❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about kangaroo overgrazing in Tuart Forest National Park and requests data on kangaroo populations and damage licences issued to surrounding landholders. The Minister acknowledges the significance of the forest and provides data on kangaroo populations and damage licences.
AnsweredQoN 761Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Tuart Forest National Park between Busselton and Bunbury, the largest remaining Tuart tall woodland in the State, and ask: (a) does the Minister recognise the significance of our remaining Tuart forests; (b) is the Minister aware of the increasing degradation of flora in the Tuart Forest National Park due to overgrazing by kangaroos; (c) is the Minister aware of the Minninup forest kangaroo exclusion enclosure near Stratham; (d) is there any up-to-date data on kangaroo populations in the Minninup Forest Block; and (e) how many damage licences, in accordance with the Wildlife Conservation Regulations, have been issued to surrounding land holders in the area surrounding Minninup Forest in: (i) 2014; (ii) 2015; (iii) 2016; (iv) 2017; and (v) 2018 respectively?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 April 2018
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
10 days
(a) Yes.
(b) The kangaroo grazing impact observed within Minninup Block in Tuart Forest National Park is comparable to that observed in other areas of Spearwood Dune vegetation on the Swan Coastal Plain. In analysing the grazing impact, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions was not able to dismiss the possibility that flora species patterning is the result of a naturally restricted distribution within Minninup Block and not just from grazing pressure.
(c) Yes.
(d) Results from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ aerial kangaroo monitoring program indicates that while the estimated total population of western grey kangaroos is stable across the south-west monitoring area over the past decade, there can be significant fluctuations at the local level. The Capel area has seen significant annual variation between years (variation of over 50 per cent) in mean densities per square kilometre of western grey kangaroos since 2014.
(e)
(i) Four damage licences were applied for and issued in 2014 for a total of 240 western grey kangaroos to be taken, with 185 animals taken.
(ii) Three damage licences were applied for and issued in 2015 for a total of 270 western grey kangaroos to be taken, with 217 animals taken.
(iii) Three damage licences were applied for and issued in 2016 for a total of 200 western grey kangaroos to be taken, with 186 animals taken.
(iv) Two damage licences were applied for and issued in 2017 for a total of 130 western grey kangaroos to be taken, with 26 animals taken.
(v) Three damage licences have been applied for and issued in 2018 to date for a total of 300 western grey kangaroos to be taken, with 55 animals taken to 27 March 2018.
(b) The kangaroo grazing impact observed within Minninup Block in Tuart Forest National Park is comparable to that observed in other areas of Spearwood Dune vegetation on the Swan Coastal Plain. In analysing the grazing impact, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions was not able to dismiss the possibility that flora species patterning is the result of a naturally restricted distribution within Minninup Block and not just from grazing pressure.
(c) Yes.
(d) Results from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ aerial kangaroo monitoring program indicates that while the estimated total population of western grey kangaroos is stable across the south-west monitoring area over the past decade, there can be significant fluctuations at the local level. The Capel area has seen significant annual variation between years (variation of over 50 per cent) in mean densities per square kilometre of western grey kangaroos since 2014.
(e)
(i) Four damage licences were applied for and issued in 2014 for a total of 240 western grey kangaroos to be taken, with 185 animals taken.
(ii) Three damage licences were applied for and issued in 2015 for a total of 270 western grey kangaroos to be taken, with 217 animals taken.
(iii) Three damage licences were applied for and issued in 2016 for a total of 200 western grey kangaroos to be taken, with 186 animals taken.
(iv) Two damage licences were applied for and issued in 2017 for a total of 130 western grey kangaroos to be taken, with 26 animals taken.
(v) Three damage licences have been applied for and issued in 2018 to date for a total of 300 western grey kangaroos to be taken, with 55 animals taken to 27 March 2018.
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