control strategies. In <strong>the</strong>
nor<strong>the</strong>rn Rangel<strong>and</strong>s, water buffalo, donkeys, goats <strong>and</strong> wild horses are typically
mustered before an aerial cull. This reduces <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> <strong>animals</strong> needed to be shot
<strong>and</strong> provides revenue to reduce <strong>the</strong> control costs.
It is frequently suggested that industries be set up for <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong>. However,
harvesting <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> commercially generally has little long-term effect in reducing
population numbers. One reason for this is that commercial harvesting is only
pr<strong>of</strong>itable in easily reached areas where <strong>feral</strong> animal populations are high. It ceases as
soon as numbers drop. The harvested <strong>animals</strong> are <strong>of</strong>ten quickly replaced by those
moving in from surrounding unharvested areas. This level <strong>of</strong> control may be suitable
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