Feral Animals
A number of introduced animals, including rabbits, foxes and feral goats and pigs, have established large and widespread populations in Australia. These animals have a major impact on Australia's unique biodiversity and are an important cause of loss in our agricultural grazing and cropping industries, through predation of livestock, crop damage and competition for feed. It is estimated that feral animal impacts cost Australia in the order of $1 billion per year. This does not include long-term land degradation and impacts on vegetation.
The extent of many populations of feral animals means that their eradication from the entire mainland is not feasible. Therefore, apart from exclusion or localised eradication campaigns, we need to accept the continued presence of pest animals and determine how best to manage this presence to reduce agricultural and environmental impacts. Introduced pest animals are normally controlled because they are demonstrated or perceived to have a significant impact on agriculture and the environment and a number of these species are declared pests under various state legislation.
The Australian Pest Animal Management Program (APAMP) has replaced the National Feral Animal Control Program to fund research and extension projects and overcome key impediments to more effective pest management.
Contact
Jeanine Baker
Feral Animals
Switchboard: +61 2 6272 3933
email: Jeanine Baker
web: www.brs.gov.au/feral