The Impact of the Feral Water Buffalo and on Australia’s Ecosystem
In the 19th century, water buffalo were introduced to Australia as a meat supply for remote northern settlements. These settlements, and their buffalo, were abandoned back in 1949, but despite the buffalo being harvested for meat, hides, and for hunters’ trophies, feral buffalo have continued to spread across the northern floodplains. In the 1980s and...
What’s the Deal with Australia’s Feral Goat Populations?
At any given point in time, it’s estimated that there are 2.6 million feral goats in Australia, with their populations fluctuating greatly during periods of drought and high fertility, and depending on what management programs are in operation. Unlike a lot of other feral animal species, goats aren’t constrained to only certain areas – they...
The Impact of Feral Donkeys in Australia
Much like many other introduced animal species, feral donkeys were first brought to Australia to function as working animals – in this case, as pack and draught animals. The Introduction of Donkeys in Australia Donkeys first arrived in 1866 and were utilised in parts of Western Australia right up until motor vehicles took over in...
Are Horses a Feral Animal in Australia?
It’s estimated that Australia is home to 400,000 feral horses, all of whom pose a complex management problem, as horses often hold a great deal of economic and cultural value. How Did Feral Horses Become a Problem? Like most introduced species, horses first arrived in Australia with the first fleet in 1788. Over the coming...
