Wombats causing local farmers grief

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Animal welfare advocates fear measures being considered by the ACT Government to deal with damage being caused by wombats could lead to a cull. The draft report also suggests allowing wombats afflicted with severe cases of the skin condition 'mange', to be euthanised. The Government says it wants to take a holistic approach to the problem. That includes non-lethal control measures.

Transcript

00:00This wildlife icon is causing some local farmers grief.

00:07That includes destruction of infrastructure,

00:10digging holes in areas that are used by cattle and stock,

00:13which poses a risk to that cattle and stock,

00:15as well as unfortunately the effects of disease

00:18caused by mange with those wombats.

00:20An ACT government draft report proposes non-lethal control methods,

00:24education and rehabilitation,

00:26but also a controlled native species management plan.

00:30The potential development of a controlled native species plan for wombat

00:33would be subject to the Minister declaring wombats as a controlled native species.

00:38There's a very, very rigorous process that occurs as part of that process.

00:43A similar plan for eastern grey kangaroos includes fertility controls and shooting.

00:48Wildlife carers worry a similar plan for wombats

00:51could lead to farmers being allowed to shoot them.

00:54I have been aware of landholders complaining about wombats.

00:59They've been pushing the conservator quite hard on wanting to be able to shoot wombats.

01:05So I knew for a few years now that this was coming.

01:08They also argue there are already established ways of handling mange.

01:12There's a lot of factors that we need to take into consideration

01:15and that takes experience and skill and it takes training.

01:19So landholders don't necessarily have this training.

01:21We need to be really careful before we start looking at who and in what circumstances

01:26people can kill wildlife.

01:28Consultation is still underway

01:30and the government insists the indiscriminate shooting of wombats isn't on the cards.

01:34.

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