East Gippsland Rainforest
  Conservation Management Network
  To increase the amount of rainforest and associated vegetation types subject to restoration, conservation and permanent protection in East Gippsland.

Home

About EGRCMN

Meetings

Rainforest

Activities

Publications

Join

Links

Contacts

 

ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF SAMBAR DEER ON RAINFOREST VEGETATION COMMUNITIES – Rohan Bilney (Guest Speaker at AGM Sunday 2nd December 2007)

 As a joint author of the only paper published on the ecological impacts of Sambar deer, (Observations of the Ecological Impacts of Sambar in East Gippsland, Victoria with reference to destruction of rainforest communities, Peel,B., Bilney, R.J., and Bilney, R.J. (2005)), Rohan was well placed to present this most interesting and relevant discussion.
 

 Some of the factual data presented included;

·                     sambar was introduced to Australia from S E Asia in the 1860’s,

·                     first reported in Wonnangatta in 1951,

·                     distribution is mainly east of Melbourne in forested areas,

·                     population estimated to be at least 40,000 to 70,000 in Victoria,

·                     listed as ‘Protected Wildlife’ under state legislation,

Rohan indicated that despite being particularly wide spread, the ecological impacts of Sambar deer have been poorly studied although they are known to cause damage in other countries (eg New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India.)

 

Impacts identified in East Gippsland include;

·                     browsing and antler rubbing,

·                     alteration of forest structure and complexity,

·                     creation of paths,

·                     increased erosion,

·                     destruction of regeneration works,

·                     provision of food source for wild dogs,

·                     agricultural damage, such as spreading weeds and destroying crops
 Numerous photos of the significant damage caused by deer were presented, demonstrating the extent of the impacts on rainforest and other native plant species. In respect of rainforest communities, Rohan indicated that such communities provided a suitable living environment for deer, with shelter, protection and palatable species readily available. It was noted that significant damage had already occurred in many significant and sensitive rainforest locations.
 In recognition of the impacts and as a means of developing management and control programs, sambar deer have now been recognised as a ‘Potentially Threatening Process to Biodiversity’ under the Flora & Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. This means that an ‘Action Statement’ will be prepared with input from various interest groups and experts.

 

 It is hoped that this process will result in the development and implementation of appropriate management programs aimed at mitigating the ecological impacts of Sambar deer.