Fact sheet Introduced species CREDIT: Gordon Sanders Gordon CREDIT: Rabbits and camels are An̲ angu and Parks Australia are working Who is responsible? Humans are responsible herbivores – they eat together to minimise the adverse effects for the introduction of all vegetation which holds soil of introduced animals on the natural and non-indigenous species together. Bare soil is more susceptible to wind and cultural values of the park. into Australia and we have responsibility to find a water erosion. We have very humane solution to fix this ancient and fragile soils here What is an introduced animal? issue. Most introduced in the Central Desert and it Introduced animals are species that have arrived from species were imported into does not take a big shift in different countries or regions and established wild Australia deliberately by soil use patterns to create populations, often causing many problems in their new people to serve a purpose. significant changes in the environment. They are recognised as the major factor Examples are dogs and overall soil structure. in the extinction of native species in Central Australia. cats, who were introduced Trees and shrubs are also Currently, 40 per cent of native species in Central as domestic pets. Foxes targeted by both these Australia are either extinct or locally extinct. and rabbits were introduced grazing animals. Rabbits eat for game and recreational the roots of some plants, Introduced species in the park hunting and camels to ringbark trees in drought Introduced species in the park are mice, rabbits, foxes, provide transport. Mice, conditions and also enjoy camels, dogs, and cats. Each of these animals has its own however, likely stowed away eating sapling trees and way of impacting on the environment within the park. in imported food stocks. shrubs. You will notice from the list some animals are predators What is the impact? Foxes and cats are carnivores – they hunt a and some are prey species. These animals interact within Camels cause significant large number of smaller the natural food chain. Both introduced predator and damage to waterholes and animals in the park, with prey species need to be controlled to protect the natural soaks throughout the park. a direct and devastating environment. A thirsty camel can drink up impact on native to 200 litres of scarce water populations. supply in three minutes. Water is very sacred to The effects of competition An̲ angu – without water are more severely felt during nothing can survive. So a drought when native by polluting and draining animal populations may waterholes, camels pose a already be reduced to a bare significant threat to some of minimum. This increased the most culturally significant competition further threatens areas within the park. rare species in the park. ULURU KATA TJUTA NATIONAL PARK ULURU KATA TJUTA NATIONAL PARK Feral animals' use of plants and water means native animals must compete for resources : CSIRO : CREDIT An̲ angu perspective Foxes – Highly elusive, Introduced plants An̲ angu have a different way of looking at introduced animals the fox species is a difficult Thirty four species of flora compared to non-Indigenous Australians. An̲ angu hunted challenge for park staff. have been introduced to the cats before the first European explorers visited Central Many foxes are spotted on park since non-Aboriginal Australia and have adopted introduced species into their monitoring cameras but people first settled in Central lifestyles. Rabbits are a common food source. An̲ angu are are difficult to control, with Australia. The most invasive aware of the threats of introduced species to their native several eradication methods is buffel grass, a perennial Australian species and fully support control within the park. trialled without success. tussock weed, native to Dogs – Usually confined to Africa, India, and Asia. The What is being done in the park? the areas around Muṯitjulu plant was first introduced to There are no fences around the park and the most effective waterhole, local community Australia in the 1870s for way to control introduced species across borders is to dogs often search for rabbits erosion control and pastoral work in partnership with our neighbours – such as Northern for food. A focus is placed purposes and it has since Territory Parks and Wildlife, the Central Land Council and on teaching the community spread widely across most private landholders. to control their dogs and land types. In the 1970s to discourage dogs from buffel grass was introduced Camels – An̲ angu opinion is divided on the management roaming the park. to the base of Uluṟu to of camel numbers. The park closely consults traditional reduce erosion and dust. owners on guidelines which are established for ground culling, particularly in the mala paddock area where camels Buffel grass now thrives pose risk to damage fences and public road networks where and chokes out other native traffic accidents may occur. grasses, destroying habitat for our native animals and Cats – Feral cats pose the biggest threat to park native changing the way wildfire animals. Seasonal trapping of cats occurs in winter when bushfires behave. food is least available to cats. Current management uses Rabbits – Kata Tjuṯa began controlling rabbits in 1989 with a combination of physical, a successful reduction in numbers. Other areas of the park chemical and fire-related remain an ongoing challenge. Healthy rabbit populations techniques. often increase the populations of foxes and cats because they are a favoured food for those species. SHARE YOUR ULURU ADVENTURES! @OfficialUluṟu @SeeUluṟu MAY • 2021 MAY.