To see John, Paul, Phil and Nick delivering this presentation, go to our Youtube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0q397AV4us

1. Reducing feral camel impacts across remote
Australia:
Australian Feral Camel Management Project
21st November 2013, Parliament House Theatre, Canberra

2. Session Two: Governance and Delivery
Speakers:
Billy Landy, Mark Jeffries and Peter See
Byron Brooks, Ethan Hansen, Troy Hansen and Peter Twigg
Mike Eathorne, Meramist Pty Ltd
Andy Bubb, Ninti One
John Virtue, Biosecurity SA
Bidda Jones, RSPCA

3. Planning and conducting
removal operations
– the SA experience
John Virtue, Paul O’Leary, Phil Gee & Nick Secomb

4. Removal operations have been
underpinned by landholder aspirations
• Consultation
– Is required to achieve the
most effective and
acceptable control
outcomes
– Considers indigenous,
cultural and social factors
– Utilises local knowledge
and expertise
– Delivers on the AFCMP
objectives
– Collaborative approach
across government

5. Determining removal method
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Landholder aspirations
Effectiveness
Landscapes / logistics
Congregations
Density
Cultural sites
On-ground intelligence
Environmental assets
Available resources
• Aerial Cull
• Muster
• Combination of both

6. Operational planning
• Intelligence
− satellite collars
− intelligence network
− aerial survey /
reconnaissance
• Logistics
•
•
•
•
Animal welfare
Safety
Target /no go zones
Internal/external
Communications

7. Decision support
• Efficient, opportunistic
control to address a
range of impacts and
resource availability

8. Aerial cull - rapid response
• Processes were developed
to allow for quick response
to threats to fragile
ecosystems or community
infrastructure caused by
congregations

9. Aerial cull – landscape scale
• Aerial survey & reconnaissance
‘hot spots’
• No go areas

10. Implementation – aerial cull
• Animal welfare audits
− flight following
behind cull
− verification

11. Implementation – aerial cull
• Remote area logistics
• Working across
jurisdictional borders
• Engaging a range of
stakeholders

12. Implementation - mustering
•
•
•
•
Removal assistance
Animal welfare audits
Verification
Training
Compliance
03
Yes
No
Yes
No
if no, add comment
04
if no, add comment
Requirement
Mustering
Comment
Mustering must not be
conducted if camels are in poor
body condition (CAM003 p.75
dotpoint 1)
Camels must never be driven to
the point of collapse CAM003
p.86 dotpoint 3)
Not present to audit
05
Yes
No
if no, add comment
Not present to audit
06
Yes
No
if no, add comment
Not present to audit
06b
Yes
No
if no, add comment
Not present to audit
06c
Yes
No
if no, add comment
Not present to audit
07
Yes
No
if no, add comment
The tail end of the mob must be
used to set the pace of the
muster rather than be forced to
keep up with the leaders
(CAM003 p.75 dotpoint 3)
Camels should be allowed to
drop out of groups that are
being mustered if required to
protect the safety and welfare of
the animals or operators
(CAM003 p.86 dotpoint 6)
Camels identified in 6 above
which are not easily mustered
should be culled humanely in
accordance with agreed best
practise (CAM003 p.86 dotpoint
6)
Camels identified in 6 above
which are not easily mustered
are able to be culled humanely
in accordance with agreed best
practise (AFCMP only)
Camels are provided with
access to water as soon as
possible after capture, either
through yard watering or
through succulent feed while
being moved or held in open
areas (CAM003 p.88 dotpoint 3)
Four camels at the tail end of
the mob were pushed to keep
up with the rest of the mob.
Three camels were allowed to
drop out of the muster but
these camels were not culled.
This would have been very
difficult given the terrain and
the effort required to conduct
the muster.
Yes, firearm present
Water trough was available to
camels in holding yard.

13. Implementation - mustering
• Targeted removal assistance
provided cow removal incentive
(environmental/commercial
partnership)
• Generates income and jobs
(particularly indigenous)
• Flow on effects into broader local
economy
• Animal welfare outcomes were
improved

14. SA outcomes from AFCMP
• Simpson Desert
•
•
•
Reduced camel density by over 90%
Almost 50% of 2010 population removed
Redeploy satellite collars and camera trapping continue to
monitor/aerial shoot programs
• APY
•
•
•
•
16,000 camels removed
Develop emergency management plan
Continue to support removal programs
Capacity building
• GVD
•
•
Rapid response to potential impacts on Yalata coast, Dog Fence and
Eyre highway
Continue to monitor satellite collars

16. www.nintione.com.au