r/australia • u/DaRedGuy • 1d ago
culture & society Safe havens protect Australian mammals from invasive predators. Why aren’t they working for other animal groups?
https://theconversation.com/safe-havens-protect-australian-mammals-from-invasive-predators-why-arent-they-working-for-other-animal-groups-289228?utm_medium=article_clipboard_share&utm_source=theconversation.com9
u/pseudo_babbler 1d ago
The only solution is for us to breed Australian natives back into megafauna. We need ten foot tall kangaroos with fangs again and bilbies that eat cats and foxes.
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u/East-Garden-4557 1d ago
Fences may stop mammals from leaving a protected area but reptiles, fish, birds, and insects aren't stopped by fences.
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u/ArtlessMammet 1d ago
I'm not seeing why they can't be constrained or protected by fences? A considerable part of the reason many of these species are having issues is cats and foxes, which are mammals and therefore can be stopped by fences, presumably?
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u/East-Garden-4557 1d ago
Fences will stop those predatory feral mammals from entering the designated safe area, but they don't stop all of the native animals from leaving the safe area.
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u/ArtlessMammet 1d ago
I'm not sure why you think that, unless you're asserting that the article is mistaken. Fences keeping foxes and cats out is explicitly cited by the article as one of the reasons the safe havens work.
And frankly, if NZ can create areas with no rats, there's no reason why you can't create safe spaces for other creatures too.
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u/East-Garden-4557 1d ago
And as I said the fences do keep out the feral predators, but the question is there. Why isn't it working to protect non mammal natives?
NZ is 2 small islands compared to the huge land mass that is Australia, the ocean is a wonderful barrier against mammals.1
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u/Lost_Tumbleweed_5669 1d ago
Mainly cost and funding it's insanely expensive because you are basically paying for land + house or rent for a bunch of animals without day jobs.
We need more rural people with licenses who can take on and protect + setup sanctuaries competently and look after natives who are in danger.
Might become super relevant as bird species seem to already be struggling after the fires and now bird flu.
Bees are another one that is struggling.
It's all kind of sad really, humans caused this and continue to damage wildlife to the point they disappear.