Shot, eaten, bashed, starved: The accidental wildlife death toll that comes with native animal studies

Dozens of native animals, including endangered species, have been accidentally killed during approved scientific studies. Some even starved after being caught in traps.

Dozens of native animals, including endangered species, have been accidentally killed during approved science studies, relocations and surveys.

The Environment Department has released details to The Advertiser of 89 native mammals, birds and lizards killed, most in poorly-used traps or nets.

All of the deaths happened in officially approved studies over the past three years, and were reported as required by the department’s wildlife ethics committee.

Most of the animals died during work by scientists trying to study and preserve native populations, but some died as part of the eradication of feral cat numbers.

The deaths included 14 endangered bettongs, an endangered quoll, one endangered Kangaroo Island dunnart, five endangered native mice and one mouse listed as vulnerable.

Wildlife ethics committee chairman Brenton Grear said the detailed “adverse incident” reports showed the system working as it should to highlight problems and have them fixed.

“Reporting accidents and deaths to the committee lets us provide feedback, advice and instruction on how to avoid similar incidents again,’’ he said.

A bettong and its joey. Picture: Zoos SA

But Greens MLC Tammy Franks said there needed to be better checks and balances on the wildlife study system.

“The wildlife ethics committee has serious questions to ask when actions that have been authorised for the protection and monitoring of species ends up harming them instead,” she said.

“The wildlife ethics committee’s guidelines are clear that traps must be set up in a way that minimises the likelihood of adverse effects on the trapped animals.

“So why are traps not being collected in a timely manner for example?

“Why are animals trapped in a way that leaves them vulnerable to predators?

“Why are animals dying when they are being handled and moved?”

“These actions were ostensibly undertaken for species preservation, yet they seem to be making the situation worse.”

Among the most graphic deaths, a tammar wallaby had to be shot after being injured in a trap and a baby bettong put down after being separated from its mother.

Zoos SA and the Museum also have experts on the wildlife ethics committee.

Mr Grear said the number of incidents should be seen in the context of the very large number of human/animal interactions by experts.

“Only a tiny percentage of animals are injured or perish – and in some cases these adverse events could not have been avoided due to weather, predators or other factors,’’ he said.

“In an average year, during fauna surveys, over 2600 individual animals will undergo observational studies, including behavioural study, feeding trials, pitfall trapping, obtaining weights and body measurements.

“Bird research, which involves mist netting, hand capture, banding, cannon netting, will capture and/or observe over 1000 individuals.

“Also, fauna monitoring of reintroduced species in wild and enclosures sites, can be between 600 and 1000 captures each year.”