Major feral animals
This region of the tropical savannas has a wide range of feral
animal species present, although only feral cats and pigs can be
found throughout it. Both impact severely on the biodiversity of
the region by preying on native animals. Pigs also cause a great
deal of damage via the wallows they dig which break up the country.
The cane toad, found in the wetter sectors of the region, impacts
on both its predator and prey populations. The horse, rabbit, fox
and goat all have isolated or patchy distributions and so cause
localised impacts on the region's natural environment.
Feral species, in the North East Queensland region, that have the
most potential to significantly impact on the natural environment
or pastoral activities include the following:
- Natural Environment: pig, cat, cane toad, fox, rabbit, goat, horse
- Pastoral: pig, goat, horse, rabbit
Distribution and density
- Donkey: isolated populations found inland in the south-east
- Horse: patches of low to high densities located around the north
and central western boundary
- Pig: inhabits the entire region with densities varying from low to
high
- Cat: distributed throughout the entire region
- Rabbit: isolated populations with a more widespread distribution
around the south-east coastal areas
- Fox: found around the south-eastern coastal sector similar to
rabbit distribution
- Cane toad: distributed across almost the entire region being absent
from inland sectors
- Goat: occupy a small area in the south-west
- Chital: isolated population in the Maryvale Creek region.
