Review of the Management of Feral Animals and Their Impact on Biodiversity in the Rangelands
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Pest Animal Control CRC Review of the management of feral animals and their impact on biodiversity in the Rangelands A resource to aid NRM planning PAC CRC Report June 2005 Andrew Norris Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre, Canberra Tim Low Consultant, Brisbane Iain Gordon CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Townsville Glen Saunders NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange Steven Lapidge Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre, Canberra Keryn Lapidge Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre, Canberra Tony Peacock Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre, Canberra Roger Pech CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra Review of the management of feral animals and their impact on biodiversity in the Rangelands A resource to aid NRM planning PAC CRC Report June 2005 A report to the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage prepared by the Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre Contributors Andrew Norris Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre, Canberra Tim Low Consultant, Brisbane Iain Gordon CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Townsville Glen Saunders NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange Steven Lapidge Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre, Canberra Keryn Lapidge Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre, Canberra Tony Peacock Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre, Canberra Roger Pech CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra Suggested Citation Norris, A, and Low, T, 2005, Review of the management of feral animals and their impact on biodiversity in the Rangelands: A resource to aid NRM planning, Pest Animal Control CRC Report 2005, Pest Animal Control CRC, Canberra COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMERS © Commonwealth of Australia Information contained in this publication may be copied or reproduced for study, research, information or educational purposes, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of this source. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication. This project was funded by the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and was managed by the Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH). Contents Section 1 Project brief..............................................................................1 Section 2 Introduction..............................................................................2 Section 3 A status review of feral animals in the Rangelands .............6 3.1 Species covered..................................................................................... 6 3.2 Introduction........................................................................................... 6 3.3 Mammals............................................................................................... 6 3.4 Birds ...................................................................................................... 8 3.5 Reptiles and amphibians ....................................................................... 9 3.6 Fish........................................................................................................ 9 3.7 Species accounts..................................................................................10 3.7.1 House Mouse (Mus musculus) .............................................................10 3.7.2 Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)............................................................11 3.7.3 Black Rat (Rattus rattus)......................................................................11 3.7.4 Dingo (Canis familiaris dingo)............................................................12 3.7.5 Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) ......................................................................14 3.7.6 Cat (Felis catus)...................................................................................17 3.7.7 Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) ...........................................................20 3.7.8 European Hare (Lepus europaeus)......................................................22 3.7.9 Horse (Equus caballus)........................................................................22 3.7.10 Donkey (Equus asinus) ........................................................................24 3.7.11 Pig (Sus scrofa)....................................................................................25 3.7.12 One-Humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius) .....................................29 3.7.13 Swamp Buffalo (Bubalis bubalis).........................................................31 3.7.14 Bali Banteng (Bos javanicus)...............................................................34 3.7.15 Cow (Bos taurus) .................................................................................36 3.7.16 Goat (Capra hircus).............................................................................38 3.7.17 Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) .........................................................40 3.7.18 Fallow Deer (Dama dama)..................................................................41 3.7.19 Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)..................................................................42 3.7.20 Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor)...........................................................43 3.7.21 Rusa Deer (Cervus timorensis)............................................................43 3.7.22 Chital Deer (Axis axis).........................................................................45 3.7.23 Ostrich (Struthio Camelus)..................................................................45 3.7.24 Helmeted Guinea-Fowl (Numida meleagris).......................................46 3.7.25 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) .............................................................47 3.7.26 Rock Dove (Columbia livia).................................................................47 3.7.27 Laughing Turtle-dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) ..............................48 3.7.28 Spotted Turtle-dove (Streptopelia chinensis).......................................48 3.7.29 Barbary Dove (Streptopelia risoria)....................................................49 3.7.30 Skylark (Alauda arvensis)....................................................................49 3.7.31 House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) ...................................................50 3.7.32 Nutmeg Mannikin (Lonchura punctulata) ...........................................50 3.7.33 European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) .........................................51 3.7.34 Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)...................................................51 3.7.35 Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) ...................................................52 3.7.36 Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)...................................................53 3.7.37 Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) ......................................53 3.7.38 Flowerpot Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus)....................................54 3.7.39 Cane Toad (Bufo marinus)...................................................................55 3.7.40 Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) ........................................................57 3.7.41 English Perch (Perca fluviatilis) .........................................................59 3.7.42 Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki)....................................................60 3.8 New pests ............................................................................................61 Section 4 Legislative framework...........................................................64 4.1 Commonwealth legislation .................................................................64 4.2 State and Territory legislation.............................................................65 4.3 Comments on current legislation ........................................................71 Section 5 Management of feral animals in the Rangelands ...............73 5.1 General control techniques..................................................................73 5.1.1 Poisoning .............................................................................................73 5.1.2 Shooting ...............................................................................................74 5.1.3 Trapping...............................................................................................75 5.1.4 Mustering .............................................................................................76 5.1.5 Judas technique....................................................................................76 5.1.6 Fencing ................................................................................................76 5.1.7 Water source control............................................................................77 5.1.8 Biocontrol ............................................................................................78 5.1.9 Fertility control....................................................................................79 5.1.10 COPs and SOPs and humaneness........................................................80 5.1.11 Integrated management strategies.......................................................81