Pre-incursion Plan PIP 005 Pythons and Boas Scope This plan is in place to guide prevention and eradication activities and the management of non-indigenous populations of pythons and boas (Order Squamata; Family Boidae) in the wild in Victoria. Version Document Status Date Author Reviewed By Approved for Release 1.0 First Draft 01/07/11 Susan Wisniewski Simon Martin and Melinda Corry 1.1 Second Draft 02/09/11 Susan Wisniewski Melinda Corry, Andrew Woolnough and Dana Price 2.0 Final draft 27/06/12 Susan Wisniewski M. Corry 2.1 Final 27/06/12 Susan Wisniewski M.Corry Visual Standard approved by ADP 3.0 New final 30/05/16 Dana Price Adam Kay New DEDJTR templates and document revision Acknowledgement and special thanks to Peter Courtney, Senior Curator, Zoos Victoria and Nick Clemann Department of Sustainability and Environment – Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Senior Scientist Threatened Fauna for reviewing this document and providing comments. Published by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Agriculture Victoria, May 2016 © The State of Victoria 2016. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne 3000. Front cover: Boa Constrictor Photo: Image courtesy of Brigid Ennis DELWP Victoria For more information about Agriculture Victoria go to www.agriculture.vic.gov.au or phone the Customer Service Centre on 136 186. ISBN 978-1-925532-39-5 (pdf/online) Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Pre-Incursion Plan PIP005 Pythons and Boas 2 Pre-incursion Plan PIP005 Pythons and Boas Order: Squamata Family: Boidae Pre-Incursion Plan PIP005 Pythons and Boas 3 Contents Pre-incursion Plan PIP005 ...................................................................................................................... 5 Table 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5 Table 2: Declaration Status ..................................................................................................................... 5 Table 3: Delimitation survey options........................................................................................................ 5 Table 4: Species specific delimitation options ......................................................................................... 6 Table 5: Detection,control, monitoring and breeding calendar ................................................................ 6 Table 6: Transport of live specimens.................................................................................................... 6-7 Table 7: Brief description of eradication and containment options ..................................................... 7-10 Table 8: Species specific eradication and containment options ............................................................ 11 Table 9: Brief description of disease, parasite and infection risks ................................................... 11-13 Table 10: Treatment specific WHS considerations ............................................................................... 13 Table 11: Animal related WHS considerations……………………………………………………………..…13 Table 12: Identification requirements - take photo/video and e-mail to: ................................................ 14 Table 13: Euthanasia options ................................................................................................................ 14 Table 14: Sampling/Autopsy requirements ........................................................................................... 14 Table 15: Disposal options .................................................................................................................... 15 Table 16: Legislation, regulations and required permits........................................................................ 15 Table 17: General species and technical experts ................................................................................. 16 Table 18: List of Acronyms .................................................................................................................... 16 Table 19: Glossary ................................................................................................................................. 17 Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ 18 1. Boidae Family: Species Specific Table ........................................................................................ 18-23 References and Further Reading .......................................................................................................... 24 Photographic references ....................................................................................................................... 25 Accessibility If you would like to receive this information/publication in an accessible format (such as large print or audio) please call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186, TTY 1800 122 969, or email [email protected]. Pre-Incursion Plan PIP005 Pythons and Boas 4 Table 1: Introduction Most species of boas and pythons listed here are fecund. They often have early maturation, rapid growth rates, high fecundity and are capable of large clutch sizes. Many pythons and boas also have a potentially long life, with captive longevities reported in excess of 30 years. Pythons and boas are mostly generalist predators, taking a variety of terrestrial vertebrates. In areas of abundant rodent populations, pythons can reach very high densities. Constrictors possess many traits that increase the severity of their possible ecological impacts. Some of these traits also exacerbate the challenge of controlling them and include large adult size, generalised habitat preferences, good swimming ability, arboreal when young, a sedentary and generalist predator, low detectability due to their cryptic nature and the capability of long distance dispersal. Other traits that increase their invasive impacts include being a potential host for diseases of economic, human and wildlife health significance, a tolerance of urbanisation and the ability to occur in high population densities. No introduced populations of reptiles have been intentionally eradicated anywhere on Earth (Reed & Rodda 2009). Beyond presenting a pest risk to Victoria, exotic Boids present a significant disease risk to native pythons because they are known to carry the infectious Inclusion Body Disease (IBD). This viral disease, which can be diagnosed in sick Boids but is usually confirmed at autopsy, has no cure and is always fatal. Snakes can be asymptomatic of the disease while still carrying and transmitting the virus (Reptile Expert 2011). Table 2: Declaration Status in Victoria Most species dealt with in this Pre-Incursion Plan are listed as Controlled Pest Animals under Section 65 of the Catchment and Land Protection (CALP) Act 1994. The Vertebrate Pest Committee lists the considered species as either having a Serious or Extreme/Not Assessed establishment threat. See species specific tables for details. Table 3: Delimitation survey options Method Description Time suggested to determine presence at site 1. Direct visual Use binoculars or spotting scopes to locate One day up to several weeks, depending observations (active snakes, may be best conducted from a on numbers of snakes and ease of searching) vehicle to maximise search area. conducting observations. How many snakes, location of daytime basking areas, direction and rate of dispersal. 2. Spot Light searches Use spotlights to search for snakes on warm One night, up to several weeks nights. depending on numbers of snakes and ease of conducting search. 3. Use of concrete Pipes of various sizes are placed in the These would have limited use as Boids refugia pipes ground with approximately 60% of the pipe generally warm up through direct covered. exposure to solar radiation, although still may be attractive to the snakes as refugia. They may be useful in conjunction with other survey methods. 4. Broad surveillance Doorknocking area, letterbox drops, media As required articles, networking with local reptile groups. Pre-Incursion Plan PIP005 Pythons and Boas 5 Table 4: Species specific delimitation options Please refer to Table 3 for a full description of options Option 1 2 3 4 Dumeril’s boa √ √ √ √ Boa constrictor √ √ √ √ Reticulated python √ √ √ √ New Guinea Tree Boa √ √ √ Emerald tree boa √ √ √ Rainbow boa √ √ √ √ Yellow anaconda √ √ √ Sand boas √ √ Rosy boa √ √ Burmese python √ √ √ √ Blood python √ √ √ √ Indian python √ √ √ √ Ball python √ √ √ √ African rock python √ √ √ √ Table 5: Detection, control, monitoring and breeding calendar JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Detection √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Treatment √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Monitoring √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Breeding √ √ √ √ √ √ N.B. Green shading represents extrapolated optimal times for detection, control