Caring for the predator and the prey
From urbanisation to climate change; the introduction and subsequent control of pest animals to the conservation of threatened species; the toll of human activity on Australia's wildlife is significant.
The RSPCA Australia annual Scientific Seminar will tomorrow challenge current thinking and explore the sometimes conflicting and at other times converging activities that result from wildlife management and conservation.
The RSPCA's Chief Scientist, Dr Bidda Jones, said "the protection of wildlife and biodiversity is important to everybody, but the RSPCA is concerned that sometimes consideration of animal welfare is lost in efforts to achieve these goals. We want to make sure it isn't lost, whether we're talking about camels, cats or kangaroos.
"The RSPCA believes that animal welfare isn't selective and we need to take responsibility for finding humane solutions to what are largely human-induced problems. That includes human as well pest animal impacts on native species.
"This means asking some tough questions: When should the welfare of wildlife override human interests? When it comes to animal welfare and conservation, should we be concerned with the welfare of individual animals, populations, species, or ecosystems?
"Should environmental impacts carry more weight than agricultural or direct economic impacts? And how much should we intervene to improve animal welfare when populations have been damaged by human activity or development?"
A list of presentations is below. Interviews with speakers can be arranged.
- Managing the impact of feral camels in an effective and humane way - Glenn Edwards (NT Dept of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport)
- Is kangaroo management justified and humane? What are the concerns and how can they be addressed? - Steve McLeod (Vertebrate Pest Unit, industry & Investment NSW)
- Hunting and feral animal control: conservation or con? - Carol Booth (Invasive Species Council)
- Living together in an urban world. Urbanisation and its implication for human-wildlife interactions. - Darryl Jones (Environmental Futures Centre and Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University QLD)
- Strategies to reduce conflict: protecting wildlife, engaging the community. - Peter Mills (Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary ACT)
- Strategies to reduce conflict: managing feral and stray cats -Christopher Dickman (Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, University of Sydney)
- Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease: the impact of the conservation effort on devil welfare - Colette Harmsen (Save the Tasmanian Devil Project)
- Climate change impact on Australian wildlife conservation and welfare - Liz Dovey (Department of Climate Change)
- Connections between conservation and animal welfare: an international interdisciplinary approach - Kate Littin (NZ Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry)
Click here for the full program and more information
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