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Frequently Asked Questions
I would like a career in wildlife. What do I have to do?
To become a native animal expert you can undertake informal and formal education. By informal, I mean read whatever literature you find on Australian wildlife from your local and school libraries and consider joining a Society such as ours. Formal education can be undertaken by enrolling in a specialised course at Charles Sturt University at Bathurst or other science courses at local universities.
To start your career before you leave school you might like to write to or visit all your local fauna parks and vets and volunteer your services in any capacity.You could also volunteer for work with National Parks or a local wildlife rescue group.Any such experience, plus formal qualifications, would be a good start to your chosen career.
I am doing a project on Australian wildlife. Can you help?
We are a conservation Society dedicated to conserving Australia’s wildlife through public awareness, education, information and legislation.Our Society is made up of volunteers and runs through the kind donations of our members.
We have available to members a range of brochures on Australian wildlife, including a very detailed one on endangered wildlife.We also publish a quarterly magazine called Australian Wildlife that features many articles on our indigenous fauna and flora.
You can also contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service in your state for more information on any of the various species of Australian wildlife. You can also contact your local Botanic Gardens for information on native plants and flowers.
What do you think of culling kangaroos?
Our Society does not condone the senseless killing of any native animal - for commercial purposes or not.
On the advice of our Scientific Advisory Panel, we do not object to culling of kangaroos, based on the clear scientific evidence provided by the Federal Government.
The kangaroo population is now around 60 million across Australia. We do not "support" the culling of kangaroos, nor do we object to the government-approved project based on clear scientific evidence with clear guidelines laid down, with strict supervision of the project.
It is only logical for the by-product of limited culling to be used in a responsible and useful way for human use such as for food or fine quality leather for soccer boots or shoes.
The Facts on Kangaroos in Australia
There are 48 species of kangaroos in Australia.Of these only five can be commercially harvested under strict license conditions.In addition two species of wallaby are harvested in Tasmania under similar strict guidelines.
The 2002 population estimate for the commercially harvested kangaroos released by the Federal Government puts their numbers at 58.6 million.That means there are more than twice as many kangaroos in Australia as there are cattle (28.7 million).It also means the total kangaroo population is a little more than half that of the Australian sheep population (113.3 million), and it’s a long time since anyone considered Australian sheep or cattle to be at all endangered.
The current kangaroo population is the highest ever recorded and it unquestionably makes kangaroos amongst the most common large wild land mammals on earth.This in spite of the commercial kangaroo harvest of about 3.5 million last year.All of that clearly shows just how sustainably managed the kangaroo population is, as a result of the commercial kangaroo industry guidelines and conditions.
As a result of this the Federal Department, Environment Australia recently approved a large jump in the commercial quota for kangaroos, increasing it to 6.94 million. However, this is only the allowable take quota and it is unlikely any more kangaroos will actually be harvested than the 3.5 million taken last year when the quota was 5.53 million.
Our Society constantly monitors the harvesting program and is always ready to speak up to protect Australia’s unique wildlife if circumstances change.
Could you please let me know what the population of the different native species (flora and fauna) across Australia is. Do you have this information, or could you please refer us to specific resources, experts, other environmental groups that might be able to assist?
The best resource for this information would be The Australian Museum or the Wildlife Management Division of the CSIRO in Canberra for further details of the population of Australia's native species.
It is interesting to note that the last estimated population of kangaroos was in the order 59 million. When Captain Cook landed the estimated population was about 3 million across Australia. Land clearing and Agricultural practices has allowed kangaroos to breed up.
What is the effect of drought on wildlife?
It is often assumed that, because drought is an economic disaster for humans living in the western districts of NSW, it is also a disaster for wildlife. However Homo sapiens is an introduced species, bringing with it farming and cultural traditions from the wetter Northern Hemisphere. The wildlife, both plant and animal, has evolved in and become adapted to the Australian environment throughout the increasing aridity of several million years. Some of the well-studied mechanisms for surviving drought include delayed implantation in some desert kangaroos and various forms of dormancy in native plants. Species survive, although individuals may not. A cyclic balance is maintained, but we need to bear in mind that interference with that cycle may have unfavourable consequences. Large scale artificial feeding for example may lead to a population rebound that outstrips resources when such support feeding stops.
Regardless of population dynamics, the death and suffering of individuals is visible and will increase as the drought continues. Kangaroos, wallabies and wombats seeking what fodder remains on road verges become road kills. Some kangaroos are already so weakened that they cannot move quickly enough to avoid onrushing vehicles. Graziers demand culling of kangaroos as they come to compete more and more with sheep and cattle for diminishing resources available on their properties.
The critical resource at present is fodder. Agricultural activities of European settlers have actually increased the availability of water at dams and bores across Australia. But the agricultural practices of the Northern Hemisphere and the imperatives of modern economics have also lead to overstocking of sheep of cattle and resulting land degradation. If any long-term solution to the loss of biodiversity in the western districts is to be found, it will require a solution to the related problems of overstocking and land degradation, including increased salinity of the surface soil.
Attention is usually focused on the wildlife species that are visibly suffering, mainly the large mammals. But small to medium sized mammals must face additional predation from introduced foxes and cats as drought causes a decrease in available prey. Drought is a time when native species, adapted to arid conditions, might be expected to actually have an advantage over introduced species, but that advantage can be wiped out by increased predation. Predator control must be part of any program that aims to protect native species in good times as well as in times of drought. Likewise exotic weed control is an important aspect of maintaining plant diversity in the Australian landscape.
The above considerations apply to broad scale management to insure survival of wildlife populations. However there is sure to come a point where a combination of factors put local wildlife populations in such jeopardy that intervention is necessary. This will be the case with isolated reserves and properties where recruitment from a larger population is blocked. And it may of course be ones own backyard. If food and/or water must be supplied, it must be done in a way that does not expose the target species to predators and does not create long term dependency. Food should be as close as possible to the natural diet and must not be supplied at a fixed feeding point. The Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia has a policy on the feeding of wildlife that includes the above points.
The bottom line is that prevention is better than attempted cures. Drought cannot be prevented, however native species in the western districts have adaptations to drought conditions. Reduction of additional pressure brought about human activities is essential. This requires long term commitment by organisations such as our organisation, the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia that persists even when the rains return.
I would like to volunteer to work with wildlife.
Our Society has a number of opportunities for volunteers. One of our current projects is working with the Friends of Towra Point Nature Reserve in Botany Bay, Sydney on a monthly basis. The Friends Group work with National parks and Wildlife Service staff to clear exotic weeds and rubbish from the nature reserve, plant native trees and shrubs in selected and cleared areas, conduct surveys of wildlife and plant life and generally assist in maintaining the reserve and its associated lagoons.
Please contact the Ranger, Georgina Eldershaw on Tel 61 2 9668 9111 or our Society for more details.
Many other conservation groups also have a volunteer program and you should contact each organisation directly for more details.
I have possums in my house. Can I shoot them?
No. Definitely not! All Australian possums and other native wildlife are fully protected by law. Check with the National parks and Wildlife Service in your State for the guidelines or any exemptions.
If a possum is in your house, you should contact the nearest NPWS office and report the details; advise the Environmental Officer of your local Municipal Council and seek their advice and help; call the Wildlife Rescue Service nearest to your location for advice and assistance.
Normally possums cannot be re-located. Possums are very territorial, if you take a possum from one area and place it in another location, the possums in the area that you “dump” it in will kill it. Either by chasing it out or fighting with it till one of them dies. If you catch a possum inside a building or roof cavity, put them outside, but do not relocate them to a new territory. Providing a nest box in the backyard can discourage them from trying to next in buildings.
NPWS policy states that possums cannot be re-located any further than 50 metres from where it was trapped.
FOR MORE INFORMATION please contact our Office on:
Tel: 02 9556 1537 • International: +61 2 9556 1537
Fax: 02 9599 0000 • International: +61 2 9599 0000
Email: wildlifepreservation@optusnet.com.au
Post: PO Box 42, BRIGHTON LE SANDS, NSW, 2216, Australia |
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