News reports of a large budget investment in a wildlife proof fence on the Northern Boundary of Victoria’s Wilsons Promontory National Park have won plaudits for the Victorian Government, but they have also exposed the degree to which ideology, expediency and fear of criticism are key drivers in decisions about environmental management.
To understand why we draw that conclusion you really need to start at the beginning.
Key threats to biodiversity and conservation values on ‘The Prom’ include fire suppression, predators and plant and soil damage caused by overabundant herbivores - particularly introduced overabundant herbivores.
The damage caused by overabundant wild hog deer is widely documented and the case for control is widely (and more or less uncritically) accepted…deer are “introduced” after all - they “don’t belong there” – “no reasonable person could argue with their removal from such a highly valued National Park”.
Here comes the rub...the Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Common Wombats were“introduced” too (about half a century after the deer found their way onto The Prom) - they don’t belong there - surely then, no reasonable person could argue with their removal from such a highly valued National Park?
The current population of Eastern Grey Kangaroos are descendants of nine animals released in the Park in 1910 and 1912. The Common Wombats from five animals released in 1910.
The “reasonable people” would have to acknowledge the issue first, and they can’t because it’s not worth their careers or their reputations or their health.
In media reports touting the Prom’s new border fence, Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said
“Parks Victoria will spend $6 million to erect the state-of-the-art predator exclusion fence spanning more than 10-kilometres from coast to coast with double barriers at shoreline boundaries to keep out foxes, cats, deer and rabbits”
All of the culprits are exotic so they are easy enough to demonise – but the overabundant Kangaroos are causing significant issues with over-browsing of vegetation…why not mention them?
The wombats are likely the key faunal threat to cultural heritage sites such as Aboriginal Coastal Shell Middens…why aren’t they controlled?
The reality is that if you speak about controlling overabundant natives like kangaroos and wombats you are subjected to sustained attacks from the animal rights lobby.
We have witnessed researchers at conferences being subjected to attacks and heckling because they dared to simply outline the scientific case for reducing kangaroo numbers. These people bombard politicians offices with hate mail and all too often resort to threats and personal attacks in the public arena.
Talk about the case for control for feral horses and the same treatment applies.
So, what we get is a perverse unspoken compromise – government and agencies simply pretend that certain species of wildlife are not an issue in order to avoid the vitriol. They pretend that you can treat a quarter of a problem and that will somehow suffice. Good people who know better shut their mouths and play make believe.
There are two losers in that – the values which we need to protect are clear losers and the credibility of those who would deny what is plain for all to see also suffers.
To be clear, we are not opposed to either deer control or to exclusion fencing. Our volunteers have worked with Parks Victoria, SSAA and GMA on deer control on Wilson’s Promontory for five years now and the result is a marked decrease in abundance.
We have also worked with Parks Victoria and other land managers on exclusion fencing to protect high value environmental and agricultural assets.
What we are opposed to is the protection of environmental and cultural assets taking a back seat to political expediency and timidity.
We put time, money and effort on the line to achieve better outcomes and that is undermined because tackling key problems is put into the “too hard basket”.
We would like to see where the Prom’s new fence fits into an actual strategy to restore biodiversity, protect sensitive environmental and cultural assets and reduce the impacts of overabundant wildlife.
So far all we have got is a well-received announcement and some vague motherhood statements that seem to ignore the very real issues with “native pests” on the Prom.
Six million for a fence! What we would give just for an honest discussion about wildlife management which puts outcomes first.
References and reading:
Wilsons Promontory Hog Deer Control Trial Report - 2015
A History of Wilsons Promontory by J Ros Garnet – Published by Victorian National Parks Association
Are Kangaroos Indigenous To Wilsons Promontory by Jim Whelan
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