Why Don’t They Eat Billions of Animals in Australia?

Summary

Australia faces an ongoing battle with invasive species, particularly foxes and cats, which have devastated native wildlife since their introduction by European settlers. Foxes, brought in for hunting in the 1800s, exploded in population, while feral cats, introduced in 1788, now kill billions of native animals annually. Despite efforts to control these species, including poison, viruses, and fences, traditional methods have largely failed. The video explores the possibility of using genetic solutions to address the problem and highlights the unique ecological challenges Australia faces due to its isolation and the absence of natural predators.

Takeaways

• 😀 Foxes were introduced to Australia by Victorian settlers in the 1840s for hunting, leading to their population explosion by 1874.
• 😀 The red foxes quickly spread across Australia, causing significant damage to the native wildlife and ecosystems.
• 😀 If red foxes were eradicated, feral cats would take over, exacerbating the problem due to their high population and predation rates.
• 😀 Feral cats in Australia kill billions of native animals annually, including mammals, birds, and reptiles, contributing to species extinction.
• 😀 There are an estimated 2.8 million feral cats in Australia, with the number potentially rising to 5.6 million.
• 😀 Cats were introduced to Australia in 1788 with European settlers, and they quickly became a major threat to native species.
• 😀 Invasive species in Australia now number over 3,000, including mammals, plants, birds, insects, and more.
• 😀 Australia's biodiversity is particularly vulnerable due to millions of years of isolation and the extinction of top predators.
• 😀 Past efforts to control invasive species, such as introducing other predators, have largely failed and sometimes worsened the problem.
• 😀 The cane toad, introduced in 1935 to combat sugar cane pests, is a prime example of a failed attempt to address an invasive species.
• 😀 Despite using various control methods like viruses, poisons, and even machine guns, the invasive species problem remains a significant challenge in Australia.
• 😀 Experts believe that genetic solutions could potentially offer a way to address the invasive species issue in the future.

Q & A

What were the initial reasons for introducing red foxes into Australia?

Red foxes were introduced into Australia by European settlers in the 1840s as part of hunting clubs to indulge in the noble sport of fox hunting.

Why did the population of red foxes explode in Australia in 1874?

The population of red foxes began to skyrocket in 1874 because the species adapted well to Australia's environment, with no natural predators to control their numbers.

What is the major ecological impact of feral cats in Australia?

Feral cats in Australia are responsible for the extinction of numerous species and the endangerment of others. They kill billions of animals annually, including mammals, reptiles, and birds, posing a major threat to native wildlife.

How did cats arrive in Australia, and what has been their impact on the ecosystem?

Cats arrived with the first European settlers in 1788. They spread rapidly across the continent, and now feral cats number in the millions, contributing to the destruction of Australian biodiversity by killing billions of native animals every year.

How many feral cats are estimated to be in Australia, and how many animals do they kill annually?

It is estimated that there are about 2.8 million feral cats in Australia, with each cat killing approximately 390 mammals, 225 reptiles, and 130 birds annually. Overall, they kill around 1.4 billion animals every year.

What makes invasive species such as foxes and cats particularly problematic in Australia?

Invasive species like foxes and cats thrive in Australia due to the absence of natural predators. This allows them to multiply rapidly and disrupt the native ecosystem, which is especially vulnerable because much of Australia’s wildlife is unique and endemic.

What happened to Australia's top predators, and how has it contributed to the success of invasive species?

Many of Australia's top predators, such as the Tasmanian Tiger, marsupial lion, and Megalania, went extinct long ago. This left a void that invasive species, like foxes and cats, filled, as there were no natural predators to control their populations.

What were some of the methods used to control invasive species in Australia, and why have they often been unsuccessful?

Methods like introducing other invasive species (e.g., cane toads), using viruses, poisons, fences, and even machine guns with snipers have been attempted. However, these methods have often been ineffective or caused further ecological damage.

Why was the introduction of cane toads in 1935 a failure in controlling pests?

The introduction of cane toads in 1935 was meant to control sugar cane-eating beetles, but it failed because the toads couldn't climb the sugar cane to reach the beetles. Instead, they multiplied rapidly and became an invasive species themselves.

What potential future solution is being considered for controlling invasive species in Australia?

A potential future solution to controlling invasive species may involve genetic methods, although current methods have not been successful in effectively managing the problem.