Feral animals

Major feral animals

Mick Everett from AGWEST fits a donkey with a tracking collar. The donkey can then be tracked to locate other animals Photo: Andrew Johnson

Donkeys can be found across much of the Kimberley region. Under the right conditions, their numbers increase exponentially and their impact on the natural environment becomes severe. For many of the pastoralists, donkeys are considered Feral Enemy Number One. Feral cats can also be found in the Kimberley, as well as feral pigs and horses. The latter two have a limited distribution and so their effects are localised. Feral species that have the most potential to significantly impact on the natural environment or pastoral activities include the following:

• Natural environment: pig, donkey, cat, horse;
• Pastoral: donkey, pig, horse.

Distribution and density

• Donkey—widespread in central and eastern areas
• Horse—low to high densities across southern region;
• Pig—associated with major river systems in low to moderate densities;
• Cat—distributed throughout the entire region;
• Rabbit—seasonal, inhabits small isolated pockets in the far south;
• Fox—seasonal, small isolated areas.