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Application to import foxes to Australia as pets
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The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has received an application and draft environment assessment report under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to include Vulpes vulpes (Red fox, silver fox) on the live import list to allow imports for private keeping as pets and potential breeding for commercial sale. Among other things, the applicants claim that: |
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‘the fox, if anything, helps the Australian environment for they kill both fully grown and baby rabbits more often than any other prey. … it is already in Australia, it lives all over and does not cause any major devastation. ‘… ‘Silver foxes would bring some diversity to one species in Australia: effecting the colour, temperament, life span, immune system and habits of the common red fox.’
‘The red fox is already a pest in Australia. The silver fox, though only a domesticated vulpes vulpes, should not be considered as the same sort of wild animal a red fox is, but a completely domesticated version
Clearly, these claims are ludicrous. The silver fox is the same species as the red fox, which has estimated annual economic impacts to Australian agriculture and environment of $21 million and $190 million respectively. Predation by the red fox has been listed as a key threatening process under the EPBC Act since 2000 and Vuples vulpes is unlikely to be added to the live import list.
Under the EPBC Act, the draft environment assessment report from the applicant must be published on the department’s website for public comment, closing on 20 October 2011.
To read the full application and to comment, see: www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/wildlife-trade/invitecomment/vulpes-vulpes.html
CRCs descend on Parliament House for National Science Week
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On 17-18 August, various CRCs took part in a number of events and meetings to let Federal politicians know more about their work. Helen Cathles (Chair), Andreas Glanznig (CEO) and Steve Lapidge (Uptake Program Leader) were there to talk about the achievements of the Invasive Animals CRC. A meet and greet function started things off, with the IA CRCs display hosted by Steve proving very popular with the assembled Parliamentarians (see picture at right: Steve Lapidge with the Hon Sussan Ley, MP for Farrer). |
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This was followed by breakfast with the Federal Agriculture Minister, the Hon Joe Ludwig, and a meeting with the Federal Environment Minister, the Hon Tony Burke, where Andreas had an opportunity to brief him on how the IA CRCs current and proposed extension program works to deliver key targets under the National Biodiversity Strategy.
Factsheets highlighting the benefit of the CRC program in key policy areas were also launched at the event. The IA CRC’s PIGOUT® feral pig bait was featured in the regional publication.
More information: CRC Program website. Even information and factsheet downloads.
New members join the IA CRC team
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The revolving door at the IA CRC Head office in Canberra has been swinging this week and we welcome two new staff to the team. Glenn Conroy (pictured right) joins us as our new Communicaitons Manager, replacing Tracey Lianos. Glenn Conroy has a career spanning more than 30 years in agricultural and environmental communications. His past positions include a decade as an agricultural journalist with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and serving as Media Secretary to the Minister. Glenn had 11 years in communications for the Land & Water Resources R&D Corporation and most recently, more than four years as executive coordinator in the public service regulatory agency Wheat Exports Australia. |
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Glenn looks forward to assisting the Invasive Animals CRC, through media relations strategic management and production of the 2010-11 annual report, in its bid for a further five years of government investment in research solutions to control pest animals across Australia.
Sarah Cook has also started in the Canberra office replacing Melanie Allan as Executive Assistant. Sarah only arrived from Brisbane last Thursday and is trying to acclimatise to the tail end of a Canberra winter. She will be working four days per week.
Anita Idol has started in the IA CRC’s Adelaide office as a temporary replacement for Uptake Program Coordinator Sascha Rettke, who is on maternity leave. She is settling in well!
Welcome to all the new staff who have all started smack bang in the middle of annual reporting time! We wish you luck!
Request for information on eradications in Australia
The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre is planning to collate and review information on pest animal (vertebrates) eradications in Australia to get a national picture of what has happened where, and how effective it was.
We are seeking information on eradications that have been done:
- 1. on offshore islands
- 2. in mainland islands (such as conservation sanctuaries)
- 3. in response to incursions of novel species not established in Australia (eg Canada geese)
- 4. in response to incursions of species outside their known range (eg cane toads in Sydney).
We are defining an ‘eradication’ as the removal of a pair or group of animals known or suspected to have breeding potential (so not just an individual), with the aim of a permanent result.
We are looking for any and all published, grey and unpublished reports or even personal recalls of eradications, in recorded (European) history in Australia. While the scope is challenging, we hope to at least provide a decent first national compilation. Obviously the more help we get from people, the better the final compilation and review!
Contact Wendy Henderson: wendy.henderson@invasiveanimals.com or phone 02 6201 5509.
Building on successful fish management forums over the past five years, 2011 will see the MDBA continuing its commitment to communicating the latest results and on-ground outcomes from the Native Fish Strategy.
The theme of the 2011 Native Fish Forum is ‘People, Flows and Fish’. With the current emphasis on flow requirements throughout the Murray-Darling Basin there will be a strong emphasis on current knowledge regarding impacts of environmental flow releases and natural flood events on native fishes, fish friendly water infrastructure and water management. With the recent flood events it is timely to look at post–flood recovery of threatened native fishes such as the Murray hardyhead and impacts on Coorong estuarine species such as Congolli.
Increased flows often equates to increases in distribution and abundance of alien species. There will be a number of papers reporting on the results of both MDBA and Invasive Animals CRC projects, including actions being undertaken to reduce the risk of Tilapia entering the basin. The Native Fish Strategy relies heavily on community support and a key theme of the forum will be the continuing role of community in the strategy, particularly recreational anglers who share a passion for healthy fish populations and healthy rivers.
A program for the event will be circulated shortly as soon as speakers are confirmed.
Lunch, morning and afternoon tea will be provided by the Authority on both days but please note that costs associated with travel and accommodation will need to be met by participants. This is an open invitation event, although please note that venue restrictions mean that we are limited to 150 attendees.
More information and RSVP by COB Wednesday 28th September 2011: nfs@mdba.gov.au.
Initial testing of the scat detected no mammalian DNA in the sample. However, subsequent to this analysis a refinement of DNA analysis procedures was made as a result of work undertaken during analysis of scats in the Scat Degradation Study (refer ‘Eradicate’ Issues 2 and 4 available on www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/fox). In light of the strength of detector dog response to this particular scat a re-test was requested using the enhanced procedure. Re-testing of the sample produced a fox DNA positive result.
“Invasive species are a subtle threat to the natural balance of species and ecosystems, but can suddenly occur in explosive outbreaks. For this reason, the global Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 includes a specific target on this issue” said Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary to the Convention on Biological Diversity. He added that: “We warmly welcome the letter published in Science – signed by an impressive list of leaders of conservation organizations – because it confirms the commitment of the conservation community to address this threat. Preventing and mitigating the negative effects of invasions is indeed a huge challenge, and the cooperation of the NGOs is of crucial importance.”
The latest edition of the Fox Eradication Program’s quarterly newsletter ‘Eradicate‘ is also now available at the link below.
More information:
- Tasmanian Fox Eradication Program: www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/fox.
- Eradicate newsletter – Issue 4, Winter 2011
- Project page on IA CRC website.
Nominations open for IA CRC annual awards
Nominations for the three annual IA CRC prizes are now open. The prizes recognise the fantastic work of our staff, researchers and collaborators and acknowledge the valuable contributions they make to invasive animal management. These prizes will be the last awarded in this CRC, so please make the point by nominating.
Awards offered are:
- • IA CRC Chair’s prize for excellence in science
- • Participant’s Prize for outstanding contribution to invasive animal management
- • Chief Executive’s prize for achievement as an IA CRC student.
Nominations for each of the three prize categories should be sent to: contact@invasiveanimals.com marked to the attention of Chief Executive, Andreas Glanznig, by no later than Monday 3 October 2011. This year, prizes will be awarded at IA CRC presentations which will be held on Wednesday 26 October in Canberra.
For further information on the eligibility criteria and nomination process, visit:
http://www.invasiveanimals.com/about-us/corporate/awards/
New Publications
Scientific Papers
David Nelson, Michael Crossland & Richard Shine. (2011). Behavioural responses of native predators to an invasive toxic prey species. Austral Ecology, 36(6): 605-611
Matt Bradford, Frederieke J. Kroon and D. John Russell. (2011). The biology and management of Tilapia mariae (Pisces : Cichlidae) as a native and invasive species: a review Marine and Freshwater Research, 62(8) 902-917
Popular articles
Into Oblivion- The disappearing native mammals of northern Australia
Compiled by James Fitzsimons (The Nature Conservancy-Australia Program’s director of Conservation) and co-written by Dr. John Woinarski, Sarah Legge (the Australian Wildlife Conservancy) and Dr. Barry Traill (from the Pew Environment Group) with support from the Thomas Foundation
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/australia/explore/ausmammals.pdf
Since European settlement, the deepest loss of Australian biodiversity has been the spate of extinctions of endemic mammals. Historically, these losses occurred mostly in inland and in temperate parts of the country, and largely between 1890 and 1950. A new wave of extinctions is now threatening Australian mammals, this time in northern Australia.
Reports
New CSIRO Report: Our Future World: An analysis of global trends, shocks and scenarios.
This report describes the outcomes from a CSIRO global foresight project. It presents five megatrends and eight megashocks (global risks) that will redefine how the world’s people live.
Media round-up
Indigenous rangers tackle the Kimberley’s feral pig problem
Feral pig numbers in the Kimberley’s Fitzroy Valley have been building up for years, but there is a plan to stop them. [ More ]
Fox numbers rise
FOX numbers are reported to have risen to levels not seen for more than a decade. [ More ]
Fox in boots
An increase in fox numbers across the country may explain why so many farmers are missing a work boot. [ More ]
State Govt must ‘act’ on mice
STATE Government must act with a greater sense of urgency to the looming mice plague, according to Family First MLC Robert Brokenshire. [ More ]
Predicted mouse plague plan
A NATIONAL working group has been established to co-ordinate preparations for and response to what is expected to be a continuation of Australia’s worst mouse plague in living memory. [ More ]
Feral animal outbreak triggers cull
Authorities say they are dealing with a rising number of feral pigs and cats in national parks across outback Queensland. [ More ]
Fox scats retest
RESULTS of retests on a handful of scats collected by the Fox Eradication Taskforce more than a year ago will not be known for months. [ More ]
IA CRC in the news
A selection of current media articles directly related to the IA CRC is available here. You can subscribe to receive updates directly to your email inbox or mobile phone, or save as a favourite page in your web browser and view at your convenience. This feed can also be provided to third parties without the risk of copyright breach.
Upcoming conferences
For more information on these and other events, please see details on our website.
2011
- Wildlife Disease Association (WDA) Australasia Annual Conference. Meningie, SA. 25-30 September.
- 6th Annual Society for Risk Analysis Conference, Brisbane, QLD. 26-28 September.
- 8th European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference. Berlin, Germany 26-30 September.
- 2011 MDBA Native Fish Forum, Canberra, ACT. 18-19 October.
- 38th Natural Areas Conference: Adaptation and protection of biodiversity in a changing world. Tallahassee, Florida, USA, 1-4 November 2011.
- HWCC Conflict training: Analyzing and Transforming Conflict to Create Sustainable Solutions for People and Wildlife. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, The Big Island, Hawaii, 1-4 November.
- 18th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society. The Big Island, Hawaii 5-10 November.
- Ecological Society of Australia annual conference. Hobart, Tasmania. 21-25 November.
- Biolief: Biological Invasions and Ecosystem Functioning. Mar del Plata, Argentina, 21-24 November.
- International Congress for Conservation Biology. Auckland, New Zealand 5-9 December.
2012
- 25th Vertebrate Pest Conference (USA). Monterey, California. 5-8 March
- 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, South Africa. 9-12 July
- 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology. Glasgow, Scotland. 28 Aug-1 Sept
- Fertility Control Conference. Jackson Wyoming, USA. 29 Aug-1 Sept
