Predator Free 2050 - New Zealand's' Mission to Eradicate Possums, Rats and Stoats - Australian Veterinary Association
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WILD SIDE Newsletter
SUMMER 2018 NO. 12
Predator Free 2050 – New Zealand’s’ Mission to
Eradicate Possums, Rats and Stoats
Prof. Dan Tompkins
Project Manager Science Strategy, Predator Free 2050 Ltd
Like many countries worldwide, native biodiver- also im-
sity in New Zealand continues on a downward pacting
spiral, in spite of the resources, time and effort native vegetation. The Predator Free 2050 initia-
put by many into conservation. This plight was tive, announced by then Prime Minister John
highlighted last year in a report from New Zea- Key in 2016, is focussing resourcing and atten-
land’s Parliamentary Commissioner for the Envi- tion on these predators to drive their eradica-
ronment on ‘Taonga of an island nation: Saving tion. This initiative has already garnered a high
New Zealand's birds’. The report’s critical mes- international profile, becoming one of the lead
sage is that only 20% of NZ’s native bird species commitments to the Honolulu Challenge on In-
are in good shape, whilst populations of most vasive Species that was launched by the Interna-
species are in ongoing decline. tional Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
in 2016.
The most important and pressing thing that NZ’s
birds need to assure their viability is safety from A new company, Predator Free 2050 Ltd (PF2050
predators. Of utmost concern are introduced Ltd), has recently been set up to help provide
rats, stoats and brushtail possums, all of which the required focus. Working in close partnership
impact native birds, with rats also impacting with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation
native reptiles and invertebrates, and possums - which has oversight of the wider Predator Free
2050 strategy - and the Biological Heritage Na-
tional Science Challenge, PF2050 Ltd is responsi-
ble for directing investment into Predator Free
2050 with a focus on breakthrough science and
large scale predator control and eradication initi-
atives. Part of the PF2050 Ltd remit is to lever-
age private efforts and resourcing alongside the
government investment that it provides.
New Zealand’s endemic Pateke highly vulnerable
The inaugural funding round for large-scale
to mustelid predation [Photo: Shaun Lee]
Continued following page
NEWSLETTER CONTACT
DETAILS
Email address avcb@ava.com.au Facebook @AustralianVeterinaryConservationBiology
1
Predator Free 2050 ….. continued
predator control and eradication initiatives is populations), even new genetic tools capable of
currently underway through a two-stage process. effectively and efficiently suppressing populations
Over 40 applications were received in the first may leave surviving individuals. This is a critical
stage at the end of 2017, collectively targeting issue for achieving eradication, since predator
approximately 1.7 million hectares (over 6%) of populations can rapidly regrow from such individ-
the New Zealand landscape. The first set of appli- uals. Developing approaches that can reliably
cations to fund is currently being assessed at the eradicate surviving individual predators in a man-
second stage, with a commitment also to work ner that can be usefully applied country-wide, in
with the proposers of high potential projects not addition to preventing reinvasion of managed
successful in this first round for possible future areas by individual dispersers, is thus an area
investment. This process is driving the alignment requiring research focus.
of often previously fragmented predator manage-
The second programme is ‘New genetic control
ment initiatives into joined-up initiatives with
tools’. Recent international developments indi-
regional focus.
cate that new genetic approaches such as
‘gene-drives’ could potentially provide
step-change population control/
eradication tools. While established ap-
proaches such as toxin use and trapping
can effectively control target populations,
their use is limited by factors including
cost and social acceptability. Genetic ap-
proaches influencing target species re-
production offer the potential to control
The saddleback, endemic to New Zealand and impacted predators in a humane and efficient man-
by rat predation of eggs and nestlings [Photo: Shaun Lee] ner with no non-target effects. Such tech-
nology thus holds promise as one of the
The science research strategy was designed by a range of options that the New Zealand public and
group of 10 experts convened through the Biolog- policy makers could employ to achieve Predator
ical Heritage Challenge and independently peer- Free 2050. However, research activity on this
reviewed. The strategy does not advocate for any front is yet to be developed in NZ.
specific approach to achieve New Zealand’s eradi-
The strategy contains two further programmes
cation goals, but aims to advance our under-
that will govern and support the two technical
standing of the range of options available for the
areas. The first is ‘Environment and society’. A
task and facilitate a national conversation as to
science breakthrough for Predator Free 2050
which meets our collective social, ethical and
without a deep respect for ethics and the social
practical standards.
licence to operate is no breakthrough at all. Re-
Complementing work on lures and host-specific search will inform on these aspects, and also our
toxin development, and biosensors, ongoing in understanding of the likely ecological and envi-
the Challenge, the strategy focusses on two tech- ronmental consequences of our predator man-
nical programmes where research could facilitate agement actions. The second is ‘Computer mod-
predator eradication. The first is ‘Eradicating the elling’, aiming to develop shared tools which all
last 1%’. Current approaches for landscape scale communities and agencies contributing to Preda-
predator management on the New Zealand main- tor Free 2050 can use to design the right ap-
land can reliably suppress populations by >90%, proach for their goals and environment.
yet are unable to reliably eradicate. Given the
high level of variability in predator populations
Continued page four
(temporal, spatial and among individuals and
2
AVCB Conference Program
We have 10 presentations across three days of the conference.
9 excellent speakers
talks on kangaroos, turtles, crocodiles, koalas, chlamydia and wildlife rescue.
a full day field trip to Hidden Vale Wildlife Sanctuary, Wacol RSPCA and Gatton Campus
Conference Preview Presentation: Tuesday 15th May, 5-6PM
Chlamydial Disease in Koalas and Livestock
Professor Adam Polkinghorne
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The talk will feature new research into under- conjunctiva, prompted researchers at the Univer-
standing the factors influencing the development sity of the Sunshine Coast led by Prof Adam
of chlamydial blindness in koalas. Polkinghorne, with collaborators at the University
of Sydney, to investigate a range of factors
Chlamydiosis is a well-documented cause of seri- thought to influence human blindness in the koa-
ous and debilitating disease in koalas (Figures 1 & la.
2). Primarily caused by Chlamydia pecorum, a
bacterial pathogen of sheep, cattle and pigs, chla- Working with clinicians from Australia Wildlife
mydiosis typically presents in the urogenital tract Hospital, Moggill Koala Hospital and Currumbin
where it can lead to painful cystitis and death as Wildlife Sanctuary, this talk will summarise a
well as infertility. Ocular disease presents in the number of investigations that have revealed that
form of a mild to moderate keratoconjunctivitis patterns of chlamydial shedding and the immune
that can eventually progress to blindness. response at the mucosal surface are very similar
between human and koala disease processes.
Overt similarities in the pathology between koala This work is anticipated to provide new insight
chlamydial blindness and trachoma, scarring into this important disease in both humans and
blindness experienced in humans following re-
peated Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the Continued following page
Figure 1. The debilitating consequences of C.
pecorum infection in the eye
3
Chlamydial Disease ….. continued
koalas and to support the ongoing trials of a pro-
totype koala chlamydial vaccine currently being
evaluated.
In a second talk, Prof Polkinghorne will also de-
scribe the results of ongoing molecular studies
that suggest that koalas may have acquired their
chlamydial infections from infected livestock fol-
lowing European colonisation. This latter project
is the result of an ongoing collaboration between
the University of the Sunshine Coast, koala re-
searchers from a number of Australian universi-
Figure 2. C. pecorum urogenital tracti nfection
ties, wildlife carers and wildlife hospitals across
Australia, NSW Department of Primary Industries with evidence of a ‘wet’ bottom caused by in-
and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, United flammation of the urinary tract resulting in the
Kingdom. seepage of urine across the affected koala’s
rump.
Wildlife Photography
Trevor Heath
Emu family at water soak, Pt Lincoln National Park
Sea lion & pup on Kangaroo Island
Predator Free 2050 ….. continued
By employing a ‘bet-hedged’ mixed portfolio lenge on Invasive Species see https://
approach for our science research strategy, we www.iucn.org/theme/species/our-work/invasive
aim to maximise our chances of achieving mean- -species/honolulu-challenge-invasive-alien-
ingful breakthroughs to drive Predator Free 2050 species
achievement.
For an outline of the Predator Free 2050 Ltd ap-
You can access the NZ Parliamentary Commis- proach to scaling-up predator management, and
sioner for the Environment report ‘Taonga of an its science research strategy, go to http://
island nation: Saving New Zealand's birds’ at Predator Free 2050.co.nz/
http://www.pce.parliament.nz/publications/
For more details on New Zealand’s Biological
taonga-of-an-island-nation-saving-new-zealands-
Heritage National Science Challenge, see http://
birds www.biologicalheritage.nz/
For information on the IUCN’s Honolulu Chal-
4
Conference Preview Presentation: Tuesday 15th May, 4-5PM
The wild koala consult.
Dr Amber Gillett. BVSc (Hon), PhD.
Koalas are considered vulnerable to extinc-
tion in many parts of Australia with the
most significant factors leading to the de-
cline including trauma, disease and habitat
loss, particularly in urban areas. Every year,
hundreds of koalas are presented to veteri-
nary facilities in need of veterinary atten-
tion. Whist the majority are likely to be
presented to specialised wildlife facilities, a
vast proportion will also be taken to private
veterinary practices, and clinicians may be
faced with ‘the wild koala consult’. Furthermore, to delivery practical advice on triage, anaesthesia,
orphaned, injured or diseased koalas undergoing clinical examination, diagnostic procedures and
rehabilitation often spend long periods in care emergency treatment to veterinarians and veteri-
with licensed wildlife carers, who at times, may nary nurses, growing their knowledge on how
best to manage the koala patient.
require assistance from their local veterinarian.
As veterinarians, our role is to pre-
vent animal suffering and protect the
welfare of each individual, which in-
cludes, wild species such as the koala.
The welfare and outcome of individu-
als is heavily dependent upon the
veterinary staff’s ability to accurately
assess, identify and appropriately
manage the immediate offending
injury or disease. Standard veterinary
education does not provide training
in wildlife medicine, and as such,
most practitioners may feel uncom-
fortable, or uncertain about the pro-
spect of examination, anaesthesia,
diagnosis and treatment of wildlife,
particularly so of a highly charismatic,
iconic and threatened species such as
the koala.
Educational veterinary presentations,
such as ‘The wild koala consult’ aim
5
Conference Preview Presentation: Monday 14th May, 2:30-3:30PM
Kangaroos can be assets rather than pests
Hon Professor George R Wilson
Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU
Current kangaroo management could be much kangaroos to encour-
improved. Most of Australia's 40m plus kanga- age them to play a
roos continue to be regarded by the landholders role in promoting
on whose properties they occur as pests that kangaroo products
compete with livestock, rather than as assets. and creating greater
Commercial harvesting is not an option for many demand. Co-
landholders and non-commercial kangaroo con- production could be
trol has poor animal welfare and biodiversity achieved relatively
outcomes. In recent years a lack of demand for easily because kan-
kangaroo meat has meant that most of the annu- garoo harvesting
al commercial kangaroo quota has not been tak- uses less infrastructure and less energy. Taking
en. Therefore, graziers seek other means to low- kangaroos in the field might be ugly but head
er numbers of valueless kangaroos so that more shot death is instantaneous and there is no
income-earning stock can be carried. transport of live animals to slaughter and so the
meat is stress free. Instead of being defensive a
In 2018 an average kangaroo is worth $13. If it progressive kangaroo industry would emphasize
were as valuable as a feral goat or even a wild these animal welfare advantages.
deer, landholders would have an incentive to co-
produce kangaroos alongside conventional live- Many graziers on the rangelands are under finan-
stock and make greater use of commercial har- cial stress. Their current solution is to produce
vesting. Doing so would also help address the more meat and wool, grow more grass, clear
falling sustainability of many rangeland produc- trees, remove wild dogs to increase lambing per-
tion systems and strengthen economic activity in centages and lower kangaroo numbers.
rural towns. Raising the market value of kanga-
roo products requires emphasising their positive The proposals here would provide another op-
attributes, including high-protein, low-fat, low tion through an additional source of income.
greenhouse gas emission efficiently produced They would improve kangaroo welfare, reduce
meat, high boning-out percentage and lower current wastage, and enable sustainability. They
water use compared to cattle and sheep. A are paradigm shifting because they could lead to
stronger kangaroo industry would be able to less livestock and more kangaroos of higher val-
raise the quality of kangaroo products, obtain ue. They would bring sustainability and economic
sustainability certification, track provenance and benefits to both Indigenous and other landhold-
integrate production with other grazing animals. ers on whose properties kangaroos occur and to
nearby rural communities. More details at
Landholders need a form of proprietorship over george.wilson@anu.edu.au
6
Conference Preview Presentation: Monday 14th May, 1:30-2:30PM
What can be done to make kangaroo harvesting more
humane?
Trudy Sharp (PhD)
School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW
Current address: Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries
Commercial kangaroo harvesting is the shooting in-pouch young have also been conducted, but
of wild, free-ranging kangaroos to gain an eco- further work is required with more powerful car-
nomic return from the sale of their meat and tridge-powered devices. In addition, the short-
hides. Adult kangaroos, predominantly males, term impacts of maternal separation on young-at
are killed with a shot to the head by professional -foot have been studied experimentally. The
shooters who hold the necessary permits and small numbers of young-at-foot that were ab-
licences. On average, 2 to 3 million kangaroos are ruptly and permanently separated from their
harvested annually. Although harvesting has mothers under the conditions in this study did
been conducted in Australia for over 50 years, not die from starvation, dehydration or predation
the animal welfare implications—particularly the (within 10 days) as many had previously predict-
impacts on dependent young—had not been ed. However they did exhibit a suite of behav-
extensively studied. ioural changes that are likely to reflect negative
affective states such as anxiety, fear, hunger,
Since 2008, research has been conducted to in- loneliness and distress. Further observations
vestigate the effects of harvesting on kangaroo need to be conducted in a free-ranging, natural
young and ways to potentially reduce animal situation over a longer term but in the meantime
suffering. The currently used euthanasia methods harvesters must make every effort to euthanase
for pouch young—as prescribed in a National any young-at-foot that are orphaned during har-
Code of Practice—have been assessed and found vesting so as to prevent significant suffering.
to be effective and relatively humane when ap-
plied correctly, although there is scope to stand-
ardise methods and improve the education and Continued following page
training of harvesters. Preliminary trials of a
spring-loaded captive bolt gun for euthanasia of
7
The AVSC was a great success enjoyed by 60 handled as conversations with the students.
students in Wagga’s rural and warm summer Julien Grosmaire, the AVCB student rep, coordi-
environment of about 40 degrees. There was a nated the wildlife program. A practical session
varied program including the strong compo- on Wildlife Handling was also conducted by
nents of production animal and equine but wild- Janet Wild and Joanne Connolly on the Wednes-
life and welfare were well represented. There day morning. Bronwyn Orr from RSPCA present-
was one wildlife session at the Wagga Zoo ed a talk on “Veterinarian`s role in animal wel-
which involved talks from Michael Banyard fare” on Thursday.
(President, AVCB) and Amanda Hadley (National
Zoo and Aquarium). Both these sessions were Michael Banyard
More humane Kangaroo harvesting ….. continued
Research to explore the attitudes and behaviour This multidisciplinary approach to investigating
of kangaroo harvesters, as well as the Australian the animal welfare implications of kangaroo har-
publics’ views and perceptions of kangaroo man- vesting provides a starting point for long-
agement has also been conducted and the find- overdue changes in the way we conduct and talk
ings from these studies will be used to drive im- about the management of kangaroos, and hope-
provements to current harvesting practices and fully it will bring about more reasoned, transpar-
promote effective communication with the pub- ent and thoughtful consideration of their wel-
lic on kangaroo management issues. fare.
8
A Nature Guide to North Stradbroke Island -Minjerribah
Mary Barram and Sue Ellen Carew, Contributing Editors
A Book Review
Michael Banyard
Structure
Winter 2016
The guide is divided into nine chapters covering:
A Place of Sand and Water; Minjerribah’s Wild
Places; Live in the Ocean; Birds; Island Mammals;
Aquatic Wildlife of the Wallum Wetlands; Island
Insects; Lizards and Land Snakes; Plants. In addi-
tion there are introductory sections describing
the origins of the book, the contributors and a
dedication to Jani Haenke whose work as founder
and life time contributor the FOSI made it possi-
ble.
Comment
As someone who has enjoyed and explored na-
ture for decades both in Australia and overseas
this guide, discovered while holidaying on Strad-
broke, was a revelation. I have not found its
equal here or overseas. The term ‘guide’ while
accurate is also self-effacing. The 350 pages of
this book contain a wealth of current scientific
knowledge from a long list of highly qualified
contributors as well as a history and brief con-
text. For anyone interested in water birds, terres-
trial animals or aquatic life, this book is both a
guide and a primary reference. It contains an
excellent index of scientific names, common
names and additional references to all chapters.
The quality of the accompanying photos and dia-
grams is exquisite. It is clear that the contributing
editors as well as the primary contributors have
devoted meticulous care and skill to its produc-
tion.
A book of this quality is an asset to Stradbroke
Island in many ways but particularly as a key-
stone linking together a well-documented index
and history of Stradbroke’s extensive and vulner-
able natural assets. It should allow local govern- menting other natural assets.
ment councillors, politicians, nature lovers and
Published in Australia by Friends of Stradbroke
developers the opportunity to see what is at Island Inc. (FOSI) 2016
stake and thus understand the balance that must
www.fosi.org.au ISBN 13:978-0-9953928-0-9
be kept to maintain the integrity of Minjerribah.
The book could also act as an exemplar to others Pages 351, Retail $35
to try and achieve a similar outcome by docu-
9
AVCB – Half Year Summary 2017
Michael Banyard, President
Achievements and activities our prioritised policy areas: feral animal and pop-
ulation control; wildlife disease and biosecurity
Conference Program and a new policy area is being developed on hab-
itat loss, land clearing and welfare.
Putting together the conference program takes
quite a bit of work. This year the team led by Bo Engagement with students
Raphael has come up with an interesting pro-
gram focussed on issues identified in our mission Students have been engaged across all campuses
statement as being of most importance. Vere by email and posters. Helen McCracken, Senior
Nicholson has been working actively with the Veterinarian at Melbourne Zoo kindly agreed to
team to put together the Conference Field Trip talk to the University Melbourne, Students Wild-
to Hidden Vale Sanctuary, Wacol and Gatton. Not life Appreciation Group, Werribee in September
to be missed. and Michael Banyard spoke to veterinary stu-
dents at their Australian Veterinary Students
Newsletter Conference 2018 in Wagga.
The quarterly newsletter has been published on Challenges and Opportunity
schedule. We have been fortunate to have many
contributions from interesting and cutting edge All the areas identified as needing more effort
science, including Dr Linda Van Bommel’s article last year remain active.
on Livestock guardian dogs protecting native
species. This was subsequently picked up by the Increasing our network and leverage
AVJ and re-run for a wider audience. Just remem-
Engaging with students
ber you read it first in Wildside!
Establishing better contact with allied
Submissions
professionals through non-veterinary
We have contributed to submissions on a num- membership
ber of issues including: brumby control in Kosci-
Identifying experts in relevant fields to
uszko National Park, Tasmanian Cat Manage-
contribute to policy and submission devel-
ment Plan, the Australian Government Discus-
opment
sion Paper on Biosecurity, ACT Native Species
Management Plan and Brumby control in Victori- Improving communication with colleagues
an high country. and the public
Policy review
A systematic review of policies is underway on
Invitation
We would love to hear from you. Please just send us an email and start a conversation on how you
would like to contribute.
avbc@ava.com.au
Michael Banyard mbanyard@netspeed.com.au
Bo Raphael bo.raphael@gmail.com
Michele Cotton micheleksa@gmail.com
Tanya Stephens tanya7stephens@gmail.com
Chris Bunn chris_b@webone.com.au
Annabelle Olsson Annabelle@boongarryvet.com.au
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