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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
AAWS Education and Training Stocktake
Animals in the Wild
Introduction to Animals in the Wild in Australia......................................... 2
Issues impacting on Animals in the Wild ...................................................2
Welfare issues for Animals in the Wild ......................................................4
Wildlife Management ....................................................................................... 5
Wildlife Rehabilitation...................................................................................... 8
Pest Animals ..................................................................................................... 9
Key Pest Animal Species ........................................................................13
Formal Education – Higher Education ....................................................... 27
Formal Education – VET Sector................................................................... 36
Formal Education – Schools Sector ........................................................... 41
Informal Education - Government ............................................................... 43
Informal Education – Hunting Organisations............................................ 46
Informal Education – Wildlife Rescue and Shelters................................. 47
Informal Education – Other........................................................................... 54
Informal Education – Ecotourism and Wildlife ......................................... 57
Informal Education – Wildlife Forums ........................................................ 59
Forums for licensed wildlife carers ..........................................................59
Forums for wildlife carers and people with an interest in wildlife ............59
Informal Education – Animal Interest Groups........................................... 60
Disclaimer: This Education and Training Stocktake has been prepared by Scarlet Consulting and CM Communications to inform
the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS). The stocktake is a snapshot in time of the main opportunities for and
approaches taken in Australia to education and training about animal welfare in each of the six AAWS sectors. It is not a
complete and exhaustive list. It has primarily been developed through desktop research and consultation with AAWS
stakeholders. The websites accessed for information were current at the time of final reporting in January 2008. This report
does not reflect the views of AAWS or the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry. All care has
been taken in the preparation of this report by the consultants but they do not guarantee complete accuracy for your particular
purpose and therefore disclaim all liability for any error, loss or other consequence that may arise from you relying on it.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Introduction to Animals in the Wild in Australia
The AAWS Working Group for the Animals in the Wild sector determined that animals in the wild
should be defined as:
•
Air breathing vertebrates
•
Not dependent on humans for their survival.1
The Animals in the Wild sector includes:
•
all terrestrial mammals
•
whales, dolphins, dugongs, seals and sea lions, sea turtles
•
reptiles
•
birds
•
amphibians.
The sector incorporates both native Australian animals along with invasive species2. The Working
Group determined that native and introduced animals should be “afforded the same consideration”.
Both groups deserve humane treatment. From a sentience perspective, both are capable of
experiencing pain and their welfare needs are the same. “The fact that pest animals can seriously and
negatively impact on the welfare of native animals requires separate discussion”, according to the
stocktake report of welfare arrangements for animals in the wild.3
Currently there is no nationally accepted and enforceable Codes of Practice and Standard Operating
Procedures for the humane and feasible control of 'overabundant native animal species' apart from
the ‘Code of Practice for the humane shooting of Kangaroos’ which guides the harvesting of allowable
kangaroos species. Nor is there a Code for the rehabilitation, relocation and reintroduction to the wild
of native species (eg koala relocation programs – care and welfare of the koalas that are moved and
the impact they have on the animals where they are moved to).
New national codes of practice are proposed for the humane control of feral animals. The codes will
cover methods of control for feral cats, foxes, feral pigs, wild dogs, feral goats and horses and rabbits.
The National Codes will bring together best practice and the objectives of the Australian Animal
Welfare Strategy, which is to have uniform standards for treatment of animals across the country.
The draft National Codes were open for public comment until 30 November 2007 (see page 6 for details).
Issues impacting on Animals in the Wild
The AAWS Stocktake Report identified the following issues that are impacting on, or have the ability
to negatively affect the welfare of animals in the wild:
•
Loss and changes to the habitat of native species
•
Humane treatment and management of pest animals
•
Situations where there is overabundance or translocated native species – for example poorly
targeted control measures can have serious welfare implications for native animals
•
Need for sustainable land use planning and management that accommodates the needs of
wildlife and addresses the welfare of wild animals
•
Low level of awareness and commitment by Australians to the welfare of animals in the wild
and the connected low level of community responsibility
•
Ensuring that wildlife tourism operators and similar ventures are aware of and promote the
welfare of wild animals
•
Lack of contingency planning for episodic events and creeping disasters that affect animals in
the wild (eg bushfire, floods or drought).
1
AAWS Animals in the Wild Animal Welfare Arrangements Final Report, by Lyndy Scott
Invasive species are organisms (usually transported by humans) which successfully establish themselves in, and then
overcome, otherwise intact, pre-existing native ecosystems.
3
Ibid.
2
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Situations where the welfare of animals in the wild is of concern:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wildlife hurt or injured by motor vehicle traffic or other accidents
Animals affected by bushfires or floods
Effects of human development and deforestation on wildlife
Vertebrate species and their interactions with ecological systems - both the current impacts of
drought and the future impacts of climate change
Wildlife in peri-urban areas which need to be relocated back into the natural environment
Wildlife (in particular penguins and seabirds) which are affected by events like oil spills
Wildlife emergency situations such as whale beachings
Control (lethal and non-lethal) of native and introduced animals where there is a perception
(not always correct) that they are causing problems to the environment or to humans (including
agricultural impacts)
Field and laboratory-based research involving animals taken from the wild
‘Living with Wildlife’ urban situations – for example possums and swooping magpies
Hunting of wild animals for sport.
Key people involved with the care and management of animals in the wild:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wildlife shelter personnel
Licensed wildlife carers
Farmers/landowners
Park managers
Police, local government animal management officers, and rural firefighters
Sporting shooters
Wildlife researchers and students
Personnel involved in captive breeding programs and relocation of wildlife.
Key people/groups likely to impact negatively on the welfare of animals in the wild:
•
•
•
General public
Road users
Hunters.
Animal welfare organisations’ concerns
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Effects of human activity on wildlife (development, climate change, agricultural practices, land
clearing)
Management and control of native animals
Management and control of introduced animals
Humaneness and target-specificity of control techniques
Farming of wildlife
Keeping of wild animals as pets
Rescue and rehabilitation of injured or orphaned wildlife
Capture, handling and transport of wildlife.
AAWS Final Stocktake Report for Animals in the Wild4
The AAWS Final Stocktake Report for Animals in the Wild identified four major risks for the sector.
Two of these have implications for this Education and Training Stocktake:
1. A lack of continuing, dedicated resources and expertise to undertake basic and applied research
and to implement programs for animals in the wild
2. There is general public ignorance and/or apathy regarding the welfare of animals in the wild.
This could continue if the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy is not presented in a manner that is
readily understood and accepted by its audiences.
4
Scott, 2006
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Welfare issues for Animals in the Wild
Overview of relevant current and potential training and education activities
Issue
Wildlife
management
Pest animal
management
Ecotourism
& wildlife
Training /
Education
Resources
Wildlife
Shelters
Details
Limitations
Opportunities
Potential impact on
animal welfare
outcomes
Potential high impact
if more people trained
eg WIRES in
NSW
Increase support to
shelters for training
Codes of
Practice and
Standard
Operating
Procedures
Limited
CoP “expects
that animal
suffering will
be minimised”
Only people
interested in
rescuing &
protecting wildlife
do the training.
Shelters have
limited resources
Enforcement of
CoP and SOPs.
A new national Code of
Practice is being developed
New national CoP
could have increased
impact
Conservation
Volunteers is a
Registered
Training
Organisation
(RTO)
Emergency
number in
some States to
call if see
injured animal
Conservation
Volunteers is the
only recognised
trainer
Not a large reach.
Could encourage more
education & training to this
group
Medium level impact
Appropriate for
circumstances –
creates awareness
& assistance
Unsure of the number of
people who report injured
animals – perhaps need
more promotion eg TV
community announcement.
Also need for driver
education related to
avoiding accidents with
wild (and other) animals
Moderate level impact
with greater
promotion
Traffic
injuries
Limited
Culling
State welfare
agencies
Welfare codes
for feral
animals
Unsure about
specific training
programs in
relation to culling
and welfare
Develop and offer specific
training programs if don’t
exist based on welfare
codes etc
High level impact
Hunting
Field & Game
Australia Inc
NSW Hunter
Education
Handbook
Mentions ethical,
safe & responsible
hunting but unable
to determine if
provides details on
welfare aspects
A welfare code for hunting
would be helpful in those
States (other than Victoria)
that allow recreational
hunting
Moderate level impact
if code developed and
implemented
Victorian DSE
Victorian
Hunting Guide
& Fact sheets –
Ethical Duck &
Deer Hunting
Mainly ethics only
Good in that it contains
reference to welfare code
Moderate level as
mainly ethics rather
than welfare
Victorian DPI
Hunting
Welfare Code
Good specific info
Unsure of distribution –
would be helpful to be
listed on FGA site, etc
High impact if
adequate distribution
and compliance
State Licensing
Authorities
Waterfowl ID
test
Info sheet on
species ID
Is mainly conservation
than welfare per se;
including shooting
accuracy might be helpful
Limited impact on
welfare outcomes
None identified
None identified
NA
Links with Dog Health
Program in the future
High level impact with
additional resources
Indigenous
Hunting
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Wildlife Management
Wildlife management is the process of using science to identify appropriate management principles
and practices, to develop plans of management and to implement and review these plans.
People involved in this process include scientists, wildlife managers, wildlife users, educators and
extension/interpretation officers.
Australasian Wildlife Management Society (AWMS)
www.awms.org.nz/
In response to a growing need for a body committed to wildlife management in Australia and New
Zealand, the Australasian Wildlife Management Society (AWMS) was established in May, 1988. The
Society has about 400 members from all regions of Australia, New Zealand and from other countries.
Members come from all sectors of wildlife management and a wide range of institutions and private
organisations.
The objectives of the Society are:
•
to promote the study and application of scientific wildlife management
•
to provide opportunities for discussion and the dissemination of information among members by
appropriate means such as meetings, workshops, and publications.
AWMS holds an annual conference, and publishes a newsletter several times a year. The Newsletter is
a forum for discussing current issues in wildlife management, and gives a diary of coming events.
Case study - Kangaroos
The Australian rangeland is fragile and easily degraded. Kangaroo populations have increased
dramatically in these areas since the introduction of European farming methods, with water supplied for
domestic stock contributing to increased kangaroo survival rates. The increased growth in kangaroo
numbers has led to excessive grazing pressure on this vulnerable environment. Kangaroo culling or
harvesting has become an important management tool – for both the sustainability of the land and for
the kangaroo. It also contributes to improved protection and survival of other native animals.
There are 48 species of kangaroos in Australia, five of which can be harvested by licence. In 2002, the
population of species that may be commercially harvested was estimated to be 58.6 million (in comparison
there were estimated to be about 28 million head of cattle and 113 million head of sheep).5
For any kangaroo species to be harvested, the National Parks Authority in each State must develop a
detailed Management Plan that is approved by the Federal Department of the Environment and Water.
These Plans must detail the population monitoring and quota setting controls, the controls over the
take and they must be renewed every five years.
Each year, after the population estimate is obtained, each Management Plan will set a maximum
allowable take (quota) of between 10-15% of total population. The populations fluctuate depending
on seasonal conditions, during droughts they can decline, or they can increase dramatically during
good seasons as has been the case in recent years.
The State’s Authority will then issue individually and sequentially numbered plastic lockable tags.
These tags are designed to ensure that once properly applied any tampering with them will be
perfectly obvious.
Each kangaroo taken by licensed harvesters must have such a tag fixed to it and the harvester and
processor must report back to the Authorities on a monthly basis the details of the exact numbers off
the tags they have used, where the tags were used and what species, sex and weight of animal they
5
Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia cites ABARE Australian Livestock Numbers, 2002.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
were attached to. The Authority monitors the release and use of tags to ensure the harvest in any one
area does not exceed the quota.
The regulatory controls over kangaroo harvesting
All kangaroos are harvested by professional shooters. Strict State and Federal Government controls
ensure that no kangaroo can enter the commercial industry unless they have been taken by a licensed
kangaroo harvester who has passed a TAFE accredited training course which includes training in the
animal welfare aspects of kangaroo harvesting. In addition anyone wishing to harvest kangaroos for
human consumption must undergo assessment of their accuracy with their firearm.
Code of Practice for the humane shooting of Kangaroos
There is a ‘Code of Practice for the humane shooting of Kangaroos’ which sets an achievable standard
of humane conduct and is the minimum required of persons shooting kangaroos.
The Code was endorsed in 1985 by the Council of Nature Conservation Ministers (CONCOM) which is
composed of all Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers having responsibility for national parks
and wildlife. The Code was revised in 1990.
The Code was produced to ensure that all persons intending to shoot a free-living kangaroo are aware
of the welfare aspects pertinent to that activity. (In this Code the term 'kangaroo' means all species of
the family Macropodidae within the superfamily Macropodoidea and so applies to kangaroos, wallaroos
or euros, wallabies and pademelons.)
When shooting a kangaroo the primary objective must be to achieve instantaneous loss of
consciousness and rapid death without regaining consciousness. For the purposes of this Code, this is
regarded as a sudden and painless death. Commonsense is required to assess the prevailing
conditions. Where the conditions are such as to raise doubts about achieving a sudden and painless
kill, shooting must not be attempted. No matter how carefully the shooter aims, some kangaroos will
not be killed outright. Wounded kangaroos must be dispatched as quickly and humanely as possible.
Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia
www.kangaroo-industry.asn.au
The Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia (KIAA) promotes an understanding of the kangaroo
industry, its vital role in the environmental sustainability of the Australian rangelands, and its role in
indigenising Australian agriculture.
The KIAA website has a lot of background information on the kangaroo harvesting industry, including
facts and data. There is a Schools section on the website that gives curriculum ideas and teaching
resources for teachers, and interactive activities and quizzes for students. A video is available for use
in the classroom.
Humans eat about 60% of the 3 million kangaroos harvested each year, the rest become pet food.6
Kangaroos are used for their skin, meat and liver and there are now many products made from
kangaroo. Kangaroo meat is low in cholesterol and fat and recognised as a healthy alternative to
other red meats. Kangaroo is also now being viewed as an environmentally friendlier red meat
alternative than lamb or beef as they emit a lot less methane than sheep or cattle and require
considerably less water than sheep.7
Game meat courses and firearms competency tests
All four States of NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia have established courses
for harvesters on handling game meat to be used for human consumption. The courses are called
different names in each state, eg Australian Game Meat Hygiene and Handling in NSW, Commercial
Wildlife Harvesting Course in Queensland, and there is also a separate course called 'Harvesting
6
7
Steve Dow, “An Industry that’s under the gun”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 26 September 2007.
Ibid.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Kangaroos for Pet Food' in NSW. The successful attendance at the appropriate course is a condition of
a harvester's licence in NSW, Queensland and South Australia. It is a voluntary condition in Western
Australia.
The courses used in NSW, South Australia and Western Australia are based upon the course
developed in NSW by the Open Training and Education Network - Distance Education (OTEN), which
is part of the TAFE system. In Queensland, the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE has developed
their own course, but this is basically similar to that offered in the other States. However, the
Queensland course has two modules, one covering the Macropod Management Program (developed in
conjunction with QPWS), and the other covering the hygiene and handling of game meat (developed
in conjunction with the Queensland Livestock and Meat Authority). All of the courses have a
component that covers the humane killing of kangaroos.
By the end of 2000, about 1000 prospective commercial shooters had undertaken the course in NSW,
with about 600-700 completing it successfully (Eric Middledorf, OTEN, NSW). The participants can
work at their own rate and, if necessary, can be supplied with someone to assist with the writing of
answers to questions during examination. The course cost $135 in 2000, but about one third were
exempted from paying as they were on a low income.
All of the courses have a section dealing with humane killing that has the following objectives (taken
from the NSW course notes):
'By the end of this unit shooters should thoroughly understand the regulations for the legal and
humane killing of game. They must be able to describe and justify:
• the most effective way to achieve sudden and painless death for the game animal
• accurate sighting in of a rifle
• the required point of aim
• permitted conditions for kangaroo shooting
• the procedure for dealing with wounded kangaroos, pouch young and illegal shooters.'
Other native wildlife species
Information on the management of other key native wildlife species can be found at the following
websites:
Platypus
Platypus Care program (Australian Platypus Conservancy)
www.platypus.asn.au/care
Wombat
The Wombat Foundation - Saving the Northern hairy Nosed Wombat
www.wombatfoundation.com.au/recovery.html
Koala
Australian Koala Foundation
www.savethekoala.com
The Bilby
Save the Bilby Fund
www.savethebilbyfund.com
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Wildlife Rehabilitation
Hundreds of thousands of wild animals are killed, injured and orphaned throughout Australia as a
direct consequence of human activities. As government resources for wildlife management dwindle,
much of the work of rescuing and caring for these animals falls on the shoulders of volunteer
organisations. See the Section on Wildlife Rescue and Shelters and Wildlife Forums for information
about their activities and the education and training opportunities available.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Pest Animals
Definitions
Pest animals
Pest
with
pest
pest
animals cause significant damage to a valued resource. The pest status of an animal can change
time, between areas or according to the perception of the assessor. What might be one person's
might be another’s valued resource. Native animals such as kangaroos and possums can be a
in some situations.
Feral animals
A feral animal is a non-native animal that has escaped from captivity and established a self-sustaining
population independent of humans. Wild horses, pigs and cats are feral. Foxes and rabbits are not
feral as these two animals were deliberately released to establish wild populations. However, the word
is now generally applied to any non-native animal that causes serious damage to human interests,
and is how the word is used in this report.
Exotic animals
An exotic animal is an animal that is outside its natural range. It may be an animal that has been
introduced to Australia from another country, or it may be an animal that has been translocated to
another part of Australia - e.g. kookaburras have been introduced to south-west Western Australia.
Invasive Animals – an overview
Invasive animals are Australia's No.1 concern in maintaining the biodiversity of the environment and in
agricultural grazing and cropping industries. Australia is host to 56 invasive vertebrate animal species.
Invasive animals, particularly pigs, rabbits, foxes and cats cost Australia an estimated $720 million per
annum through environmental, economic and social damage. Most agricultural sectors suffer
significant economic losses through predation of livestock, crop damage, and competition for feed.
As well as direct effects on our economy, invasive animals have also been a major factor in Australia's
unenviable record of having nearly half the known mammalian extinctions worldwide in the past 200
years. They are also strongly implicated in the serious decline of Australia's native freshwater fish
populations. Between 1995 and 2005 the number of terrestrial bird & mammal species assessed as
extinct, endangered or vulnerable rose by 41% from 120 to 169 (ABS, 2006).
Predation by cats and foxes are listed as national key threatening processes in the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) 1999. Foxes are the worst species in terms of
environmental impact (estimated at around $190m annually), with cats a close second ($144m)8. This
is mostly because of their heavy predation on native mammals, birds and reptiles. Australia's native
fauna did not evolve with carnivorous predators such as these, and do not have avoidance strategies.
The disappearance or extreme restriction in range and abundance of many of Australia's small animals
such as the bilby, mala and numbat are attributed in the main to these species. Competition with
rabbits for food and burrows has also been a contributing factor, as well as habitat fragmentation.
The cost of controlling feral animals by governments and landholders is more than $60 million a year.
Additionally, about $20 million is spent annually on research to find better methods of management.
Because of varying concerns and attitudes towards invasive animal management, the preparation of
management plans to address these issues can often be problematical and require an extensive,
expensive and time-consuming consultation process. It is vitally important that Australia be prepared
with humane, target-specific, cost-effective and safe means of keeping populations of invasive species
under control. A national Australian Pest Animal Strategy, along with the Australian Animal Welfare
Strategy, and Standard Operating Procedures and Codes of Practice are continually being refined to
address this.
8
Invasive Animals CRC, 2007
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Institutional arrangements for the control of pest animals
Pest management is primarily the responsibility of the States and Territories. The Australian
Government plays a role in coordinating pest animal management through the Vertebrate Pest
Committee (VPC), Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre and the National Feral Animal
Control Programme.
Vertebrate Pests Committee
The Australian Government, the Australian States and Territories, CSIRO and New Zealand
Government are members of the VPC which provides coordinated policy and planning solutions to pest
animal issues. The VPC has developed an Australian Pest Animal Strategy.
The VPC also operates technical working groups that include the National Cane Toad Working Group
and the Animal Welfare Working Group. The committee works with the National Land and Water
Resources Audit and the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre to develop pest animal-related
categories to measure the extent and impact of invasive species.
Invasive Animals CRC
The Invasive Animals CRC works to find ways to reduce the numbers of pest animals to help restore
native biodiversity and reduce losses in the agricultural industries. In terms of animal welfare the CRC
aims to develop tools that are longer-lasting, more effective and humane, and strategies that assist
land managers to more effectively control their pest species. (See separate comprehensive
information on Invasive Animals CRC.)
National Feral Animal Control Programme
The National Feral Animal Control Programme is supported through the Australian Government's
Natural Heritage Trust and is managed by the Bureau of Rural Sciences. It was established to reduce
the damage to agriculture caused by pest animals.
Codes of Practice (Pest Animals)
There is an expectation that animal suffering associated with pest management be minimised.
Consideration of animal suffering should occur regardless of the status given to a particular pest
species or the extent of the damage or impact created by that pest. While the ecological and
economic rationales for the control of pests such as the wild dog or feral cat are frequently
documented, little attention has been paid to the development of an ethical framework in which these
pests are controlled.
An ethical approach to pest control includes the recognition of and attention to the welfare of all
animals affected directly or indirectly by control programs. Ensuring such approaches are uniformly
applied as management practices requires the development of agreed Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs) for pest animal control.
These SOPs are written in a way that describes the procedures involved for each control technique as
applied to each of the major pest animal species. While SOPs address animal welfare issues applicable
to each technique, a Code of Practice (COP) is also required that bring together these procedures into
a document which also specifies humane control strategies and their implementation.
COPs encompass all aspects of controlling a pest animal species. This includes aspects of best practice
principles, relevant biological information, guidance on choosing the most humane and appropriate
control technique and how to most effectively implement management programs.
For example, in 2005 the Victorian government issued a Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals in
Hunting under Section 7 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. This Code aims to prevent
cruelty and encourage the considerate treatment of animals that are hunted or used for hunting. It
recommends membership by recreational hunters of approved hunting organisations. To protect the
welfare of hunted animals, this Code clearly defines the only type of animals that may be used to
assist hunters and the acceptable method in which these animals can be used. The Code does not
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
approve of hunting where one animal is permitted to inflict an injury that causes another animal to
suffer. In this Code, hunting includes the use of any legal firearm or bow capable of humanely killing
the animal hunted.
In 2003 the Western Australian government issued a Code of Practice for the capture and marketing
of feral animals in Western Australia. It is based on the Australian Model Code of Practice for the
Welfare of Animals – Feral Livestock Animals, and has been adapted for use in Western Australia.
The Code is based on current knowledge and technology.
Standard Operating Procedures
www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/humane-control/index.html
The Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage contracted the NSW
Department of Primary Industries to undertake a Natural Heritage Trust project to develop Codes of
Practice and Standard Operating Procedures for the humane capture, handling and destruction of feral
animals. While the Codes and Procedures have not been adopted nationally by all jurisdictions, some
of these organisations are adopting them wholly or in part for their own use. Communicating about
these SOPs is an education/information opportunity.
The SOPs developed for the control of pest animals include:
•
Shooting and trapping of pest birds
•
Ground shooting of feral cats, trapping of feral cats using cage traps and padded-jaw traps
•
Ground shooting of feral deer
•
Trapping of wild dogs using padded-jaw traps and cage traps
•
Ground shooting, ground baiting, aerial baiting of wild dogs
•
Ground shooting, ground baiting, aerial baiting of foxes
•
Fumigation of fox dens using carbon monoxide, trapping of foxes using padded-jaw traps and
cage traps
•
Methods of euthanasia
•
The care and management of dogs used in the control of pest animals
•
Ground shooting, aerial shooting, mustering, trapping of feral goats
•
Ground shooting of hares
•
Ground shooting, aerial shooting, mustering, trapping of feral horses
•
Ground shooting, aerial shooting, trapping of feral pigs
•
Inoculation of rabbits with Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus
•
Diffusion fumigation of rabbit warrens, rabbit warren destruction by ripping and using explosives
•
Ground shooting and trapping of rabbits using padded-jaw traps
Humane pest animal control
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/resources/majorpubs/guides/humane-pest-animal-control
This 2005 publication meets the pressing need for pest animal control methods that are humane,
target specific, cost-effective and safe for humans to use. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
discuss animal welfare impacts for target and non-target species and describe techniques and their
application, as well as covering health and safety aspects. A Code of Practice (COP) for each of the
key pest animal species listed above provides general information on best practice management,
control strategies, species biology and impact, and the humaneness of current control methods.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
New rules proposed for humane control of feral pests
www.invasiveanimals.com/index.php?id=164
New national codes of practice are proposed for the humane control of feral animals. Following a year
of discussion, state and territory agencies are considering a set of best practice control methods for
national adoption. The codes will cover methods of control for feral cats, foxes, feral pigs, wild dogs,
feral goats and horses and rabbits.
The National Codes will bring together best practice and the objectives of the Australian Animal
Welfare Strategy, which is to have uniform standards for treatment of animals across the country.
The codes list a number of methods as not approved. These will, with adoption of the National Codes,
be phased-out, by the end of 2009.
Public comments on the draft National Codes closed on 30 November 2007.
Threat Abatement Plans
www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/tap.html
Threat abatement plans establish a national framework to guide and coordinate Australia's response
to key threatening processes registered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Threat abatement plans provide for the research, management, and any other actions necessary to
reduce the impact of a listed key threatening process on native species and ecological communities.
Implementing the plan should assist the long-term survival in the wild of affected native species or
ecological communities.
Approved threat abatement plans as of 19 January 2007 include:
• Beak and Feather Disease affecting endangered psittacine species (2005)
• Competition and Land Degradation by Feral Goats (1999)
• Competition and Land Degradation by Feral Rabbits (1999)
• Incidental catch (or by catch) of Seabirds during Longline Fishing operations (2006)
• Infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis (2006)
• Predation by European Red Fox (1999)
• Predation by Feral Cats (1999)
• Predation, Habitat Degradation, Competition and Disease Transmission by Feral Pigs (2005)
Draft threat abatement plans where the public comment period has recently passed, include:
• Predation by feral cats (June 2007)
• Predation by the European red fox (June 2007)
• Competition and land degradation by feral rabbits (June 2007)
• Competition and land degradation by feral goats (June 2007)
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Key Pest Animal Species
Below are descriptions of the following key pest animals in Australia:
•
Feral or Arabian Camel
•
Cane toads
•
Carp
•
Feral cats
•
Deer
•
Dingoes and Wild dogs
•
European red fox
•
Feral goats
•
Feral horses
•
Kangaroos and wallabies
•
Feral pigs
•
Bushtail possum
•
Common starling
•
Feral donkey
Feral or Arabian Camel (Camelus dromedarius)9
Camels occupy most of Australia’s desert country including the Great Sandy, Gibson, Great Victoria
and Simpson deserts, as well as much of the semi-desert lands. There are estimated to be between
800,000 and 1 million wild camels in Australia and their population is doubling every 7-8 years.10
Feral aggregations of up to 500 individuals have been recorded in Australia. Like feral horses, female
camels usually give birth to one young every second year. Hence they do not have a high potential
rate of increase but this is compensated to some extent by their longevity, up to 50 years, and few
mortality factors, other than by human intervention.
Damage
Camels add to the total grazing impact with the damage likely to be most severe during and coming
out of drought. This is of major concern to pastoralists that wish to conserve scarce pasture for their
breed stock. They also destroy fences and are a potential carrier of exotic diseases that are a threat to
stock should these diseases ever establish in Australia.
Given their adaptation to desert conditions, camels are likely to cause less damage to native
vegetation than species such as feral horses, feral donkeys and domestic stock which usually are more
concentrated around water points during extended dry periods. Camels are of concern to indigenous
communities because they can foul water holes and damage ceremonial art and other cultural sites
that are often associated with water holes.
Management
The primary forms of management are trapping at water points, muster and shooting. There is a
rapidly expanding industry based on camels, primarily for game meat, although some are also taken
for live export and for use in the tourist industry. Fences that exclude camels but allow free access of
native wildlife has been used to reduce their damage to key waterholes.
Central Australian Camel Industry Association Inc
Camels Australia Export is the registered business name of the Central Australian Camel Industry
Association Inc (CACIA). This Association is made up of members from the pastoral industry, meat
industry, aboriginal communities, tourism operators, transport operators, contractors and Government
agencies.
9
Farmnote 122/2000, Feral Camel, Agriculture Western Australia; Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory.
Arabian Camel (Camelus dromedarius); Wilson, G., Dexter, N., O’Brien, P. and Bomford, M. (1992) Pest animals in Australia – a
survey of introduced wild animals. Bureau of Rural Sciences and Kangaroo Press.
10
RIRDC Publication No 99/118 (2000); http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/NAP/99-118.pdf
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
The CACIA promotes the sustainable development of the camel industry through the use, knowledge
and well-being of camels in Australia. This is being achieved by implementing results of research and
development projects.
As an alternative to Government controlled culling programs, CACIA has developed markets for trade
in live camels and camel meat. The CACIA website promotes awareness of the camel industry and
assists in converting a feral problem into diverse income and employment for Australia.
Code of Practice
www.camelsaust.com.au/cop.htm
The code is intended as a guide for all people responsible for the welfare and husbandry of camels,
with the aim of achieving humane husbandry throughout all types of camel enterprises. Assistance
and specific advice on management and disease control in camels should be obtained from
experienced advisers.
Capture and Handling
The CACIA has developed guidelines for capture and handling. These cover:
• Which Camels are Suitable for the Abattoir?
• Relevant Aspects of Camel Biology
• Social Organisation
• Methods to locate and capture
• Handling Freshly Caught Camels
• Camel Transport
• Emergency Destruction of Camels
Cane toad (Bufo marinus)11
Cane toads were introduced from Hawaii to Australia in 1935, in an unsuccessful attempt to control
scarab beetles in sugar cane crops. They are still spreading and adapting and now range from
Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory through to the New South Wales coast as far south as
Yamba, including urban areas. Recently they have colonised the Northern Territory and they are
predicted to move into the northern parts of Western Australia. Cane toads are relatively long-lived
with specimens being recorded of 16 years. Females can weigh up to 2.5 kg.
Damage
Cane toads are regarded as a major nuisance by the public and are believed to have a serious impact
on native wildlife although there have been few studies aimed at quantifying the damage that they
cause. In the wild, cane toads are believed to compete for food, shelter and breeding sites with native
frogs.
Cane toads are poisonous at all stages of their life-cycle and have a significant environmental impact
on native vertebrates and amphibians. The cane toad has had a significant impact on Northern Quoll
populations. These small native carnivores are frog-eating and have no experience of toxicity, as
Australia previously had no poisonous frogs. Cane toads also impact goannas and other monitors, the
freshwater crocodile and some snakes.
Management
Currently there are no management strategies that are specific to cane toads. Actions have included
detection and surveillance programs at the boundaries of their current distribution in an attempt to
prevent their further spread. Agencies have investigated the potential for using parasites and diseases
for their control but this work is in its infancy and would need extensive studies including an
assessment of the potential impact of the control agent on native wildlife, particularly native frogs,
before they could be used extensively.
11
Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines - Cane Toad fact Sheet.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
The main controls on the spread of Cane Toads in southern Australia are quarantine checks and public
awareness and response.
Carp (Cyprinus carpio)12
Carp were released into the wild in Australia on a number of occasions in the 1800s and 1900s but
become widespread when released from a fish farm into the Murray River near Mildura in 1964.
Introduced carp are now the most abundant large freshwater fish in the Murray-Darling Basin and are
the dominant species in many fish communities in south-eastern Australia. A recent NSW Rivers
Survey found that carp represent more than 90% of fish biomass in some rivers and have reached
densities of up to one fish per square metre of water surface. They also occur in Western Australia
and Tasmania.
Damage
Carp affect industries that depend on pristine water quality and aquatic habitats. Such industries
include domestic and irrigation water suppliers, agriculture, tourism and commercial and recreational
fisheries. Carp cause significant damage to aquatic plants and increase water turbidity, negatively
impacting native aquatic fauna, habitat and ecosystems. Carp carry a number of disease organisms
that may pose a serious risk to native fish.
Management
To date carp control has mainly consisted of commercial harvesting or poisoning. Other options are
being explored for more widespread control. Current research into carp control methods includes
fishing and biological control, and indirectly through river restoration. Potential molecular approaches
include immunocontraception to reduce carp fertility, ‘daughterless technology’ in which modification
of a sex-determination gene results in production of male offspring only, and the introduction of a
fatality gene to kill individuals at a later date.
Feral cat (Felis catus)13
European settlers first brought cats to Australia during the 18th century. During the 19th century, cats
were deliberately released in Australia in a misguided attempt to control rabbits, rats and mice. Feral
cats now are widespread throughout Australia with an estimated population of 18 million14.
Damage
There is clear evidence that feral cats have caused the decline and in some cases the extinction of
native wildlife on islands as well as being a major factor in unsuccessful attempts to re-introduce small
mammals on the mainland. Feral cats also carry diseases such as toxoplasmosis and sarcosporidiosis
which can be transmitted to and cause serious illness and death in native wildlife, stock and humans.
19 species of endangered mammals are under threat from feral cats, including the Rufous Harewallaby, Greater Bilby, Eastern Barred Bandicoot and Little Tern15. Feral cat populations appear to be
self-sustaining. Stray and domestic cats probably play little role in maintaining the feral population.
Management
Feral cats have been eradicated from some relatively small offshore islands through intensive effort.
However, eradication from the mainland of Australia is not possible due to the lack of suitable
techniques and the enormous cost.
Available techniques such as trapping are very labour intensive and feral cats readily become trap-shy
and are wary of ground baits. Being nocturnal, wary and sparsely distributed, shooting is also
relatively ineffective for large-scale management. Even when an area is treated, cats can readily
recolonise an area. Erection of barrier fences combined with intensive control in an adjoining buffer
12
Koehn, J., Brumley, A. and Gehrke, P. (2000). Managing the Impacts of Carp. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra.
Dickman, C. (1996) Overview of the impacts of feral cats on Australian Native Fauna. Australian Nature Conservation Agency,
Canberra.
14
NSW Agriculture Pest Animal Survey 2002, Peter West & Glen Saunders.
13
15
Counting the Cost: Impact of Invasive Animals in Australia, 2004" (McLeod) Tisdell, C.A. (1982)
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
zone has been one of the most effective management strategies.
Viruses such as feline parvovirus and feline enteritis have been suggested as control methods.
However, surviving cats readily become immune to the viruses and studies have shown that there is
widespread immunity to feline parvovirus in Australian feral cats. Fertility control has also been
suggested but this is only likely to be useful in the peri-urban area where cats more likely to take baits
containing the fertility agent.
Model code of practice for the humane control of feral cats
www.invasiveanimals.com/images/pdfs/COP_for_feral_cats.pdf
The NSW Department of Primary Industries released this model code in August 2007. The aim of this
code of practice is to provide information and recommendations to vertebrate pest managers
responsible for the control of feral cats. It includes advice on how to choose the most humane, target
specific, cost effective and efficacious technique for reducing the negative impact of feral cats.
The code of practice (COP) is adopted nationally. Jurisdictions can apply more stringent requirements
as long as they retain the principles set out in these codes. The COP should only be used subject to
the applicable legal requirements (including OH&S) operating in the relevant jurisdiction.
Deer Family Cervidea16
There are six species of deer in Australia. Europeans introduced all six species as game animals soon
after settlement. Only two species will be covered here: red or wapiti and fallow deer.
Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)
In Australia, red deer are moderately common in the headwaters of the Brisbane River in Queensland
and in the Grampian Ranges of Victoria.
Damage
Being ungulates, deer can carry the same diseases that can infect domestic stock. They would be a
major concern if exotic diseases entered Australia. They can also damage native vegetation and
forestry plantations through their browsing.
Management
Ground shooting either for recreational hunting or by paid, trained marksmen is the main form of
control.
Fallow deer (Cervus (Dama) dama)
In Australia, fallow deer occupy open woodland in parts of NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South
Australia although they are most numerous in Tasmania. Like the red, fallow deer have been
domesticated for the production of venison.
Damage
Fallow deer cause damage similar to that caused by red deer, although in neither case has the extent
of environmental damage been well quantified. Like red deer, they are a favoured species for
recreational hunting.
Management
As with red deer, control is usually through shooting either by recreational hunters or by paid, trained
marksmen. By law NSW hunters can only hunt four of the seven species of wild deer at certain times
of the year. This includes hog, red, wapiti and fallow deer. As in Victoria, bag limits apply to hog deer.
In the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage’s model Code of
16
Lever, C. (1985) Naturalised mammals of the world. Longman, London; Nowak, R. (1999) Walker’s Mammals of the World,
sixth edition. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore; Wilson, G., Dexter, N., O’Brien, P. and Bomford, M. (1992) Pest animals
in Australia – a survey of introduced wild mammals. Bureau of Resource Sciences and Kangaroo Press.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Practice for ground shooting of feral deer17, it states: “Female deer will often hide newly born young
until they are old enough to be mobile. To minimise risk of missed dependent young suffering a slow
death from starvation, shooting programs should not be undertaken when females are calving /
fawning.’’
Dingoes and other wild dogs (Canis lupus spp)
Australia also has a significant problem with wild dogs, which are estimated to cost around $66m a
year to agriculture, primarily by predation on lambs and calves. The Queensland cattle industry
estimates that dog attacks alone cost them $9m annually. The dog problem is a particularly difficult
one as we have native wild dogs (dingoes) which are protected. However, domestic wild dogs and
dingoes have extensively hybridised to the point where it is considered that few purebred dingoes are
surviving.
Dingoes and other wild dogs are widely distributed throughout the country and are present in most
environments. However, dingoes and other wild dogs have been removed from much of the
agricultural zone over the past 200 years and hybridisation between the subspecies over that time has
resulted in a lesser proportion of pure dingoes, especially in south-eastern Australia. Food, water and
cover are probably the most important factors influencing the distribution and abundance of wild dogs
in areas where there is little management. Dog-proof fences that protect sheep from predation also
limit the distribution of wild dogs.
Aboriginal people brought the dingo (Canis lupus dingo) to Australia approximately 4000 years before
present. Aboriginal people aided the spread of dingoes throughout Australia and used dingoes for
food, companions, hunting-aids and bed-warmers. The dingo never reached Tasmania. Europeans
brought domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) into Australia in 1788 and their release into the wild
has continued since.
Damage
Wild dogs cause an estimated $66m loss to pastoralists annually.18 They prey on livestock such as
sheep, cattle and goats, in some cases to such an extent that they can threaten the economic viability
of properties. Some individuals, often called ‘rogue’ dogs, cause far more damage than others
although most dogs will commonly attack or harass sheep, sometimes maiming without killing.
Wild dogs are also believed to spread hydatid tapeworms, the cysts of which are a risk to human
health and cause lost production in cattle and sheep due to hydatidosis. They also provide a reservoir
for heartworm infection and dog diseases such as parvovirus. Wild dogs are a major potential risk of
maintaining and spreading dog rabies if it were to be introduced to Australia.
Under most State and Commonwealth legislation, dingoes are considered to be a native Australian
mammal and there is some public expectation that dingoes will be conserved because of the role that
they play in influencing the abundance of the species they compete with or prey on. Hybridisation
with domestic dogs is the greatest threat to the survival of dingoes as a protected sub-species. In
south-eastern Australia, more than half the wild dogs are hybrids.
Management
In most states and territories, legislation requires the destruction of wild dogs in sheep and cattle
grazing zones. Current management aims to minimise the damage of wild dog predation on livestock,
not just on killing wild dogs. Aerial baiting with 1080 baits is the principle tool. Usually it is targeted to
limited buffer zones adjacent to livestock grazing areas. Widespread coordinated campaigns have
been shown to be more efficient and effective than small localised efforts. Other techniques include
shooting, fencing and trapping. Bounty payments have not been successful in reducing predation by
wild dogs and are subject to abuse. New techniques such as the use of livestock-guarding dogs,
poison ejecting devices and toxic collars have been suggested as alternatives to current methods.
17
18
www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/humane-control (accessed October 2007)
McLeod, R. ‘Counting the Cost’, 2004, Pest Animal Control CRC - http://www.invasiveanimals.com/images/pdfs/Mcleod.pdf
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Model code of practice for the humane control of wild dogs
www.invasiveanimals.com/images/pdfs/COP_for_wild_dogs.pdf
The NSW Department of Primary Industries released this model code in August 2007. The aim of this
code of practice is to provide information and recommendations to vertebrate pest managers
responsible for the control of wild dogs. It includes advice on how to choose the most humane, target
specific, cost effective and efficacious technique for reducing the negative impact of wild dogs.
The code of practice (COP) is adopted nationally. Jurisdictions can apply more stringent requirements
as long as they retain the principles set out in these codes. The COP should only be used subject to
the applicable legal requirements (including OH&S) operating in the relevant jurisdiction.
European Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)19
The fox was introduced into southern Victoria in the 1871 for recreational hunting. Colonisation was
rapid and closely linked to the spread of the rabbit. Today the fox is one of the most widely spread
feral animals in Australia. The fox population in Australia is estimated at 7.2 million. Foxes were
deliberately introduced into Tasmania in 2001 with sightings increasing since that time. A fox carcass
was found on a road at Burnie in October 2003. Efforts are being made to eradicate the fox before
they establish in Tasmania.
Damage
The combined economic and environmental impact of the red fox is greater than for any other
introduced vertebrate, totalling around $227.5m per year. They are Australia's number one predator,
and there are reports of them taking up to 30% of lambs in some areas. Foxes also pose risks as
potential hosts of exotic diseases such as rabies, which threaten human and animal health.
The European red fox is Australia's number one predator threatening the long-term survival of a range
of native wildlife. It is estimated that foxes in Australia consume 190 million birds every year. Animals
that are endangered due to the fox include the numbat, brush-tailed bettong, Western Quoll, Greater
Bilby, Black-footed Rock Wallaby and Long-footed Potoroo.
Management
Historically, fox management has relied on bounty systems coupled with a range of control techniques
including shooting, poisoning and trapping. In most states and territories, legislative provisions require
the control of foxes by landholders, however these are rarely enforced. Government agencies mostly
recommend the use of poisons such as strychnine or 1080 to reduce fox populations, with other
options including shooting, trapping, fumigation or adjustments to farming practices. Bounties have
not been successful, mainly because they encourage action where foxes are easiest to collect, not
necessarily where they are causing the most damage. Bounties are also readily abused and are not a
recommended control strategy.
Poisoning is problematical, as many land managers are reluctant to use baits that may also be taken
by domestic or working dogs, and for which there has been no treatment. The Invasive Animals CRC
has been working on a new bait product that has shown considerable promise in trials on foxes, and
potentially dogs. It is very specific to canids and felids and fast acting, with no visible signs of
distress, as animals are rendered unconscious rapidly. In addition, there is an antidote that may be
given to any domestic dogs that take baits accidentally. The goal is that this new tool, in combination
with other initiatives such as the development of an attractant spray product, Feralmone, and a
mechanical means of improving bait uptake (M-44 ejectors), will reduce the impact of foxes and wild
dogs by 10%.
Building on current control efforts using licensed hunters in a more organised manner will help turn
around negative environmental impacts in the long-term. It is estimated that shooters already account
for 13% of fox control actions in NSW20.Model code of practice for the humane control of foxes
19
Saunders, G., Coman, B., Kinnear, J. and Braysher, M. (1995) Managing Vertebrate Pests: Foxes. Bureau of Rural Sciences,
Canberra.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
http://www.invasiveanimals.com/images/pdfs/COP_for_foxes.pdf
The NSW Department of Primary Industries released this model code in August 2007. The aim of this
code of practice is to provide information and recommendations to vertebrate pest managers
responsible for the control of foxes. It includes advice on how to choose the most humane, target
specific, cost effective and efficacious technique for reducing the negative impact of foxes.
The code of practice (COP) is adopted nationally. Jurisdictions can apply more stringent requirements
as long as they retain the principles set out in these codes. The COP should only be used subject to
the applicable legal requirements (including OH&S) operating in the relevant jurisdiction.
Feral goat (Capra hircus)21
Goats arrived in Australia with the first European settlers. Current feral goat populations are
descended from these and subsequent animals that were introduced for a variety of reasons.
In 1993 there were about 2.6 million feral goats in Australia but this number has fluctuated widely
under the influence of extended dry periods and the effectiveness of management programs. In
Australia, most feral goats live in the semi-arid pastoral areas used for sheep farming where food is
usually abundant, regular water is provided by people, and natural predators such as dingoes and
feral dogs are controlled to protect the sheep.
On the positive side, commercial exploitation of feral goats is an industry worth about $29 million
annually. Many pastoralists in Australia now consider the capture and sale of feral goats to be an
essential part of their business. Recently, feral goats have been crossed with the South African Boer
goat to produce a heavier animal for export.
Damage
In Australia, feral goats have been estimated to cause losses to pastoralism of $25 million per year.
The estimate does not include the costs associated with the impact of goats on the environment, of
soil erosion, or pasture degradation that has not been calculated. Feral goats also adversely affect
conservation values and biological diversity by damaging the vegetation and competing with native
fauna. Their damage is most obvious and most severe on small islands.
Feral goats can carry many internal and external parasites, some of which can also infest sheep. The
bacterial disease melioidosis may limit the spread of goats, and the rickettsial disease Q-fever is
carried by goats and may be transmitted to people. Goats also are potential hosts of exotic diseases
such as Foot-And-Mouth Disease.
Management
High-density populations of goats in accessible, semi-arid areas are best reduced initially by mustering
or trapping at water so that the costs of control can be offset by the sale of the captured goats. To
further reduce the population or where the density of goats is too low to be economically harvested,
aerial or ground shooting is an efficient method. Aerial shooting from helicopters is best in difficult
terrain, and/or at low goat densities.
Management of very low-density colonising or remnant populations of goats is assisted by the use of
radio-tagged Judas goats. Fences have been used to exclude goats from some areas although they
need to be maintained regularly.
Since 1992 SA hunters participating in a conservation program called “Operation Bounceback”, have
culled more than 25,000 wild goats from the Flinders Ranges. In Victoria, a successful trial by Parks
Victoria and the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia resulted in a 25% reduction of the feral
goat population in the southern part of a 633,000 ha public land area.
20
21
Game Council NSW, 2007
Parkes, J., Henzell, R. and Pickles, G. (1996) Managing Vertebrate Pests: Feral Goats. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
It is important that managers consider the advantages and disadvantages of each control method
before use, and the relevant codes of practice followed.
Goat Meat Industry
Feral goat herds have developed and multiplied in areas which offer natural protection against
predators. These goats have effectively adjusted to the environment to the extent that they no longer
bear any strong resemblance to the original breeds.
The feral or rangeland goat has been the major source of goats for the goat meat processing industry.
To ensure the continued development of a viable rangeland goat industry, producers have moved
from opportunistic harvesting operations to increasingly managed production systems.
Australia exports about 40–50,000 live goats per year.22 Approximately 90% of total goat meat
production is derived from rangeland-type animals while the balance is produced by more intensively
managed meat, dairy and fibre goat production systems.
Model code of practice for the humane control of feral goats
www.invasiveanimals.com/images/pdfs/COP_for_feral_goats.pdf
The NSW Department of Primary Industries released this model code in August 2007. The aim of this
code of practice is to provide information and recommendations to vertebrate pest managers
responsible for the control of feral goats. It includes advice on how to choose the most humane,
target specific, cost effective and efficacious technique for reducing the negative impact of feral goats.
The code of practice (COP) is adopted nationally. Jurisdictions can apply more stringent requirements
as long as they retain the principles set out in these codes. The COP should only be used subject to
the applicable legal requirements (including OH&S) operating in the relevant jurisdiction.
Feral horse (Equus caballus)23
Horses were introduced to Australia with European settlement. Over time, animals escaped and were
released and were first recognised as pests in Australia in the 1860’s. In 1992 Australia was estimated
to have 300,000 feral horses, mainly in the cattle raising districts of Queensland, Northern Territory
and Western Australia. Smaller populations are located in eastern Australia, mainly in the alpine and
sub-alpine areas. The number of horses varies considerably depending on the effectiveness of
management programs and the impact of drought and bush fires. For example, it is estimated that
the population of feral horses in eastern Australia declined by 70% in 2002/2003 due to the effect of
management, drought and bushfires.
Damage
Although not well quantified, there is good evidence that horses cause significant environmental
damage including fouling waterholes, damage to native vegetation and through soil compaction. Areas
used by horses during drought are believed to be important refuge areas for many native plants and
animals. The major impact of feral horses is on cattle production. The diet of both is similar and
although there is likely to be more pasture than either can consume in normal seasons, competition is
great during drought. The presence of feral horses can prevent effective management of pasture and
water, especially during drought. While cattle can readily be de-stocked to preserve pasture and
breeding stock, feral horses can’t. Mortality in arid Australia is mainly associated with drought which
causes starvation, lack of water and consumption of usually avoided toxic plants.
22
Goat Industry Council of Australia website www.gica.com.au, accessed Nov. 2007.
Choquenot, D., McIlroy, J. and Korn, T. 1996. Managing Vertebrate Pests: Feral Pigs. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra;
Dobbie, W., Berman, D. and Braysher. M (1993) Managing Vertebrate Pests - Feral Horses. Bureau of Resource Sciences,
Canberra.
23
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Management
The aim of management is to reduce the damage due to horses to an acceptable level. The most
common practice is to muster and harvest horses around key points such as feeding areas and water
points. Harvested animals can then be sold. Further reduction in density in arid Australia is usually
obtained through helicopter-based shooting using highly skilled, trained shooters. On a smaller scale,
brumby running (culling the population using horses) and ground shooting may have a role. Fertility
control has also been suggested but has limited application for widespread populations because of the
difficulty in delivering the fertility agent, which usually has to be administered on a regular basis to
ensure ongoing control of the population.
Model code of practice for the humane control of feral horses
www.invasiveanimals.com/images/pdfs/COP_for_feral_horses.pdf
The NSW Department of Primary Industries released this model code in August 2007. The aim of this
code of practice is to provide information and recommendations to vertebrate pest managers
responsible for the control of feral horses. It includes advice on how to choose the most humane,
target specific, cost effective and efficacious technique for reducing the negative impact of feral
horses.
The code of practice (COP) is adopted nationally. Jurisdictions can apply more stringent requirements
as long as they retain the principles set out in these codes. The COP should only be used subject to
the applicable legal requirements (including OH&S) operating in the relevant jurisdiction.
Kangaroos and wallabies (Macropus spp)24
Also see Section 2: Wildlife Management - Kangaroos.
In Australia, all kangaroos are protected native fauna under Commonwealth, state and territory
legislation. However, certain species may be harvested to reduce the damage that they cause.
In Australia, five species of kangaroo are commercially harvested under a program to reduce their
impact to acceptable levels. They are the red kangaroo Macropus rufus, eastern grey kangaroo M.
giganteus, western grey kangaroo M. fuliginosus, the euro or wallaroo M. robustus and the whip-tailed
wallaby M. parryi. Only the two major species, the red and grey kangaroo will be considered in more
detail here.
Because some kangaroo products are exported, the Commonwealth requires that those state and
territories that harvest and export kangaroo products, develop and have approved management
programs for these commercially harvested species. The primary aim is to ensure that the harvested
species are conserved over their entire range.
The management programs must state:
• How the activities of shooters and dealers are to be controlled
• How the size of the population is to be monitored
• The regulation and checks to prevent illegal harvesting and over-harvesting
• Any other conservation practices recommended for the species.
After each management program is approved, conservative annual harvest quotas are set for each
species. The potential impacts of factors such as droughts and floods are factored into the assessment
and the annual quotas are adjusted accordingly.
24
Olsen, P., and Braysher, M. 2000. Situation analysis report: current state of scientific knowledge on kangaroos in the
environment, including ecological and economic impact and effect of culling. NSW NPWS, Sydney; Pople, T., and Grigg, G.
1999. Commercial Harvesting of Kangaroos in Australia. Environment Australia, Canberra.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Red kangaroo (M. rufus)
Red kangaroos are widely distributed across mainland Australia except for the tropical far north and
the south-west of Western Australia. They are an animal of the semi-arid and arid country as well as
the mulga and mallee scrub. Most researchers and managers believe that there has been a significant
increase in the numbers of red kangaroos since European settlement, primarily due to the provision of
more water points, clearing of scrub to create pasture and control of its major predator, the dingo.
Eastern grey kangaroo (M. giganteus)
Eastern grey kangaroos is the species that is mainly confined to the mallee and mulga scrub,
woodland and forests of eastern Australia. They occur in most of Queensland except for Cape York,
New South Wales, Victoria and north-eastern Tasmania. Like the red kangaroo, changes due to
pastoralism have benefited the grey kangaroo.
Damage
Kangaroos damage fences and have a diet similar to that of stock. Studies indicate that in average to
good seasons there is usually more food than either kangaroos or stock can consume. However,
kangaroos may cause most damage to pastoralists going into and coming out of drought. While it is
relatively simple to remove domestic stock from an area to conserve feed or to protect pasture,
kangaroos remain and can defeat these attempts. Kangaroos can also cause environmental damage,
especially if they are confined on reserved land and their numbers are allowed to increase unchecked.
Management
Most damage mitigation in Australia is through commercial harvesting under approved management
programs. Fencing has proved effective to protect crops and other assets in selected areas. Devices
such as the Finlayson Trough have been tried to prevent kangaroos from accessing stock water but
besides being considered inhumane, kangaroos can often circumvent the barriers. Contraceptives may
be useful for controlling kangaroo populations in confined areas or in the peri-urban area. However,
much more work is required including an assessment of their biological and ecological impacts, before
they could be considered for wide-scale management of red and grey kangaroo populations.
Feral pig or wild boar (Sus scrofa)25
Feral pigs cause around $106 million per year of damage to Australia's livestock, habitats and water
sources. They prey on newborn lambs, damage fences and reduce yields of cereal grain, sugarcane,
fruit and vegetable crops. They are also a serious disease risk. Feral pigs can carry about 20 different
exotic diseases, including diseases that affect humans.
The entry of exotic diseases, such as classical swine fever, Nipah virus or foot-and-mouth disease
could destroy Australia's export industries and have a devastating effect on the national economy, the
Cattle Council has said. An outbreak of foot and mouth disease could cost the country anywhere
between $2 billion and $13 billion.
The first official introduction of the pig to Australia was with the first fleet in 1788. Feral pigs have
colonised subalpine grasslands and forests, dry woodlands, tropical rainforests, semi-arid and
monsoonal floodplains, swamps and other wetlands in many parts of the Northern Territory,
Queensland, New South Wales, and other states and territories.
Estimates of population size vary between 3.5 million and 23.5 million, inhabiting 38% of Australia,
but their distribution and abundance can vary markedly from year to year according to environmental
conditions.
Damage
Feral pigs cause agricultural damage through predation of newborn lambs, reduction in crop yields,
damage to fences and water sources, and competition with stock for feed by consuming or damaging
pasture. They also are considered a major threat to stock as a potential carrier of exotic diseases, with
25
Choquenot, D., McIlroy, J. and Korn, T. 1996. Managing Vertebrate Pests: Feral Pigs. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra.
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the major concern being their role as a reservoir for Foot-And-Mouth Disease should it ever become
established in Australia. However, they are also an economic resource for game meat, an industry that
is worth approximately $20 million a year.
While feral pigs are also considered an environmental pest, there have been no studies that clearly
demonstrate and quantify the damage. Their major damage is likely to be habitat degradation through
selective feeding, trampling and rooting for underground parts of plants and invertebrates, as well as
predation on, competition with, or disturbance of a range of animals. The most obvious perceived
environmental damage by feral pigs is based on their rooting up of soils, grasslands or forest litter,
particularly along drainage lines, moist gullies and around swamps and lagoons, or after rain, when
the ground is softer.
Management
Poisoning, primarily using 1080 poison in grain or meat baits, is used in rural communities to manage
the damage due to pigs. It requires appropriate free-feeding with non-toxic bait to attract pigs before
the poison bait is used. Free-feeding also helps to reduce the risk of loss to non-target animals.
Shooting from helicopters is efficient and provides a quick knockdown to protect susceptible
enterprises from short-term damage. Pig populations can recover rapidly between shooting and
poisoning episodes. Shooting from the ground, with or without dogs, is generally considered to play
an insignificant role in damage control except where it is intensively conducted on small accessible
populations.
Trapping can be effective, but results are variable, being affected by season, trap type and site, prebaiting techniques and trapping frequency. An advantage of trapping is that it can be fitted into
routine property activities and the trapped animals sold to the game meat market. There are currently
no biological or fertility control agents suitable for use against feral pigs. Best results have been
obtained from integrated management using a range of control techniques.
Control measures usually include trapping, ground and aerial shooting and poison baiting. The
Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre has invested considerable resources to improve control
by developing a more target-specific and humane means of baiting for pigs. They are also working
with national and international collaborators to investigate the delivery of vaccines or contraceptives
as another alternative.
Currently hunters cull 22% of the feral pig population. Commercial hunters manage a further 8%.
One study has estimated that private hunting delivers over $3.5million in savings to landholders
affected by feral pigs26.
Model code of practice for the humane control of feral pigs
www.invasiveanimals.com/images/pdfs/COP_for_feral_pigs.pdf
The NSW Department of Primary Industries released this model code in August 2007. The aim of this
code of practice is to provide information and recommendations to vertebrate pest managers
responsible for the control of feral pigs. It includes advice on how to choose the most humane, target
specific, cost effective and efficacious technique for reducing the negative impact of feral pigs.
The code of practice (COP) is adopted nationally. Jurisdictions can apply more stringent requirements
as long as they retain the principles set out in these codes. The COP should only be used subject to
the applicable legal requirements (including OH&S) operating in the relevant jurisdiction.
26
Game Council of NSW.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)27
The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is a solitary, nocturnal and arboreal marsupial,
endemic to Australia. In Australia, T. vulpecula are found in five distinct areas: northern, eastern,
central, and south western mainland Australia, as well as Tasmania. In Australia, they have declined
in parts of their range, particularly in arid regions but have adapted well to many urban areas.
Management
In Australia, possums are protected in all states although hunting (under license) is permitted in
Tasmania for the commercial use of skins and meats.
The University of Queensland has developed a Standard Operating Procedure for the management of
brushtail and ringtail possums on campus. (www.pf.uq.edu.au/Ems/Generic/pro_MgtPossums.pdf)
European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)28
Rabbits are considered the biggest problem (in economic terms), estimated to cause about $200
million damage a year. Their prodigious breeding rate, as well as their ability to adapt successfully to
most Australian habitats, means that a single pair can increase in 18 months to 184 individuals. From
an initial release of 24 wild rabbits in 1859, the population had increased to an estimated 10 billion by
1926, and rabbits were then such a serious problem that many farms were abandoned.
The release in 1950 of the myxomatosis virus had immediate and dramatic effect, killing 99.8% of
rabbits. However, over time there has developed a cycle of rabbits adapting to this virus and
developing resistance. The result has been that, while myxomatosis is still considered a valuable
control tool with an important role to play in keeping rabbit numbers down, by the early 1990s it was
not enough to reduce the populations to tolerable levels.
The release of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) in 1996-98 once again reduced populations by
more than 50% in the arid areas of Australia. This virus has been shown over time to have a patchy
distribution, affecting rabbits living in cooler, more humid habitats less frequently and lethally. Again,
although it kills tens of millions of rabbits annually, we are still seeing a situation where rabbits are
considered a significant problem.
Damage
Rabbits are Australia’s most widespread and destructive environmental and agricultural vertebrate
pest. Impact on agricultural production is greatest in drier areas where pasture production is low and
rabbits can increase to high densities and compete with stock. In higher rainfall areas, rabbits can be
more easily managed.
The impact of rabbits on native plants includes damage to vegetation through ringbarking, grazing
and browsing. Rabbits also prevent regeneration of native plants by eating seedlings. As well as
causing detrimental habitat change, rabbits threaten native mammals through direct competition for
food and shelter and indirectly through intensified predation by cats and foxes after rabbit numbers
crash during droughts or outbreaks of RHD (rabbit haemmorhagic disease or calicivirus) and
myxomatosis.
Overgrazing by rabbits removes plant cover and contributes to soil erosion. Rabbits cause changes in
the quality of flora and habitat of native fauna. Most rabbit damage to native vegetation occurs when
the annual pasture dries off and rabbits are forced to eat native perennial plants.
27
Montague, T.L. 2000. The brushtail possum: biology, impact and management of an introduced marsupial. Manaaki Whenua
Press, New Zealand.
28
Choquenot, D., McIlroy, J. and Korn, T. 1996. Managing Vertebrate Pests: Feral Pigs. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra;
Williams, K., Parer, I. Coman, B., Burley, J. and Braysher, M. (1995) Managing Vertebrate Pests: Rabbits. Bureau of Rural
Sciences, Canberra
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Management
Prior to the introduction of myxomatosis, efforts to manage rabbit populations were generally
misdirected or inefficient. Poisoning, fencing and various forms of biological control were tried with
little success.
The reduction of rabbits to low numbers has mostly been due to a combination of myxomatosis, rabbit
haemorrhagic disease virus, introduction of the European rabbit flea, and changes to the environment.
Another important contributing factor has been the improvement in strategic use of 1080 poison. As
rabbits do not dig new warrens readily, an effective and long-term form of rabbit management is
usually through destruction of warren networks with rippers mounted on tractors and bulldozers.
After the introduction of myxomatosis in 1950, rabbit numbers fell by about 95% in most of southern
Australia and by almost 100% in marginal habitats. On average, present rabbit densities in Australia
may be about 5% of pre-myxomatosis densities in the higher rainfall areas and perhaps 25% in the
rangelands, however populations tend to fluctuate greatly due to changing conditions and drought.
While myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease have been used in the past to control rabbits,
over time rabbits develop resistance to these diseases and new methods of control will be required.
Model code of practice for the humane control of rabbits
www.invasiveanimals.com/images/pdfs/COP_for_rabbits.pdf
The NSW Department of Primary Industries released this model code in August 2007. The aim of this
code of practice is to provide information and recommendations to vertebrate pest managers
responsible for the control of rabbits. It includes advice on how to choose the most humane, target
specific, cost effective and efficacious technique for reducing the negative impact of rabbits.
The code of practice (COP) is adopted nationally. Jurisdictions can apply more stringent requirements
as long as they retain the principles set out in these codes. The COP should only be used subject to
the applicable legal requirements (including OH&S) operating in the relevant jurisdiction.
Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris)29
Starlings are native to Eurasia and northern Africa. It is now a global species. They were introduced
into Australia in the mid-1880s, both by acclimatisation societies and by others, in the vain hope that
they might destroy insect pests.
Starlings are one of the most common species in lowland suburban and cleared agricultural areas of
the south east of Australia. They also occur in open woodlands, irrigated pasture, feedlots, mulga,
mallee, reed-beds around wetlands, coastal plains, and occasionally alpine areas. They avoid dense
woodlands, forests, rainforest and arid regions. Their failure to colonise the apparently suitable habitat
of south-west of Western Australia is due to continual control of emerging populations and the barrier
of the Nullarbor Plains. Availability of water appears to be important to their survival hence high
rainfall regions, irrigated areas, temporary surface water, and flooded drainage swamps support high
densities.
Damage
Starlings can cause significant damage to horticultural industries, particularly cherries, grapes,
blueberries, olives, stone fruits, apples, pears and a range of vegetable crops. They will also damage
drying fruit and, occasionally, birds will remove fruit from drying racks. Cereal crops are susceptible
when grain is freshly sown and during ripening. Grain from feedlots, storage areas, piggeries, dairies
and poultry farms is often consumed. They can also carry many parasites and diseases that raise
concern in food factories and industrial areas and are a potential risk to livestock industries. For
29
Feare, C. and Craig, A. (1999) Starlings and mynas. Princeton University Press, Princeton. New York; Long, J. L. (1981).
Introduced Birds of the World. (Reed, Sydney); Tracey, J. and Saunders, G. (2003). Bird damage to the wine grape industry.
Report to the Bureau of Rural Sciences, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. NSW Agriculture, Orange NSW.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
example, they are implicated in carrying and in some cases transmitting Salmonella, Cryptococci,
Newcastle Disease (poultry) and transmissible gastroenteritis (pigs), although the risks remain unquantified. Environmental impacts centre round their aggressive competition for nest hollows which is
potentially serious for some native species such as the double-eyed fig parrot and turquoise parrot.
Starlings are also considered to be a major nuisance in urban areas.
Management
Being such a widespread and common species, damage control is best achieved by action targeted to
problem areas. Wide-scale population reduction is unlikely with currently available methods. Exclusion
by netting fruit and other crops and habitat modification by reducing access to nesting, roosting and
food and water resources seem to be the most effective approaches. Shooting and scare guns have
only short-term benefits at best with the birds rapidly adapting to the intrusion. Trapping is unlikely to
take sufficient numbers to have any significant impact on the damage that they cause. Poisoning is
not often used in Australia. Acoustic devices with the possible exception of bird distress calls are
ineffective.
Feral Donkey (Equus asinus)
The reputation of the donkey as a hardy beast of burden suited to the arid interior resulted in the first
importations to Australia in 1866. Donkeys were used to crossbreed with station horses to produce
mules for heavier work and were also favoured in areas such as the Victoria River District of the
Northern Territory where poisonous plants restricted the use of horses. Donkeys were still being
imported into the Northern Territory until 1910.
There are very few donkeys in domestic use today. Better road access and mechanised transport saw
many station donkeys abandoned or deliberately released. It was not long before the mistake was
realised. By the late 1960s there were feral donkeys in all pastoral districts of the Northern Territory
and across the north of Western Australia from the Kimberleys to the Pilbarra as well as in parts of
South Australia and Queensland.
In 1962 a survey of only 300 square kilometres on Victoria River Downs Station revealed 3000 feral
donkeys. At that time 28 000 donkeys were shot in another part of Victoria River Downs which
allowed the recovery of an area of about 500 square kilometres that had previously been described as
a wasteland because of grazing by feral donkeys. Unfortunately, the rate of natural increase of
donkeys enables populations to recover rapidly. For example, 83 000 donkeys were shot in the
Victoria River District between 1981 and 1984 and although reduced by 50 per cent the population
has now recovered.
The donkey thrives in areas unsuitable for horses and cattle and is believed to be able to survive
better during droughts. Donkeys eat a wider range of vegetation than either cattle or horses and
graze further away from water causing much wider impact on native vegetation. Donkeys are also
believed to congregate around the remaining watering points during dry times and prevent cattle from
drinking. The inability to control donkeys with conventional methods of domestic livestock
management makes them a serious problem where rangeland management requires an area to be
destocked to allow regeneration of vegetation, or where soil conservation works need to be kept free
of stock until they are stabilised.
A large market for donkey meat exists in Europe and China but Mexico fills it more economically than
is possible from Australia. The only use made of donkeys in Australia is as pet meat when they can be
obtained at low cost. The only alternative method of donkey control is by shooting from helicopters.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Formal Education – Higher Education
University of Melbourne
www.unimelb.edu.au
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/
The Melbourne BVSc curriculum is arranged within several frameworks. Key among these is the
animal framework. The central focus in this framework is the management of animal health, welfare
and disease. The course includes studies of native animals and codes of practice relating to their
welfare.
Bachelor of Science (Zoology)
www.zoology.unimelb.edu.au
One of the subjects available in the B.Sci (Zoology) is the Field Biology of Australian Wildlife. This
subject provides a field course on the ecology of Australian vertebrates: marsupials, monotremes,
eutherians, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Students develop skills in detection and survey of wildlife
populations, as well as techniques for monitoring (such as radio telemetry). Students are given handson training in the capture, handling and identification of wildlife, together with collection of standard
morphometric data, assessment of reproductive status, and analysis of behaviour, habitat and diet.
Conservation and Wildlife Biology Research Group
www.zoology.unimelb.edu.au/research/groups/wildcons/index.php
Within the Zoology Department at the University of Melbourne is a research group that examines
aspects of wildlife and conservation biology of a wide range of terrestrial taxa, including mammals,
birds, amphibians and invertebrates. Particular interests include abundance and composition of
terrestrial vertebrate faunas as indices of environmental disturbance; habitat use and ecology of
native mammals including marsupials; and the management of threatened species and overabundant
native species.
Monash University
www.monash.edu.au
Graduate Certificate in Animal Welfare
The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University offers the Graduate
Certificate in Animal Welfare (GAW) as a fourth year certificate. It is listed in the 2008 handbook as a
course with no further intake. The course has been taught in the off-campus learning mode and
students are required to attend a one-day on-campus workshop per unit. The GAW offers
professionals the opportunity to further their education and personal development in the area of
animal welfare. The GAW is currently being reviewed.
Bachelor of Science (Zoology)
www.sci.monash.edu.au/prosp/areastudy/fields/zoology.html
Students can specialise in zoology, ecology, or resource and environmental management within the
School of Biological Sciences.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
University of Sydney
www.unisyd.edu.au
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney is a five-year course that has a strong emphasis on
animal handling skills, and includes teaching programs in a wide range of animal industries. Associate
Professor Paul McGreevy teaches a unit of study titled 'Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science 3.'
Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science is the study of normal and abnormal behaviours in
domestic and captive species. This is one of the core knowledge areas for veterinarians because it
facilitates the recognition of disease states and helps veterinarians to make informed comment on
animal welfare issues. The Unit of Study draws on knowledge of many aspects of animal husbandry,
evolutionary biology and physiology, pharmacology and psychology. The course focuses on the
importance of understanding learning theory and trainers' techniques and includes demonstrations
from expert animal handlers and trainers.
Wildlife Health and Population Management
www.vetsci.usyd.edu.au/wild/index.shtml
The University of Sydney offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses related to studies of wildlife.
These include:
•
•
Graduate Certificate in Applied Science (Wildlife Health and Population Management)
Graduate Diploma in Applied Science (Wildlife Health and Population Management)
Master of Applied Science (Wildlife Health and Population Management)
www.science.usyd.edu.au/fstudent/postgrad/coursework/pgc_wildlife.shtml
This course is a unique combination of the veterinary and biological sciences, which emphasises the
need for a multi-disciplinary team approach in the development of wildlife management strategies.
The course brings together the disciplines of animal health and wildlife population management,
providing students with a coordinated approach to recognising and solving problems in both wild and
captive populations.
Specific wild animal units
• Vertebrate Pest Management (WILD 5004)
This unit of study outlines the impact invasive species and over populated native species have on
the environment. It discusses the impacts of introduced species of vertebrate pests on Australian
wildlife, agriculture and habitat. It also covers the animal welfare issues associated with control.
Main focus is mammals including horses, goats, pigs, rabbits, mice, foxes, dingos/dogs.
•
Sustainable Use and Stewardship of Wildlife (WILD 5007)
The unit integrates lectures, practical work and supervised study, and offers students the
opportunity to work through wildlife utilisation examples relevant to their individual backgrounds.
It covers the utilization of wildlife in all its forms, including consumptive and non-consumptive
activities (examples include shooting deer, goats, pigs and kangaroos). It also covers the animal
welfare issues associated with wildlife utilization.
Wildlife Health and Conservation Centre
www.vetsci.usyd.edu.au/wildlife_conservation/index.shtml
The University of Sydney has established the Wildlife Health and Conservation Centre (WHCC), which
provides state of the art medical and surgical care for sick and injured wildlife. The WHCC hospital is
equipped with advanced imaging technology and diagnostic capabilities. It is designed to house a
broad spectrum of Australian species while minimising their stress and preventing the transmission of
disease.
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Veterinary students
The WHCC is one of the most advanced University-based training programs for veterinary students in
wildlife medicine in Australia. The WHCC is committed to training veterinary students in the art and science
of wildlife medicine and educating them about the important societal role that they must play if we are to
maintain a healthy and diverse environment.
Veterinary students are taught Veterinary Conservation Biology in their second year with the
bioscience students. In their fourth year they are taught exotic animal medicine and in their fifth year,
veterinary students can elect to take a one month rotation in the Wildlife Hospital where they get
hands on training.
Veterinarians and veterinary nurses
The WHCC also provides continuing education for veterinarians. Veterinarians training for their
specialty certification can work and study at the Wildlife Hospital.
Postgraduate students
A major WHCC objective is to train the conservation biologists of tomorrow. The WHCC in combination
with the Faculty of Science offer a Master’s of Wildlife Health and Population Management. This
program provides units of study that allow students to understand the key treating processes that
impact wildlife and the types of measures that can be taken to reduce or reverse their impact.
Students come from all over the world to attend this course. Discoveries made by these Masters
students have significantly advanced the field of conservation biology in Australia. PhD students are
involved in the many aspects of wildlife health research conducted by the WHCC.
Wildlife carers
The desire to care for and rehabilitate orphaned and injured wildlife is strong in Australia and many
Australians are wildlife carers. WHCC is actively involved in training wildlife carers so that the care
that they provide is optimised and is most likely to result in the successful release of a healthy animal
back to the wild.
WHCC Education
The WHCC is mandated to educate the public about the important environmental issues facing
society. This goal is achieved by offering regular programs about wildlife at the WHCC and in various
locations to community groups and schools.
WHCC discoveries and information about timely issues are presented to the public on-line, in
newspapers, on the radio and on television. In conjunction with other agencies such as the Australian
Wildlife Health Network, the WHCC informs governmental agencies about issues that impact
Australian wildlife.
Murdoch University School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
www.murdoch.edu.au
At Murdoch University's School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences animal welfare is initially
presented as a discrete unit in first year, coordinated by Dr Teresa Collins. Subsequent to this,
animal welfare is reinforced informally through various units in the remaining four years. As from
2008, a new veterinary program has been approved, with a general science year followed by a new
five year vet curricula.
VET 106 Animal and Human Bioethics
This is a core first year unit for veterinary students and is taken as an elective by other biomedical or
biological science students. A variety of lecturers are given from both Murdoch staff and others off
campus, for example, RSPCA, Perth Zoo and DAFWA. Tutorials include activities such as a formal
debate and role playing as Animal Ethics Committee.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Topics covered by this unit include welfare assessment [five freedoms, physiological responses and
behaviour], agriculture and animal production systems, public interest groups [RSPCA, animal rights
groups, DAFWA culling programs], animals in society and companion animals [human-animal bond],
conservation and wildlife [wild animal management] euthanasia and ethics at the end of life [religious
slaughter], animal experimentation, animal use and education and ethical decision making in a vet
clinic or laboratory).
Continual reinforcement of animal welfare themes is continued in various units in the latter years. For
example: VET246 Animals and Society and VET401 Applied Veterinary Medicine.
Postgraduate Certificate in Veterinary Conservation Medicine
This course was developed in 2004 to provide graduate veterinarians with the opportunity to obtain
training and expertise in wildlife, zoo and conservation medicine. Conservation medicine is an
emerging discipline that involves the integration of veterinarian medicines, conservation biology and
public health in order to advance biodiversity conservation, address issues associated with the interrelationships between human, animal and ecosystem health.
Murdoch University, Human and Animal Bioethics unit
This unit offers students the opportunity to investigate the scientific and ethical justifications for using
animals in agriculture research, education, recreation and as companions. It also covers the key
aspects of the reproductive technologies and genetic engineering for both humans and animals. Other
topics include the role of animals in society, euthanasia, and our responsibilities in the management of
wildlife and in the advancement of genetic technologies. Students may direct their studies to the
animal, human or biotechnological areas.
Bachelor of Science (Zoology)
3 yrs
All units in zoology are designed to give students a sound knowledge and understanding of animal
structure and function, and the evolutionary processes that have engendered such diversity.
Bachelor of Science (Conservation Biology)
Conservation Biology is both a program and a major under the three year Bachelor of Science.
In the programme students will combine the specialisation in conservation biology with a second area
of specialisation in botany, geography, geology, land & water management, marine biology, marine
and coastal management, soil science, or zoology.
University of Western Australia
www.uwa.edu.au
Bachelor of Science (Wildlife Management)
This four-year degree gives students a good understanding of animal population biology to equip
them to apply scientific principles to management of wildlife populations or experimentally investigate
populations to help develop future management strategies.
Bachelor of Science (Zoology)
All units in this three-year zoology degree course are designed to give students a sound knowledge
and understanding of animal structure and function, and the evolutionary processes that have
engendered such diversity.
Bachelor of Science (Conservation Biology)
Conservation Biology is both a program and a major under the three year Bachelor of Science.
In the programme students will combine the specialisation in conservation biology with a second area
of specialisation in botany, geography, geology, land & water management, marine biology, marine
and coastal management, soil science, or zoology.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Macquarie University
www.international.mq.edu.au/
On-line courses in wildlife management through Macquarie University are available as follows:
• Master of Wildlife Management (Habitat Program)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife Management (Habitat Program)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Wildlife Management (Habitat Program)
The habitat program has a strong interdisciplinary and practical focus, consisting of both coursework
and field-work components. It aims to provide students with a sound knowledge base in individual
disciplines as well as real-world application skills, and an understanding of the multi-discipline
approach required in the management of living resources. The program also provides students with
relevant industry placement opportunities.
•
•
Master of Wildlife Conservation
Postgraduate Certificate in Wildlife Conservation
The Master of Wildlife Conservation is offered jointly by the Graduate School of the Environment and
the Department of Biological Sciences. The program aims to imbue students with an understanding of
the inter-disciplinary nature of the management decision making, while providing an overview of the
ecological basis of conservation, harvest management or pest control. Students will gain skills in
handling, marking, observing and conducting censuses of wild animals, with particular knowledge on
the biology, ecology and behaviour of wild animals in Australia.
The Postgraduate Diploma and Certificate are abbreviated versions of the Masters degree.
La Trobe University
www.latrobe.edu.au
La Trobe University’s School of Life Sciences comprises the Department of Agricultural Sciences, the
Department of Botany, the Department of Microbiology, and the Department of Zoology (all at the
Bundoora campus) and the Department of Environmental Management at Albury-Wodonga.
Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Biosciences
3 yrs
The course is designed to attract students who wish to focus on animal issues, including health and
welfare, ecology and behaviour, genetics and biotechnology in a professional degree course.
Graduates can obtain employment in animal research, agricultural industries, animal care and welfare,
biotechnology industries and the animal health industry. In addition, an animal science degree should
allow a student with suitable grades to be eligible for entry into a veterinary science degree. The
provision of electives allows a choice of at least four areas of interest within the course, including:
•
animal ecology or physiology
•
animal genetics
•
animal health
•
animal biotechnology.
Postgraduate opportunities at La Trobe University include:
• Diploma Zoology
• Master of Science (Zoology)
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Deakin University
www.deakin.edu.au
Bachelor of Environmental Science (Wildlife and Conservation Biology)
This course is designed to provide theoretical and practical expertise in a range of biological,
ecological and environmental processes and issues associated with the management and conservation
of wildlife populations. The Bachelor of Environmental Science (Wildlife and Conservation Biology) is
designed to enable graduates to contribute in a professional capacity to the study and management of
wildlife populations both in Australia and overseas. The course aims to provide knowledge,
understanding and skills in the interdisciplinary study of the interactions of wildlife species, particularly
those of conservation significance, with their living and non-living environment. Students are also
given the opportunity to gain an understanding of culturally diverse practices in wildlife and
conservation biology, particularly those of indigenous Australians.
This opportunity to gain insights into alternative viewpoints is invaluable to graduates, in a time of
globalisation where students may potentially be working in regions, or countries where western-style
practices are not dominant. Students may also pursue a fourth (honours) year and postgraduate
research degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy.
University of New England
www.une.edu.au
Undergraduate courses that include Wildlife Management units:
•
Bachelor of Environmental Science
•
Bachelor of Natural Resources
Students at the University of New England (UNE) have the opportunity to use the Newholme Field
Laboratory – a 2000 ha field station about 10 km north of the UNE campus.
Griffith University
www.griffith.edu.au/environment-planning/griffith-school-environment/programs-courses
Undergraduate programs offered in Wildlife Studies
•
Bachelor of Science
•
Bachelor of Science with Advanced Studies
•
Bachelor of Science with Honours
Research programs offered in Wildlife Studies
•
Doctor of Philosophy
•
Doctor of Philosophy by Publication
•
Master of Philosophy
University of Queensland
Bachelor of Applied Science (Wildlife Science)
3 years full-time
Wildlife Science focuses on the biology and management, including the ecology and conservation of
wild animals. Wildlife Scientists study native and exotic birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians in
natural or created environments, their biodiversity and human-wildlife interactions.
This course provides students with the ability to implement and evaluate wildlife management
programs for both captive and free ranging wildlife. It covers wildlife anatomy and physiology,
breeding, reproduction, nutrition, health, husbandry, ecology, welfare and behaviour.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Students gain experience in wildlife trapping, identification and handling skills, and can pursue a
career in the wildlife, game and vertebrate pest management industries in Australia.
Post-graduate opportunities include:
• Master of Animal Studies
• Master of Animal Science and Management
• Graduate Diploma in Animal Studies
• Graduate Certificate in Animal Studies
University of Queensland's Koala Study Program
www.koalaresearch.net.au/KSP.html
The Koala Study Program at the University of Queensland is the longest running research program
dedicated to the study of the koala. Led by Dr. Frank Carrick A.M., The Koala Study Program has a
broad range of research projects investigating aspects of the biology and ecology of the koala
throughout its range in Queensland. The Koala Study Program is renowned for its keystone
publications taking precedence on key areas of koala biology including improved koala trapping
techniques.
In the late 1980s, researchers at the Koala Study Program developed a koala trap for catching koalas,
without climbing the tree. Many other researchers now use this method. Essentially, the trap consists
of a metal above-ground swimming pool frame, erected some 2 m from the trunk of the tree the
koala is in. A collar can be attached to the trunk of the tree - stopping the koala from re-climbing the
tree once it comes down.
Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics
www.uq.edu.au/cawe
The Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics (CAWE) is located in the School of Veterinary Science at the
University of Queensland. The Mission of the Centre is to improve understanding of animal welfare,
and ethical issues concerned with animal welfare, through research, teaching, legislation and training.
The Director works within the University structure but takes advice from the CAWE Advisory
Committee whose membership represents donors to the Chair of Animal Welfare and stakeholders.
Animal Welfare is attracting attention worldwide. It is becoming increasingly recognised that housing
an animal in an environment designed to maximise its sense of ‘well being’ is integral to the physical
health, psychological health and reproductive capability of animals kept for many purposes including
conservation, companionship and research.
Due to this growing recognition of the importance of Animal Welfare, CAWE was established at UQ
and consists of a team whose purpose is to develop innovative practices, guidelines and management
strategies to protect animals, enhance their health and ensure that the five standard freedoms of
animal welfare are met.
As far as can be ascertained the Bachelor of Applied Studies at UQ has the only Bachelor option of
study of animal welfare in Australia.
Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science
Veterinary Care of Australian Wildlife Distance Education program
http://www.pgf.edu.au/disted/wildlife.cfm
This course provides participants with broad, practical knowledge of health, disease and veterinary
care of the wildlife: marsupials, other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. While the focus is on
wild animals much of the information is relevant to captive fauna. Each module explores, in depth, a
taxonomic group, for example, kangaroos and wallabies, or reptiles. Each module also covers a
general topic - e.g. the role of vets in wildlife emergencies or hand-raising of orphaned wildlife.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
This course is for anyone with an interest in Australian wildlife. This includes vets in private practice,
vets involved in care of captive wildlife or free-ranging fauna, vets who wish to work full-time with
wildlife or those wanting to be better trained to care for the injured and orphaned wildlife. At the end
of the course, students may decide to sit for the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
membership exams in Australian Wildlife.
The Veterinary Care of Australian Wildlife Distance Education course covers:
• Introduction to marsupials
• Macropods - Kangaroos and wallabies
• Care and hand-raising of orphaned Australian wildlife
• Koalas and wombats
• Field immobilisation techniques for Australian mammals
• Possums, Gliders, Bandicoots and Bilbies
• Carnivorous Marsupials
• Native rodents
• Bats
• Control of reproduction in Australian wildlife
• Monotremes - Platypus and echidna
• Marine mammals - Seals, sea lions, dolphins and whales
• Veterinary role in wildlife emergencies (eg: marine mammal strandings)
• Reptiles
• Rehabilitation and release of Australian wildlife
• Preventative medicine programs for Australian wildlife
• Care and medicine of amphibians
• Wild birds
• Quarantine protocols for Australian wildlife
• Zoonoses affecting Australian wildlife
Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IA CRC)
www.invasiveanimals.com
The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IA CRC) commenced in 2004.
Invasive Animals CRC key objectives are to:
• Develop new tools and strategies to control invasive animals (including birds and freshwater fish).
• Develop new services and remove impediments to empower communities to take greater and
more effective action against invasive animals.
• Advance understanding of the nature and behaviour of Australasia's invasive animals to maximise
delivery from the above objectives.
• Provide partners with mechanisms for national and international business collaboration, to
facilitate route to market for products and services.
• Build greater capacity to anticipate, detect, prevent, limit or manage the impacts of existing or
new invasive animals.
A total of 41 organisations are participating in the Invasive Animals CRC, as either core or supporting
partners. These include Australian government agencies, industry bodies and small-medium
enterprises, as well as seven international organisations from New Zealand, Britain and the USA.
The Invasive Animals CRC is structured around six central programs, including:
• Terrestrial products and strategies (Bait and toxin development, biocontrol, fertility control,
emerging solutions such as attractants and molecular techniques).
• Freshwater products and strategies (Daughterless technologies, biocides, pheromone trapping,
environmental manipulation).
• Preparedness through Education Program (Postgraduate and honours programs, community
engagement, practitioner training, researcher skills).
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IA CRC) offers postgraduates the opportunity to
participate in dealing with pest animals and to contribute to the combined scientific expertise of the
CRC. IA CRC consists of six international participants as well as our range of Australian participants.
Postgraduate and honours programs
Postgraduate students play a very important role in Cooperative Research Centres. In the IA CRC,
students are attached to projects that contribute to one of 13 operational targets. Students receive
good funding support through projects as well as an industry-level scholarship with a three-and-a-half
year tenure. In addition, the CRC assists students with strong skills-based training that make them a
better, more 'balanced' scientist that is more attractive to employers.
University of Canberra
www.canberra.edu.au
The University of Canberra delivers Postgraduate Education and Stakeholder Training in cooperation
with the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre.
The University is developing and implementing a curriculum for short-course training at the Honours
and PhD level. The curriculum aims to provide graduates with research, leadership, communication
and management skills and the ability to move between industry and academia.
The University coordinates a diploma level, mixed mode delivery course in strategic pest management
that targets Natural Resource Management Regions nationwide. It also continues to develop and
deliver an on-line schools education program in pest animals.
Rainforest CRC
www.rainforest-crc.jcu.edu.au/about.htm
The Rainforest CRC, based at James Cook University comprises a partnership of twelve organisations.
One of its programs involves alleviating road-induced problems for animals through innovative
projects to get animals off the streets. For example, the NSW Wildlife Information and Rescue Service
estimates that 7000 native animals are killed on New South Wales roads every day.
While a variety of methods to prevent road kill have been trialed, animal crossings have proved most
successful. Overpasses consist of a rope ladder strung high above the road connecting canopies on
one side to the other; their main function is to reduce fragmentation for animals that rarely or never
leave the canopy. Underpasses are tunnels under major roads that allow animals to pass under the
busy traffic, thereby lowering road kill and enabling animal movement.
Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia - University Research Grants
The WPSA University Research Grants are scholarships of $1,000 offered to honours or postgraduate
students at Australian universities. Applicants must be a member of the Society, and those wishing to
join can do so at www.wpsa.org.au Grants are available for research projects of direct relevance to
the conservation of Australian wildlife. Grants may be used for the purchase of equipment and
consumables, travel expenses related to field research, or attendance of conferences at which
students present their work.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Formal Education – VET Sector
Agri-Food Industry Skills Council
www.agrifoodskills.net.au
The Agri-Food Industry Skills Council (AFISC) was formed in May 2004 as one of 10 industry skills
councils established to represent enterprises and workers across the spectrum of Australian industries.
The council is funded through DEST but is established as a private company reporting to a governing
Board of Directors. The 14 directors reflect the interests of Australia's five major agri-food industry
sectors, one of which is the 'Rural and Related Industries' Sector. The two AFSIC approved Training
Packages within this sector that relate to Animals in the Wild are the Animal Care and Management
(RUV04) Training Package and the Conservation and Land Management (RDT02) Training Package.
AFISC supports the development, implementation and continuous improvement of quality nationally
recognised training products and services, including Training Packages. Current reviews of the two
Training Packages that apply to Animals in the Wild, along with a Training Package Reform Program
being led by AFISC provide opportunities for the AAWS. The Agri-food Industry Skills Council is now
integrating a lot of animal welfare into its training packages.
Registered Training Organisations
A number of Registered Training Organisations (RTO) deliver training courses that incorporate units of
competency from the Animal Care and Management Training Package and the Conservation and Land
Management Training Package. Details of all RTOs, courses and competencies can be found on the
National Training Information Service website (www.ntis.gov.au).
Review of Animal Care and Management Training Package
In 2006 the Agri-Food Industry Skills Council managed the review of the Animal Care and
Management Training Package (RUV04). The Animal Care and Management Training Package is the
national benchmark for skills development in the animal care industry sectors and comprises the
nationally-endorsed qualifications for these sectors. Key industry sectors included in RUV04 are:
Animal Control and Regulation, Animal Technology, Captive Animals, Companion Animal Services,
Veterinary Nursing.
The AAWS was identified as a key emergent concern during Phase 1 of the review. More emphasis is
required in RUV04 to address legislation and National Animal Welfare Strategy requirements.
Review of the Conservation and Land Management Training Package
In 2005 the Agri-Food Industry Skills Council managed the review of the Conservation and Land
Management Training Package (RTD02). The Conservation and Land Management Training Package
was designed to extend coverage across several well-defined industry sectors which determined the
sector specialisation/occupational streams and also formed the basis for the six qualifications covered
by RTD02. The sector specialisations/occupational streams approved for RTD02 include Indigenous
Land Management; Lands, Parks and Wildlife and Vertebrate Pest Management. The Review is yet to
be finalised.
Training Package Merger - Rationalisation Project
In 2006 the Agri-Food Industry Skills Council managed a project that looked into merging the training
packages for Rural Production (RTE03), Conservation and Land Management (RTD02) and Amenity
Horticulture (RTF03). The final outcomes of this project are yet to be published.
Award Courses in the Animal Care and Management Training Package
Studies within the Animal Care and Management Training Package developed by the Agri-Food
Industry Skills Council can lead to the attainment of qualifications that include:
• Certificate I and II in Animal Studies
• Certificate III in Animal Technology
• Certificate III and IV in Captive Animals
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
•
•
•
•
Certificate III and IV in Companion Animal Services
Certificate IV in Animal Control and Regulation
Diploma of Animal Technology
Diploma of Veterinary Nursing (Surgical, Dental or Emergency and Critical Care).
Award Courses in the Conservation and Land Management Training Package
The Conservation and Land Management Training Package was designed to extend coverage across
several well-defined industry sectors which determined the sector specialisation/occupational streams
and also formed the basis for the six qualifications covered by RTD02. The sector specialisations /
occupational streams approved for RTD02 were:
• General Land Management
• Conservation Earthworks
• Community Coordination and Facilitation
• Indigenous Land Management
• Lands, Parks and Wildlife
• Natural Area Restoration
• Weed Management
• Vertebrate Pest Management.
Conservation and Land Management Qualifications
The six qualifications endorsed in RDT02 are:
• Certificate I, II, III and IV in Conservation and Land Management
• Diploma of Conservation and Land Management
• Advanced Diploma of Conservation and Land Management.
Examples of RTOs offering training relevant to Animals in the Wild are included here.
North Coast TAFE NSW
Animal Care Attending
http://www.nci.tafensw.edu.au/tvet/courses/animal_care.htm
Animal Studies – some native animal components
http://www.nci.tafensw.edu.au/courses/primary%20industries%20and%20natural%20resources/1045.htm
Box Hill TAFE Vic
Certificate III in Captive Animals
http://www.bhtafe.edu.au/Courses/CAZ31.htm
Nursing and Management of Wildlife - Short Course
This course provides information on handling and nursing techniques, rehabilitation, preventive
medicine and management of native animals for people working with wildlife.
Pre-requisite: For those not working with wildlife, is completion of the short course “An Introduction to
Zoology of Australian Wildlife”.
An Introduction to the Zoology of Australian Wildlife
This course is designed for people with a general interest in Australian wildlife, particularly species
found in south-eastern Australia. The course covers classification and ecology, including influence of
introduced species and programs designed to research and manage wildlife. The course does not
include handling of animals.
TAFE WA
Various TAFE colleges offer the Certificates II, III and IV in Conservation and Land Management. The
Diploma of Conservation and Land Management is offered through the Murdoch, Albany and Denmark
campuses of TAFE.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Northern Metropolitan TAFE Vic
Cert II in Animal Studies – section on wildlife rehabilitation
http://www.nmit.vic.edu.au/courses/agriculture/animal_sci/animal_studies_cer2_a.html#description
Brisbane North Institute of TAFE Qld
Reptiles & amphibian courses as well as captive animals for wildlife
http://bn.tafe.qld.gov.au/courses_and_careers/topics/eatplate.php?team=Animal%20Science
National Training Information – lists TAFE courses – many related to wildlife
http://www.ntis.gov.au/cgi-bin/waxhtml/~ntis2/pkg.wxh?page=83&inputRef=220
Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE
www.msit.tafe.qld.gov.au
Certificate III in Native Animal Rehabilitation
This course is intended for the specific area of Wildlife Rehabilitators in Queensland. It will address the
future requirements of Queensland industry, industry sector enterprises and the community by
providing quality in the standard of care and follow-up for injured native animals. On successful
completion of this course, learners will have the skills to work as a Wildlife Carer.
This program runs for 16 hours per week and allows students to gain qualifications to care for
Australian wildlife. Students gain skills in caring for native animals, as well as the rehabilitation and
release of injured and orphaned animals. The program is designed for volunteer wildlife carers; people
with an interest in native animal conservation and anyone who has exposure to native animals in their
work.
Australian Game Meat, Hygiene And Handling Course (TAFE NSW No: 5725)
www.oten.edu.au/oten/course_admin/cils/5725.htm
This program is designed for professional game animal harvesters licensed to take game animals
under requirements of the NSW Food Authority and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
The NSW Department of Education and Training runs this course through its Open Education and
Training Network (OTEN) along with the NSW TAFE Western Institute.
The program covers culling procedures, recommended equipment, field harvester's pre-harvest
inspection, hygienic practice of field dressing and field processor's post-mortem procedures.
It provides knowledge regarding correct hygienic handling procedures aimed at minimising
contamination and the potential public health risks associated with food handling.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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Animal Industries Resource Centre
www.avnrc.com.au/courses_cert1.html
The Animal Industries Resource Centre (AIRC) was established in 1997 with the goal to provide
comprehensive education, training and consulting for veterinary nurses, animal carers and their
employers across Australia. As a Registered Training Organisation, the AIRC delivers nationally
recognised and accredited training from the Animal Care and Management Training Package.
Today, the AIRC has over 500 students nationally and internationally in a variety of educational
qualifications. Whilst the predominant group of students are veterinary nurses, the AIRC also trains
those in the animal care, pet grooming, companion animal services, urban animal management and
native wildlife care industries. AIRC students can be found in most states of Australia as well as New
Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong.
AIRC offers a wide range of training in a range of animal related careers - from one day workshops to
Diploma qualifications. One and two day interactive workshops are available for those employed in
urban animal management and veterinary nursing areas. Introductory courses are available for people
wishing to enter the veterinary nursing, pet care and grooming industries.
Certificate I in Animal Studies is intended for individuals who have not yet gained employment in a
veterinary nursing or animal/wildlife care field. Certificate IV in Animal Control and Regulation is
designed for those already working in the urban animal management environment. Certificate II,
Certificate IV and Diploma courses are available to people already working in veterinary nursing. CTVN
Technician is interactive professional development for Veterinary Nurses. People employed at a pet
shop, grooming parlour, boarding kennel, cattery or any other animal care facility may study
Certificate III or Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services.
Conservation and Land Management Training for Indigenous People
Like many other rural landowners indigenous people learn best through practical experience (Coombs
et al 1983; Liddle 1996), as this allows them to understand how useful new ideas are for solving
immediate problems. Community development approaches, such as the Central Land Council’s land
assessment program, are most appropriate. However it is hard for indigenous people to obtain
funding for such programs through government departments which support indigenous community
management or wildlife and environmental management. This is partly because indigenous education
and training policy focuses strongly on accredited individual courses rather than community based
efforts, a result of indigenous demand for skills training to be formally recognised and therefore more
useful for obtaining employment.
In 1991, a curriculum audit was undertaken in South Australia to determine the extent to which
Indigenous skills and knowledge were accredited as part of environmental and cultural heritage
programs. Following this work, the South Australian Aboriginal Land Management Steering Committee
(SAALMSC) was appointed to oversee Indigenous land management training programs with funding
provided by ATSIC and DEET.
In 1990, Cairns TAFE initiated a Community Ranger Program designed to incorporate Indigenous skills
and knowledge and involve Elders in delivering components of the course. In 1991, the SAALMSC
applied for national accreditation with ANTA and ACTRAC for its program. This was denied as it was
"too locally focused on the South Australian environment and required greater consultation
throughout Australia in order to meet the national criteria." The SAALMSC then joined forces with
Cairns TAFE and funding was gained from ANTA to conduct an up-to-date curriculum audit and
establish a Steering Committee and Industry Reference Group to consult with community groups
throughout Australia.
In 1998 the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curriculum Consortium at Tropical North Institute of
TAFE (Cairns) funded the development of a course in Natural and Cultural Resource Management –
Caring for Country covering AQF levels 2-6.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Indigenous land management is now included as part of the "Conservation and Land Management
Training Package".
A number of TAFE colleges across Australia also run Certificate II & III courses in Conservation and
Land Management - For Indigenous Australians.
The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) is an alliance of
Indigenous Land Councils and land management organisations across North Australia, working
strategically together on Indigenous land and sea management initiatives. The Alliance is involved in
education initiatives that include the impact of feral animals on country that threatens the health of its
people.
Kimberley Toad Buster Course
www.canetoads.com.au/hewslet4.htm
The Kimberley Toad Busters are running training courses for public caner toad control through the
local TAFE.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Formal Education – Schools Sector
NSW Wildlife Information and Rescue Service (WIRES)
http://www.wires.org.au/
The NSW Wildlife Information and Rescue Service (WIRES) is the largest wildlife rescue organisation
in Australia. Since 1985, WIRES has established a network of hundreds of volunteers who rescue,
rehabilitate and release sick, injured or orphaned native animals.
WIRES Schools Education
Teacher resources
I Spy Wildlife aims to introduce children to the amazing world of native Australian animals. The wildlife
spot-a-thon aims to educate and surprise young naturalists with fascinating details about everyday
animals, whilst also raising money to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured and orphaned wildlife.
WIRES education kit
The booklet is a fun educational wildlife activity book for children and teachers to enjoy. It introduces
children to the amazing world of Australia's native animals with the aim of educating young naturalists
with details about everyday animals they see and experience.
Classroom Activities
WIRES has a number of activities for use in the classroom to educate children in a fun way about
Australia's native wildlife.
School Talks
WIRES volunteers regularly talk to school and community groups.
WA Department of Environment and Conservation – Bush Rangers Western Australia
http://www.naturebase.net/content/view/2260/1087/
The Bush Rangers Western Australia Program is a voluntary program for young Western Australians.
It is part of a broader program known as Cadets WA, which aims to give all secondary-school-aged
youth the opportunity to participate in personal development training that provides practical life skills,
develops leadership, teamwork and initiative skills, and fosters qualities of community responsibility
and service.
Bush Rangers WA Units are based at secondary schools, and any student aged between 13 and 17
can join. Units will meet regularly at school to undertake training and chart the progress of their
various projects.
As a Bush Ranger young people will:
•
contribute to nature conservation through a variety of exciting hands-on projects
•
develop first-aid, bushcraft, survival and navigation skills
•
learn about managing parks, State Forest and other special places
•
help save threatened plant and animal species and their habitats
Bush Rangers WA work with people in their local area through a variety of local conservation projects.
For example, these could include:
•
establishing a native garden at your school to replace an area of unused lawn
•
helping to construct and/or maintain a walk trail in a local or National Park
•
becoming involved in DEC's Western Shield project by taking part in trapping and monitoring
native animals
•
adopting a local area of remnant bushland, mapping its plants and vegetation, and monitoring
its use by birds and other animals.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Curriculum Initiatives relating to Animals in the Wild
In the New South Wales Primary School syllabus there are two subjects of relevance to wildlife.
These are:
HSIE (Human Society and its Environment)
• Wet and dry environments
• State and national parks
• The need for shelter
• Global environments (rainforests)
• Antarctica
Science
• Living things
• The Earth and its surroundings
Influencing the development of appropriate educational materials that would fit into these topics
would have a much greater impact than would providing extra-curricula information. As noted
elsewhere schools have very little time for teaching topics outside the set curricula, and there are
many competing demands for the limited time available.
There are numerous case studies that illustrate how native wildlife can be included in the school
curriculum. Slacks Creek State School is just one example.
Case Study – Koala conservation and Slacks Creek State School, Queensland
Students at Slacks Creek State School study koala conservation as part of their curriculum.
The curriculum involves children from prep to grade 7 learning about conserving koalas through a
range of subjects in and out of the classroom. Students learn about the need for conservation, native
animals and their habitats, food sources, natural and man-made threats to native wildlife, their
characteristics, evolutionary processes, and the way koalas nurture their young.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPSW) rangers assist teachers to deliver the curriculum by
attending the school and organising activities that give students a deeper understanding of the koala
population and its needs.
The lessons and activities encourage children to think about the natural and man made threats to our
native wildlife and communicate their ideas orally, visually and in writing. The curriculum also opens
students up to future career possibilities in the nature conservation area.
The school has a plantation of 1200 trees, mostly eucalyptus species, to provide leaf food to
rehabilitate sick, injured and orphaned koalas at the Moggill koala hospital and in the wider koala
community.
The QPWS is investigating opportunities to extend the Koala Fodder Plantation Program to other
schools.
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Informal Education - Government
NSW Government - Department of Environment and Climate Change
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Native+plants+and+animals
The NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change provides information on its website about
native animals. In relation to the welfare of native animals, there is a section about living with wildlife
and fact sheets about individual species, as well as information about sick, injured or orphaned
wildlife.
Game Council of NSW Hunter Education Handbook
www.gamecouncil.nsw.gov.au/
Hunters applying for the Restricted NSW Game Hunting Licence (R-Licence) to hunt on declared public
land are required to be members of Game Council Approved Hunting Organisations and have
completed adequate training.
Adequate training can be in the form of the following:
•
Completing an existing hunter education program that is accredited by Game Council NSW
•
Recognition of Prior Learning
•
Completing Game Council's "NSW Hunter Education Program.''
The Game Council of NSW has also produced the NSW Hunter Education Handbook to promote
responsible hunting. The Handbook has been created to lift standards and knowledge test hunters as
a pre-requisite to licensing. The Handbook draws on a wide range of expertise in the fields of animal
welfare, hunting legislation, safety, conservation and ethics… all key areas of knowledge for the
responsible hunter.
The Handbook was produced under the guidance of Game Council’s Ethics & Education Committee,
chaired by Dr Tony English, the Director of the Wildlife Health and Conservation Centre, Faculty of
Veterinary Science, University of Sydney.
NSW Game Council Accredited Training Courses - R-LICENCE CATEGORY
Accredited courses covering animal welfare that are available include:
•
Australian Bowhunters Association - Bowhunter Proficiency Course
•
Australian Deer Association - Victoria
•
State Hunter Education Program R-Licence (Firearms)
•
Australian Deer Association - Queensland QLD Hunter Education Course R-Licence (Firearms)
•
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, NSW Branch Hunting & Conservation Accreditation
Course R-Licence (Firearms)
•
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, Victoria Branch Hunting & Conservation Accreditation
Course R-Licence (Firearms)
Deer Management Plans
NSW Game Council participates in the Illawarra Deer Management Working Group that brings
together government agencies such as National Parks and Wildlife Services and Rural Lands Protection
Board, as well as landholders and other stakeholders. The Group has developed a regional control
plan for growing deer populations, as well as the threat wild deer in the area poses to the
environment and driver safety. Game Council licensed hunters assist local farmers in the area with
tailored control programs where deer are causing agricultural losses.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Victorian Government - Department of Sustainability and Environment
www.dse.vic.gov.au
The Department of Sustainability and Environment website has information related to the welfare of
animals in the wild covered in the following topics:
•
Wildlife Rescue Groups
•
Cats and Wildlife
•
Problem Wildlife – swooping birds, possums, bird and flying-fox bat damage to orchard fruit
•
Threatened Species and Communities – Education and Information Resources
•
Pest Plants and Animals
•
Land for Wildlife
Victorian Hunting Guide
The Victorian Hunting Guide is produced by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)
and is designed to help people improve their hunting experience and keep them up to date with
changes to game laws. The Guide contains important information on firearm safety and hunter ethics,
as well as information on current bag limits and season dates for all game species in Victoria.
All holders of a valid Game Licence receive annually a free copy of the Hunting Guide. Copies of the
Guides are also provided to all new Game Licence applicants. The DSE also has Fact Sheets on its
website about hunting that cover animal welfare.
South Australian Government - Department for Environment and Heritage
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/animalwelfare/wild.html
The Department of Environment and Heritage has information relating to the welfare of native
animals as follows:
•
Fauna Permits for Native Animals
•
Codes of Practice
•
Wildlife in Conflict with People (Possums, Magpies, Koalas, Corellas and Cockatoos, Snakes and
Echidnas, Cane Toads)
•
Rescuing Protected Animals in South Australia
•
Feral Animals
•
Codes of Practice (feral animals)
•
Animal and Plant Control Group.
Animals in the Wild Frequently Asked Questions:
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/animalwelfare/faq_wild.html
Western Australian Government - Department of Environment and Conservation
Wildlife Carers Course
http://www.naturebase.net/content/view/285/410/
The WA Department of Environment and Conservation runs a course for anyone interested in helping
Australian wildlife. The course is presented by Perth Zoo's veterinary staff and some of the State's
most experienced Wildlife Rehabilitators, who share their hard won expertise in their specialised fieldsmarsupials (kangaroos and possums), reptiles, birds and raptors. During the courses participants have
the opportunity to see a variety of these animals in various stages of rehabilitation.
Basic Course
The basic course is conducted over two days. On completion of the course participants receive a
comprehensive manual and a certificate. The course is designed for those who would like to volunteer
their time at a rehabilitation centre or for volunteers who, in the future, wish to apply and become a
DEC Registered Wildlife Rehabilitator and care for animals in their own home (this course is a prerequisite).
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Tasmanian Government - Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/education/index.html
The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service has educational information on its website about threatened
species and fact sheets about a range of Tasmanian native species.
Other information relating to the welfare of animals in the wild includes:
•
•
•
•
How to Care for Wildlife http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/factsheets/caring/CaringInjured.pdf
Wildlife Carers Checklist http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/factsheets/caring/CarersCheckList.pdf
Keeping Wildlife Wild http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/factsheets/caring/KeepWildlifeWild.pdf
Reducing Roadkill http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/factsheets/caring/Roadkill.pdf
ACT Government - Department of Territory and Municipal Services
Living with Wildlife
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/environment/local_wildlife/living_with_local_wildlife
The ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services provides educational information to the
public about living with wildlife – kangaroos, magpies, possums, snakes and frogs.
Snake Training for Staff
The ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services (which incorporates the former Department
of Environment) requires all staff involved in the Urban Wildlife Program to undertake snake training
once a year, every year.
New staff who will be required to handle snakes undergo a three day training session. Staff members
who have undergone one or more seasons as trained snake handlers they are required to undergo a
full day's refresher training.
The one-day refresher course reviews snake catching skill, tailing, handling the head of the snake,
basic venom serology, advances in first aid, case studies. The three-day course covers snake ecology
and biology, snake bite first aid, extensive training in snake capture, bagging, release, tailing and
head capture.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Informal Education – Hunting Organisations
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia
The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) has over 100,000 members across Australia.
Since 1992, members of the SSAA have culled 25,000 feral goats across the Flinders Ranges region.
This has involved about 700 Hunting & Conservation members and in excess of 3800 shooter days
since the program commenced, providing much needed assistance to enhancing biodiversity in the
Flinders Ranges.
SSAA (Vic) & Parks Victoria - Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC)
Parks Victoria and the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) are involved in joint programs
to control feral animals in Victoria’s national and state parks and reserves.
The two organisations ran a successful trial program to control goats in the Murray-Sunset National
Park in which 135 feral goats were destroyed in 2003.
The success of the Murray-Sunset program has continued with the introduction of volunteer shooters
in the Barmah State Park and there are plans for the SSAA to help control feral goats and pigs in
Kinglake National Park, Mitchell River National Park and Mt Mittamatite Regional Park. Other potential
locations around the state are also being investigated.
All shooters are subject to a strict selection process involving the completion of an accreditation
program developed by SSAA with Parks Victoria to ensure volunteer shooters have competencies to
dispatch target species humanely and that they have an understanding of environmental values. All
operations are closely controlled and guidelines agreed in the MoC establish strict procedures that
must be followed before a program commences.
Interested shooters can join their local SSAA branch and if they undertake the necessary training and
selection process can assist Parks Victoria with ongoing pest animal management. Parks Victoria is
also keen to partner other organisations committed to improving Victoria's wonderful park system.
Park's Victoria who manage parks across the state have been trialing the use of Sporting Shooters to
help control feral animals. The Sporting Shooters Association has 25 000 members in Victoria and the
organisation claims that up to 10 000 of these could be recruited to shoot feral animals.
Field & Game Australia
FGA has been collecting data on pest animal hunting activity from its members over 10 years. The
FGA believes the value of this voluntary effort equates to between $350,000 to $750,000 annually.
The Australian Pigdoggers & Hunters Association Inc
www.aushunt.com.au
According to the recently formed 'Australian Pigdoggers and Hunters Association Inc.' (APHA) hunting
pigs with a disciplined, trained dog is one of a number of useful tools in the ongoing effort to control
feral pig populations across NSW. But in the past, the ethics of this hunting practice has often come
into question. To address these issues, hunters from around Australia have come together to establish
a national body representing people who hunt with dogs. APHA aims to educate and mentor young
people and improve the image of hunting with dogs. APHA aims to provide practical information and
training to members and liaise with like-minded groups and relevant authorities as a united voice for
responsible pig hunters. APHA is aiming to develop a Code of Ethics and introduce a 'hunting with
dogs education program'.
Kangaroo Shooters Training
This is covered in the section on Wildlife Management - Kangaroos.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Informal Education – Wildlife Rescue and Shelters
Note: Organisations will be arranged alphabetically by state when all entities have been identified.
NSW Wildlife Information and Rescue Service (WIRES)
www.wires.org.au/
The NSW Wildlife Information and Rescue Service (WIRES) is the largest wildlife rescue organisation
in Australia. Since 1985, WIRES has established a network of hundreds of volunteers who rescue,
rehabilitate and release sick, injured or orphaned native animals.
Each year WIRES receives more than 100,000 phone calls and rescues around 55,000 native animals.
WIRES is a non-profit, non-political charity with branches operating across NSW. More than 90% of
funding comes from public donations and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the NSW
Department of Agriculture provide grants worth 2.5%.
Training courses
In NSW no person is allowed to care for native animals without an annual authority to act issued
under the license held by WIRES or another licensed wildlife rehabilitation organisation or by a
privately licensed individual. Participants must be over 18 to attend a WIRES training course.
WIRES training courses provide an understanding of how animals become injured and come into
WIRES’ care. Courses are held at locations throughout NSW.
Specialist and advanced courses
WIRES runs specialist courses only available to members who have completed a rescue and
immediate care course and been actively involved with animal care. These courses are sometimes
opened to members of other wildlife organisations who have completed training courses and already
hold a NPWS Licence.
Sydney Wildlife
www.sydneywildlife.org.au
Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services (known as Sydney Wildlife) is a volunteer organisation that is
dedicated to caring for Sydney's sick, injured or orphaned native fauna. Sydney Wildlife is a non-profit
organisation operating under license from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Its goals are native animal rescue and rehabilitation, community education and habitat preservation in
the Sydney area. Members share a common goal of caring for wildlife. Each member must complete a
two day basic training course prior to joining. On completion of the course members are issued with
an annually renewable authority to rescue and foster care birds, adult possums and lizards. Further
training is available for those wishing to care for other species.
The Basic Training Course includes course notes, a bird identification book, bird care manual, rescue
basket and emergency pack. This course is specifically designed for people wishing to become
members of Sydney Wildlife and to actively rescue and care for native animals. It is not a general
education course and is not suitable for those intending to work professionally with animals or who
are seeking a prerequisite for entry into another course.
Once the basic training course has been completed other specialised courses are available. They
include:
• Vet student’s course
• Possum course
• Macropod course
• Flying Fox course
• Reptile course.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Wildlife Victoria
www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/training.html
Wildlife Victoria is a statewide volunteer wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organisation that runs a 24hour emergency phone number for people who have come across injured, sick or orphaned wildlife.
Wildlife Victoria advocates and supports the Wildlife Rescue industry by representing volunteers'
needs, running training events and publishing 'Wildlife Matters' our industry newsletter.
Wildlife Victoria cares for and protects native wildlife. It also supports carers with education and
training. Members are offered training at a reduced rate. Wildlife Victoria informs members of quality
training days being run by professional trainers.
The Husbandry and Rehabilitation of Wildlife course
www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/education.html
Victoria University and Wildlife Victoria offer a course for any person who is interested in becoming a
wildlife carer or would like to expand their knowledge in the care and rehabilitation of native
Australian wildlife. It is available in both on-line and on-campus modes.
On-Line Mode
This course is designed for those who cannot attend formal classes but enables them to learn from
experienced and knowledgeable wildlife carers. The course is both broad and detailed to meet the
needs of any person who is new to wildlife caring or those who just wish to expand their knowledge.
Some of the topics that are included in the course are:
•
Law and animal welfare
•
Basic animal biology
•
Wildlife husbandry
•
Wildlife rehabilitation
•
Animal first aid
•
Animal rescue and release
On-Campus Mode
This course uses similar material and has a similar structure as the on-line course. However, it is
conducted at Victoria University, Werribee campus. In this course there is considerable hands on
experience, as there is the opportunity to visit various shelters and wildlife parks.
Far North Queensland Wildlife Rescue Inc
http://www.fnqwildliferescue.org.au/home.htm
Far North Queensland Wildlife Rescue is an independent, non-profit, incorporated volunteer
organization operating under the permit from the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency.
Founded in 1993, volunteers assist with the care and rehabilitation of native fauna. Members of the
public drop off orphaned, sick and injured wildlife for care. FNQ Wildlife Rescue provides basic training
on wildlife care.
Help for Wildlife
http://www.helpforwildlife.com
Help for Wildlife is a 24 Hour State-wide Wildlife Emergency Service which is a voluntary, community
based, non-profit, non-political organization established in 1995 to assist with distressed wildlife on all
levels. Help for Wildlife encourages greater understanding and respect for the needs of wildlife and
actively seeks solutions to wildlife problems.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Noahs Ark
www.noahsark.org.au/?act=wildlife
Noahs Ark is dedicated to protect the rights of all native animals and the environment in which they
live. Noahs Ark focuses attention on four main areas:
•
Australian Wildlife rescue and release.
•
Wildlife that suffer intense injustice.
•
Environmental Education
•
Support to other wildlife groups.
Noah’s Ark works on a variety of issues including the slaughter of Kangaroos. Its works is carried out
through education, research, animal rescue, legislation and special events. Noah’s Ark has specific
information about caring for baby macropods – eg kangaroos & wallabies.
Australian Seabird Rescue
www.seabirdrescue.org/
Australian Seabird Rescue (ASR) was established at Ballina, New South Wales in 1992. Since that
time, ASR volunteers have been involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of seabirds and shorebirds,
marine turtles, and to date, have rescued over 1000 Australian Pelicans.
In almost all human-populated estuaries, at some time, every pelican is at risk of becoming entangled
or hooked in fishing tackle. ASR volunteers have developed techniques for capturing pelicans and
many other species of birds, even those, which still had the ability to fly.
ASR has produced the book – ‘the definitive guide to the rescue and rehabilitation of seabirds and
pelicans’ - Rescuing the Australian Pelican. ASR conducts training workshops with several wildlife
groups along the east coast of Australia. Workshops are tailored to suit most wildlife carers' time
commitments. The most popular course consists of two days of instruction covering the theory of
rescue and rehabilitation and a practical 'hands-on' day of rescues and estuary reconnaissance.
FAWNA
www.fawna.org.au
FAWNA (For Australian Wildlife Needing Aid) is a volunteer wildlife rescue and rehabilitation service for
injured and orphaned native wildlife. FAWNA operates on the mid north coast of NSW and is licensed
by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). FAWNA operates a 24hr emergency telephone
service where members are on duty to answer calls from the public for wildlife needing assistance.
FAWNA undertakes an education through schools and community groups, creating an awareness of
the reasons why wildlife need human assistance, and what people can do to help protect and restore
wildlife habitat.
FAWNA rehabilitates native wildlife for return to their natural environment; relocate native wildlife
under threat or causing distress to the public into a natural habitat for that species; and train
volunteer members to carry out the rescue and care of native wildlife and encourage protection of the
environment.
FAWNA runs regular training courses for members in the care and rehabilitation of many wildlife species.
All FAWNA carers must undertake a basic first aid and rescue course. Carers then undertake training
courses for the specific species they wish to rescue and care for. Training courses are available in
Kangaroos and Wallabies (Macropods), Birds, Reptiles, Possums and Gliders.
Certain minimum conditions apply to the handling of species such as bats and flying-foxes, venomous
snakes and birds of prey (raptors). A refresher course is recommended every two years to keep
abreast of the latest developments in wildlife care.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Tweed Valley Carers
www.tvwc.org/index.htm
Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers Inc was formed in 1989 and is licensed under National Parks & Wildlife
Service to care for sick and injured native fauna. Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers rescue and rehabilitate
native fauna under threat, or causing distress to members of the public, for return to their natural
environment.
Volunteer members are fully trained in the rescue and care of native wildlife and include several areas
of specialist expertise relating to specific needs such as possums, gliders, macropods, monotremes,
and flying foxes. The groups also educate the public by encouraging the protection and welfare of
native wildlife and their habitat. The website contains information about caring for native animals.
Wildcare Australia
www.wildcare.org.au
Wildcare rehabilitators rescue and rehabilitate sick, injured and orphaned native animals for release
back into natural habitat. Wildcare Australia is the registered trading name of the Australian Koala
Hospital Association Incorporated. It was formed in late 1993 and added to the Register of
Environmental Organisations in 1994. In June 1996 three carers started their own 24-hour wildlife
emergency volunteer telephone service in SE Queensland. Their area now reaches from the NSW
border, west to Boonah and north to the Logan River.
Wildcare Australia offers a comprehensive range of training workshops in native animal care and
management that are undertaken by:
• Wildlife rehabilitators
• people who work in the zoo industry
• animal welfare officers
• veterinary nurses
• local government parks employees
• National Parks and Wildlife employees
• people who work in the eco-tourism industry, park staff as well as
• ordinary people who just want to learn more about caring for Australia’s unique wildlife
Wildcare Australia offers workshops on topics including:
• Assessment and Management of Sick and Injured Native Wildlife
• Introduction to Caring for Orphaned Mammals
• The care and management of Adult Koalas
• Raising Orphaned Koala Joeys
• Baby Birds
• Basic Care and Management of Native Birds
• Anatomy, Diseases and Injuries of Native Birds
• Possums and Gliders (both basic and advanced courses)
• Small Mammals and Bandicoots
• Echidnas
• Kangaroos and Wallabies (both basic and advanced courses)
• Caring for Orphaned Flying Foxes
• Caring for Adult and Sub-Adult Flying Foxes
General training workshops are free to current financial members of Wildcare Australia. Non-Members
are charged $15 per person per workshop.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
WildCare Tasmania
www.wildcaretas.org.au/pages/home.php
WildCare is Tasmania's incorporated community partner organisation that provides management and
support for volunteers working in natural and cultural heritage conservation and reserve management.
Volunteers work alongside the Biodiversity Conservation Branch of the Department of Primary
Industries and Water and also with the Tasmanian Heritage Office and the Parks & Wildlife Service of
the Department of Tourism, Arts and the Environment.
Wildcare is the largest and fastest growing environmental action group in Tasmania, with around
3,000 members. It undertakes volunteer work (around 100,000 hours per year) supporting natural
and cultural heritage conservation and reserve management throughout the State.
Central North Wildlife Care and Rescue (CNWCR)
www.adulteducation.tas.gov.au/documents/pdfs/ad_ed_winter07_proof5.pdf
Caring for Orphaned & Injured Wildlife
This course allows participants to gain confidence from members of Central North Wildlife Care and
Rescue in dealing with injured or orphaned animals. It covers safety for the carer and the animal,
rescue, identification, understanding basic principles and how rescue groups work.
Julia Butler-Ross, Central North Wildlife Care and Rescue (CNWCR) runs the course in Ulverstone.
The CNWCR works in cooperation with the State Government Nature Conservation Branch and Parks
and Wildlife Service, RSPCA and local vets. In November 2003 the group won a state award for its
work in animal welfare in the prestigious National Volunteer Awards sponsored by the National
Australia bank.
Native Animal Network Association
www.nana.asn.au
The Native Animal Network Association (NANA) has been rescuing and caring for wildlife since 1992
and operates under section 120 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act. The area allocated to the
network covers from the Victorian border to Wollongong and out to the Southern Highlands.
NANA's primary aim is to raise, rehabilitate and release native animals. It also assumes responsibility
to help educate the public as to the issues confronting local wildlife, and to do whatever they can to
help maintain an environment that allows our unique wildlife to survive an enrich our lives. The NANA
website has links to the impact of domestic and feral cats on wildlife.
Fostercare of Australia's Unique Native Animals Inc (FAUNA)
www.fauna.com.au
Located in Lockyer Valley Queensland FAUNA is a group of people who care for sick, injured and
orphaned native Australian animals. The website contains information on endangered fauna in the
Queensland area, and what to do in an emergency situation.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
RSPCA
www.rspca.org.au
The RSPCA provides information on wildlife, laws relating to the keeping of wildlife, and how to care
for sick or injured wildlife. RSPCA also runs state based education programs that cover wildlife.
The RSPCA also has a number of Wildlife Policies available on its website.
www.rspca.org.au/policy/e.asp
These include:
• Control and commercial use of native animals
• Control and commercial use of introduced animals
• Control methods
• Farming of wild animals
• Hunting of wild animals for sport
• Keeping of wild animals as pets
• Rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured or orphaned wildlife
• Public exhibition of wildlife
• Aquatic wildlife
RSPCA NSW
The RSPCA has nine shelters in NSW which provide shelter to almost 40,000 animals each year including wildlife.
RSPCA South Australia
www.rspacsa.asn.au
RSPCA SA runs a training course at its Adelaide Shelter for Local Government officers in handling
domestic and wild animals.
RSPCA Victoria - Animal Care - Wildlife
www.rspcavic.org/animal_care/wildlife_care.htm
The RSPCA in Victoria provides information on its website on how to care for wildlife. This information
includes the care of native birds, injured and orphaned wildlife.
RSPCA ACT Wildlife Centre
www.rspca-act.org.au
One of the RSPCA ACT’s core functions is the sole provider of rescue, care, rehabilitation and release
for wildlife in ACT region. There is one full-time Wildlife Officer supported by a handful of casual staff
and a large network of volunteers. Each year more than 2200 native animals are brought to the
RSPCA for care.
RSPCA Wildlife also conducts regular training and educational courses, public awareness raising
events, and activities to promote community involvement in the protection, rehabilitation, and cohabitation of our native animals. Its training programs for the community as well as our staff and
volunteers include; basic care techniques, handling, emergency procedures, and raising awareness in
how they can assist RSPCA in its activities.
RSPCA ACT’s resources, both financial and human, are extremely limited. Staff and carers work 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, feeding, and nursing wildlife to a level safe for release in their natural
environment. Each bird and animal species requires specific foods, temperature controls, and care is
intense. RSPCA currently operates under a license issued by the ACT Government with a small amount
of funding, which only covers $0.45c in every dollar RSPCA directly spends on caring for wildlife.
Prepared by Mal Brown, Scarlet Consulting and Carolyn Munckton, CM Communications
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Animal Ambulance
The RSPCA ACT rescue vehicle is responsible for the recovery of any injured or neglected domestic or
native animal. This role also assists in community presentations about care and management of
wildlife and basic techniques to cope with a range of situations.
These educational forums encompass key messages about handling injured wildlife, responsible
cohabitation measures, and the role of RSPCA in wildlife care and protection. The forums encourage
participation from a range of individuals, and offer specialist information, and information on further
studies in this field. The ambulance is available at each session, to assist in the promotion of this
service, and encourages studies in parks and wildlife, and general wildlife studies.
RSPCA has a range of short and advanced courses that wildlife carers must undertake before being
accepted in this role. Basic care and management by community members would reduce the number
of wildlife that are either ignored when hurt, improperly handled, or who arrive at RSPCA with
increased distress levels due to poor management.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife Volunteers Program
www.currumbin-sanctuary.org.au
The Wildlife Volunteer Program at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary offers participants the chance to work
with Australian native wildlife. Wildlife volunteers work with a keeper, assist within the vet department
in caring for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and care for animals in the Presentations Department
which educates the public about wildlife and their conservation. Applications are only accepted at
certain times of the year due to the popularity of the program. Volunteer placements are limited due
to the availability of positions.
The Currumbin Sanctuary website contains education resources called 'Animal Bytes' that provide
information on 17 native mammals, 11 native reptiles, 17 native birds and the splendid frog.
Aussie Wildlife Rescue - Short Course
The Aussie Wildlife Rescue Course is designed to enable graduates to deal with most situations and
care for sick and injured wildlife in the most practical and least stressful manner when needed. This
course is opened to adults and, 12 - 18 year olds who have parent/guardian permission. The course is
presented by experienced professionals in wildlife care at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary with special
adult and teenage student programs.
The Aussie Wildlife Rescue Course is conducted over eight 2.5 hour weekly evening sessions and costs
$250. The course covers legislation, safety, conservation and wildlife/human conflict; ID, handling,
capture and restraint, housing, diets of reptiles, birds and mammals; general diseases and parasites,
record keeping, products; rehabilitation and release procedures, ethics, carer groups and networks.
Kingbilli Wildlife Rescue
www.kingbilli.com.au
Kingbilli Wildlife Rescue is a 24/7 service available right across the Shire of Murrindindi, which covers
3,889 square kilometres of the rugged Central Highlands region of Victoria. The Centre specialises in
Marsupials, but is equipped to rescue and rehabilitate all manner of wildlife. In addition, the Centre
supports wildlife carers from around the State by providing advice, facilities and a safe, monitored
release site for those more complicated cases requiring extra-special care.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Informal Education – Other
Grey Path
www.greypath.com
GreyPath is an on-line Seniors Community. Each month tens of thousands of seniors, from around
Australia come together at Greypath to chat online, find pen pals, air their views in our forums, share
tips and ideas, get free advice, enjoy free further education in the Lyceum.
Greypath Lyceum
The Greypath Lyceum offers a growing list of free on line courses which are of particular interest to
seniors. Some interactive courses come with a Greypath Lyceum Certificate of Completion. The noninteractive courses do not carry certificate recognition, as an objective assessment of course
completion can not be made. Only registered users can access information about GreyPath Lyceum
courses.
Grey Path Wild Care and Habitat course – free online
This is a basic introduction to wildlife care matters for gardeners, landholders, animal lovers and
'those on the road' everywhere. The course is for those who at times come across injured wildlife and
want to help get it 'effectively' to care, and for those who might seek to be part of a personal or
community habitat development.
Grey Path World Wildlife Wiki
http://wiki.greypath.com/doku.php
This wildlife wiki has been set up to provide a network for experienced wildlife carers to share
information.
Australian Training Products – pest animal management
http://www.atpl.net.au/itemdetail.aspx?piid=10240
The Learning Resource VBB357 Pest Animal Management is an elective in the Diploma in Natural
Resource Management. This resource is designed to introduce the general principles involved in pest
animal management and how these general principles translate to specific actions designed to protect
or enhance the management of natural resources in Australia. While the general principles of pest
animal management may be applied to a huge range of organisms, it is restricted largely to vertebrate
pests and, in particular, rabbits and foxes.
Melbourne Zoo – Healesville Sanctuary Australian Wildlife Health Centre
www.awhc.zoo.org.au
The Australian Wildlife Health Centre (AWHC) at Healesville Sanctuary is a working veterinary hospital
that is designed around a large circular public gallery with views into 8 key zones:
1.
The Impact Theatre - A 10-minute audio-visual presentation explains the philosophies, values
and vision of the centre.
2.
The Operating Theatre - This zone showcases the work of skilled veterinarians and nurses
performing surgical procedures.
3.
Laboratory - Real-life diagnoses are performed by veterinarians, using state-of-the-art
diagnostic tools such as the ‘Coolscope’ (a microscope built into a computer). Visitors are also
be able to investigate cases through four diagnostic microscope stations.
4.
Post-mortem - Through a glass window, visitors witness the post-mortem process and are
able to talk to the veterinary pathologist. Visitors learn the importance of knowledge gained
through post-mortem in identifying health issues in individual animals and populations.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
5.
6.
7.
8.
Emergency - Wildlife patients are brought into Emergency by members of the public, shelter
operators, wildlife officers, the Department of Sustainability and Environment and animal
welfare organisations for emergency assessment and treatment.
The Rescue Zone - Interpretive elements, featuring a small car, reach into the gallery space to
tell the story of roadside rescue. This display reverses the human/animal roles in roadside
rescue drama with two kangaroos driving the car to give a new perspective on road safety.
Care and Recovery - Focuses on patient hospitalisation, treatment, nutrition and the expert
care from staff required to help animals on the road to recovery. The display includes a range
of hospital beds and includes a hospital ward.
Reintroduction - Through a range of activities, this zone tells the story of rehabilitation and
release. Experiences include using a radio-tracking antenna to locate a toy animal and a
heart-beat display where visitors can put on a stethoscope to hear the heartbeats of eight
species and compare them to their own.
The AWHC’s Learning Programs take students on a journey of discovery into the world of wildlife
healthcare. AWHC has an extensive range of education and learning opportunities for all school levels.
The AWHC shares knowledge and professional advice with other vets, vet students and wildlife carers:
Veterinary Students
The AWHC offers student veterinary placements for wildlife health. Annually about 15 fourth or
fifth year veterinary students are offered placements. Students learn about wildlife care from
husbandry, to handling techniques, to emergency medicine and major surgery.
Professional Training
AWHC veterinarians lecture regularly at universities and wildlife or zoo conferences, contribute to
many professional veterinary or wildlife journals and are renowned as experts in the field of Australian
wildlife healthcare.
Veterinary Referral and Consultation
The AWHC offers other vets a referral service. Vets can contact AWHC wildlife vets for expert
treatment advice, interpretation of X-rays, pathology or histology, or advice on any other health issue
for a range of Australian wildlife patients they may be treating.
Wildlife Carer Training
The AWHC offers Training Workshops for wildlife carers on many topics including wound
management, handling techniques, zoonosis, nutrition, first-aid, treatment and medication and many
others. The AWHC offers expert veterinary advice and patient treatment on a day-to-day basis.
Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo provides short courses in reptile handling to inspectors and rangers at NSW Department
of Primary Industries and the Department of Environment and Conservation.
Living with Wildlife
www.livingwithwildlife.com.au
Geoff Coombe, the principal of Living with Wildlife, has been actively involved with reptiles since
the mid-1960s. He has had practical experience with venomous snakes since 1971 in both field
environments and captive situations. Since 1993, Geoff has presented hundreds of talks, courses,
workshops and seminars and has trained several thousand people in how to handle venomous snakes,
delivering training programs all over Australia as well as overseas.
Geoff is the author of Snakes & Humans – subtitled "Understanding the behaviour of snakes and
human reactions to them".
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Living with Wildlife currently offers six training programs:
1. Basic Catching Venomous Snakes
2. Venomous Snakes in Remote Regions
3. Venomous Snakes - Field Techniques
4. Husbandry of Venomous Snakes
5. Venomous Snakes - Advanced Techniques
6. Snakes of Tropical Regions
University of Sydney – NSW Parks and Wildlife Service training
Professor Tony English from the University of Sydney has developed and run a training course for
NSW Parks and Wildlife Service staff dealing with injured deer.
The Management of Injured Deer and Other Animals
The training course covers:
•
Introduction
•
Deer as a traffic hazard
•
Factors to be considered
•
Human safety
•
Occupational health and safety
•
Animal welfare
•
Treatment policy
•
Policy on euthanasia of injured deer
•
Assessment of an injured deer
•
Approaching and injured deer
•
Category A – recumbent and immobile
•
Category B– recumbent but clearly alive
•
Category C – still on its feet
•
Category D – moving readily
•
Minimising the risk of disease transmission
•
Management of euthanasia
•
Criteria for euthanasia
•
Professional conduct
•
Euthanasia
•
Methods of euthanasia
•
Shooting with a firearm
NSW Parks and Wildlife Service Firearms Policy 2002
In NSW a training module on humane animal euthanasia was incorporated into the Goulburn
Academy’s program. This follows the training by Professor Tony English of police firearms instructors
in euthanasia.
CSIRO Publishing – Wildlife Research
www.publish.csiro.au/?nid=144
Wildlife Research provides an international forum for the publication of original and significant
research and debate on the ecology and management of wild animals in natural and modified
habitats. The publication covers a broad range of high quality, internationally refereed papers that
contribute conceptual and practical advances to the knowledge and understanding of wildlife ecology
and management.
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Informal Education – Ecotourism and Wildlife
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
www.australianwildlife.org
Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) acquires land, and works with other landholders, to establish
sanctuaries for the conservation of threatened wildlife and ecosystems. AWC now owns 15 sanctuaries
covering 1.1 million ha (2.7 million acres) in places such as north Queensland, the Kimberley, western
NSW, the Northern Territory and the forests of south-western Australia.
AWC aims to ensure that its sanctuaries act as 'catalysts' for broader landscape scale conservation
efforts. It works closely with its neighbours to also promote conservation beyond the borders of each
AWC sanctuary. Over 80% of AWC’s staff are based in the field where they implement programs
including feral animal control, weed eradication, fire management and translocation of threatened
species.
AWC works in partnership with universities, museums, CSIRO and a range of other science
organisations to conduct strategic research on key issues affecting Australian wildlife. For example
AWC has PhD students undertaking research projects at Mornington, Faure Island and Scotia
sanctuaries.
AWC hosts visitor's programs at its sanctuaries to promote public awareness of the plight of Australia’s
threatened wildlife. This includes a program of school visits at Yookamurra and Karakamia
sanctuaries. A volunteer program provides opportunities for people to participate in fauna surveys.
Earthwatch Institute Australia
www.teachlive.org.au
Earthwatch Institute engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote
the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.
Earthwatch members:
• support the field work of research scientists collecting the base line data essential for sustainable
management decisions.
• educate the next generation of leaders in education, business and the general public both at
home and overseas.
• solve problems by active and ground-breaking collaborations with conservation and preservation
partners.
Earthwatch Institute is an international non-profit organization with 50,000 members and supporters.
3,500 members volunteer their time and skills to work with 120 research scientists each year on our
Earthwatch field research projects in over 50 countries all around the world. Earthwatch Institute
offers 300 expedition fellowships to teachers and students every year.
Gippsland High Country Tours
www.gippslandhighcountrytours.com.au/wildliferesearch.html
Participate in a wildlife research project and make an active contribution to conservation while
enjoying a holiday. Led by a naturalist guide, you will learn so much about Australia 's wonderful
native wildlife and see animals rarely seen by the casual observer. Gain an understanding of the fine
balance in nature. Help ensure a more secure future for our native wildlife as we collect data on rare
and threatened species.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Wildlife Research Sponsorship
Projects that people can sponsor:
• Scientific analysis of hair samples collected from passing small mammals on sticky tapes to
determine the species present without having to capture them. ($5.50 per sample)
• Scientific analysis of predator scats (droppings) to discover what prey species the predators
(particularly foxes) are eating. ($7.70 per scat)
• Purchase of Hair Funnels to collect small mammal hair samples ($9.85 each)
• Hire of specialised trapping equipment (2 boxes of small mammal traps $45 per trip)
• Hire of a “Bat detector” enabling the recording and identification of the high frequency
echolocation calls of tiny forest bats moving through the bush at night. ($60 per trip)
• Purchase of specialised scales for weighing small mammals ($80)
Conservation Volunteers
www.conservationvolunteers.com.au
Conservation Volunteers is a Registered Training Organisation offering a number of training programs
specific to the conservation industry. Conservation Volunteers work on conservation programs that
often focus on restoring native animal habitat.
Naturewise is a Conservation Volunteers initiative providing ecotours that combine visits to pristine
areas and conservation activities - with programs in locations such as Montague Island in NSW,
Grampians National Park in VIC and Tasmania's wilderness. Naturewise offers short holiday
experiences from two days to one week. The time spent undertaking conservation activities typically
make up 30 – 40% of the trip with the other time spent touring such as bush walks, Island tours,
wildlife viewing and visiting National Parks.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Informal Education – Wildlife Forums
Forums for licensed wildlife carers
The following forums provide networking opportunities for wildlife carers, however it is unclear how
much time is dedicated to animal welfare issues.
Ozark carers network
www.ozark.wild.net.au
http://lists.ozark.wild.net.au/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ozark
OZARK is the Australian wildlife carer's information and communications network. Wildlife
professionals and wildlife rehabilitators around Australia currently participate in the Ozark forum.
Ozark is a communication link enabling wildlife carers from a wide range of areas and experience, to
learn from one another, to discuss pertinent issues and to be part of a non-political supportive
community of fellow wildlife workers and carers.
Forums for wildlife carers and people with an interest in wildlife
NSW Wildlife Carers
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/nswwildliferescuers/
A group for wildlife rescuers in NSW Australia meet on-line and exchange ideas, seek advice and chat.
FaunaOz
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/faunaoz/
This is an on-line chat group to assist fauna carer organisations in Australia to be able to contact each
other for ideas or help.
SWIFFT
http://www.swifft.bird.net.au/
SWIFFT is a joint initiative of the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, the
Department of Primary Industry, Landcare groups, Trust for Nature, the Threatened Species Network,
catchment management authorities, and the Ballarat Environment Network.
SWIFFT is about maintaining and developing knowledge and skills within southwest Victorian
communities for the protection and management of threatened species and communities. Because
SWIFFT is a concept as much as it is an organisation there are no fixed boundaries, but SWIFFT's
main focus is through the Geelong, Portland, Ballarat and Horsham districts.
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Informal Education – Animal Interest Groups
Animal Interest Groups dedicate significant time and web space to wildlife issues. Their positions on
pest animals commonly refer to the following issues:
• The labelling of an animal as "pest" or "vermin" and the consequent exclusion of the consideration
that applies to other 'non-pest' animals
• The lack of comprehensive and qualitative data on damage caused by feral animals
• The lack of blame apportioned to human and livestock impacts on the habitat of many native
animals
• The need for the use of humane methods whenever pest animals are killed
• Recognition that killing is not an effective solution in the long run. (From 1981-1984 there were
83,000 donkeys killed in the Victoria River district of the Northern Territory. However, there was
no follow-up and the numbers are now back to where they were before the killing started30).
• The use of killing as a last resort - after alternatives such as deterrents and exclusion fencing ahs
been used.
Information on each of the following organisation's position on wildlife can be found on their website.
Animals Australia
Introduced Animals
www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/introduced_animals.php
Kangaroo Shooting
www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/kangaroo_shooting.php
Animal Liberation (South Australia)
www.animalliberation.org.au/feralint.php
Save the Brumbies
www.savethebrumbies.org
Koala Foundation
www.savethekoala.com
Australian Conservation Foundation
www.acfonline.org.au
The ACF has policies on wildlife utilisation and farming native fauna.
Human Society International
www.hsi.org.au
International Fund for Animal Welfare
www.ifaw.org
Greenpeace
www.greenpeace.org.au
Greenpeace calls for the humane slaughtering and eating of kangaroos to curb greenhouse gas
emissions.
30
Report by the Senate Select Committee on Animal Welfare, Culling of Large Feral Animals in the Northern Territory ,
Canberra, 1991
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Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania
The Tasmanian animal protection group 'Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania' has received a grant from Voiceless to
develop a school educational resource to address the low level of awareness and commitment by
Australians to the welfare of animals in the wild and the connected low level of community
responsibility. (See: http://www.voiceless.org.au/blogcategory/2007_Grant_Recipients.html).
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AAWS Education and Training Stocktake Animals in the Wild FINAL REPORT – 1 February 2008
Appendix 1 – Animal Care and Management Training Package and
Conservation and Land Management Training Package
The following competencies in the RUV04 and the RTD02 Training Packages are relevant to the
welfare of animals in the wild are:
RUV2108A
RUV2603A
RUV3302A
RUV3303A
RUV3401A
RUV3410A
RUV3411A
RUV4203A
Rescue animals and apply basic animal care
Assist with surgery preparations
Conduct euthanasia of research animals
Monitor and maintain animal health and wellbeing
Rehabilitate and release native wildlife
Capture, restrain and assist in moving animals
Care for young animals
Identify and respond to animal behaviour
RTD2101A
RTD2116A
RTD2125A
RTD2403A
RTD2405A
RTD3125A
RTD5102A
RTD4406A
Apply animal trapping techniques
Muster pest animals
Use firearms to humanely destroy animals
Conduct vertebrate pest activities from aircraft
Tag and locate Judas animals
Respond to wildlife emergencies
Manage fauna populations
Implement pest management action plans
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