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While pigs do cause a lot of damage, they may also be considered a
resource by local Aboriginal people
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Major feral animals
Pigs are the most significant pests in this remote region. High
densities chiefly affect the wetlands and natural ecosystems, as
pastoral activities are limited.
Buffaloes and banteng cattle are considered more of a resource
by the local Aboriginal people, even though they are known to
exacerbate erosion and to compete with native herbivores for food.
The cane toad is a newcomer to Arnhem Land and is expected to have
a devastating effect on the ecological balance of the region.
Feral species, in the Arnhem 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, horse, banteng, buffalo;
- Pastoral:
Distribution and density
- Donkey - found in some southern sectors
- Horse - low densities in the north-west around the Cobourg
Peninsular where the Timor pony is also found
- Pig - ranges throughout the entire region with its highest
densities located in the north-west around the Cobourg
Peninsular
- Cat - distributed throughout the entire region
- Banteng - confined to the Coburg Peninsular
- Cane toad - now extensive in sourthern part of Arnhem Land
- progessing north
- Sambar deer - small population on the Cobourg Peninsular
- Buffalo - can be found throughout the entire region in isolated
populations.
