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

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Summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> effectiveness <strong>of</strong> cane toad control methods Method <strong>of</strong> control Toxins Low Barrier fencing Moderate Trapping Moderate Efficacy Control method efficiency Unknown Low Low Target specificity Variable Low Moderate Biological control Unknown Potentially high Unknown Logistical practicalities Overall effectiveness Moderate Potentially moderate Low Low High Low High Potentially high 90 Advantages <strong>of</strong> method Disadvantages <strong>of</strong> method Relatively target specific control applicable across broad areas <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong> in a cost effective manner. Potential non-target <strong>impact</strong>s. Delivery difficulties. Prevention <strong>of</strong> range expansion Requires continuing maintenance <strong>and</strong> cannot be applied across large remote areas Tadpoles may move across <strong>the</strong> barrier in water flows Impact on movement <strong>of</strong> native Allow targeted control <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> pig populations in localised areas Unknown, but possibly low cost implementation through selfdissemination. species Generally requires road access. Difficult to apply in remote areas due to high labour requirements. Constant need to empty traps Impact on o<strong>the</strong>r native anurans Cost <strong>of</strong> research
5.4 Management <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> camels Current <strong>management</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> camels focusses on three main strategies; culling, harvesting <strong>and</strong> exclusion fencing. The approach is largely ad hoc <strong>and</strong> a strategic approach has yet to be developed <strong>and</strong> implemented. The Australian populations <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> camels are increasing dramatically. Populations are estimated as doubling every six to eight years. To maintain stability, at least 10 percent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> population has to be taken out each year (Dörges & Heucke 1995). There are many issues to consider if we intend to effectively manage <strong>feral</strong> camels <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>impact</strong>s across Australia in <strong>the</strong> longer-term. Edwards et al. (2004) highlight how <strong>the</strong> scale <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>management</strong> effort required to stabilise <strong>and</strong>/or reduce populations is directly related to <strong>the</strong> size <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>feral</strong> camel population - in <strong>the</strong> face <strong>of</strong> an increasing population, <strong>the</strong> longer <strong>the</strong> delay, <strong>the</strong> greater <strong>the</strong> effort required. Shooting In South Australia <strong>and</strong> Western Australia in recent years, ground-based <strong>and</strong> aerial shooting have been used to reduce <strong>feral</strong> camel populations on national parks <strong>and</strong> pastoral leases in <strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> state (Environment SA). Similarly, limited aerial culling <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> camels has been undertaken on pastoral leases in <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory at <strong>the</strong> behest <strong>of</strong> managers. Here, aerial shooting is carried out by trained personnel employed by <strong>the</strong> Parks <strong>and</strong> Wildlife Service with <strong>the</strong> cost <strong>of</strong> helicopter hire <strong>and</strong> ammunition being met by <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong> manager. Although <strong>the</strong> aerial shooting <strong>of</strong> large <strong>animals</strong> like horses <strong>and</strong> camels is a highly emotive issue, it is <strong>the</strong> most effective <strong>and</strong> humane technique in remote, inaccessible situations (Edwards et al. 2004). The fact that <strong>feral</strong> camels are highly mobile, have extensive home ranges <strong>and</strong> are distributed at low densities over large uninhabited areas has made extensive culling programs practically <strong>and</strong> economically difficult for l<strong>and</strong>holders. Commercial harvesting Wild-harvest is a <strong>management</strong> option that removes a small number <strong>of</strong> camels from <strong>the</strong> wild <strong>and</strong> can provide limited income for l<strong>and</strong> managers. Some meat is produced from <strong>feral</strong> camels in <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory, but <strong>the</strong>re is no major Australian market for camel products, <strong>and</strong> commercial harvesting has no prospect <strong>of</strong> reducing camel numbers in <strong>the</strong> near future, if ever. In <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory <strong>and</strong> Western Australia, a small industry based on <strong>the</strong> harvest <strong>and</strong> live export <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> camels has been developing since <strong>the</strong> early 1990’s (Edwards et al. 2004), although in <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory it is dependant upon substantial government subsidy. Harvesting is usually achieved through trapping or mustering using helicopters, motorbikes, horses or o<strong>the</strong>r vehicles. The <strong>animals</strong> are <strong>the</strong>n contained in ei<strong>the</strong>r fixed or portable yards. The advantage <strong>of</strong> portable yards are that <strong>the</strong>y can be moved to areas where camels are present, reducing <strong>the</strong> distance <strong>animals</strong> are herded <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y can be set up in locations that prevent <strong>the</strong> camels from seeing <strong>the</strong>m until it is too late for efficient evasion. The disadvantages <strong>of</strong> portable yards are that <strong>the</strong>y are not as strong as fixed yards, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir distance from transport may significantly extend <strong>the</strong> time <strong>animals</strong> are contained, thus increasing <strong>the</strong> <strong>animals</strong>’ stress. Fixed yards are generally stronger <strong>and</strong> located nearer to transport, however increased mustering times <strong>and</strong> animal wariness <strong>and</strong> evasiveness can reduce <strong>the</strong>ir effectiveness. Trap yards can also be located around water sources <strong>and</strong> left open to allow <strong>animals</strong> to familiarise <strong>the</strong>mselves with <strong>the</strong> structure. When <strong>the</strong> 91
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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
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
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 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
Page 114 and 115: 80% of export was
Page 116 and 117: ensuring effective treatment <stron
Page 118 and 119: the lower cost, wi
Page 122 and 123: conservation value rathe</s
Page 124 and 125: effort on the cont
Page 128 and 129: follow transect lines, one kilometr
Page 130 and 131: as a refuge from predators. Removal
Page 134 and 135: was completed it was the</s
Page 136 and 137: warren structure amenable to recolo
Page 138 and 139: Poisons Traditionally, strychnine,
Page 140 and 141: infected and steri
Page 142 and 143: of high priority.
Page 144 and 145: Method of control
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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,
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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
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Crossland, MR, 199
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Forsyth, DM, and P
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Lange, RT, and Gra
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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
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Appendix C Database on past NHT fun
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Lachlan Rehabilitation of</
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Northern Territory
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Cape York Ambiilmungu-Ngarra tradit
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Wet Tropics Expansion and</
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Avon Protecting and</strong
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