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Managing macropods without poisoning ecosystems
Author(s) -
Hampton Jordan O.,
Pay James M.,
Katzner Todd E.,
Arnemo Jon M.,
Pokras Mark A.,
Buenz Eric,
Kanstrup Niels,
Thomas Ver G.,
Uhart Marcela,
Lambertucci Sergio A.,
Krone Oliver,
Singh Navinder J.,
Naidoo Vinny,
Ishizuka Mayumi,
Saito Keisuke,
Helander Björn,
Green Rhys E.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
ecological management and restoration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.472
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1442-8903
pISSN - 1442-7001
DOI - 10.1111/emr.12555
Subject(s) - ammunition , legislation , wildlife , animal welfare , environmental planning , biodiversity , business , welfare , argument (complex analysis) , lead poisoning , environmental resource management , natural resource economics , political science , ecology , geography , economics , law , biology , medicine , biochemistry , archaeology , psychiatry
Summary A recent review of the management of hyperabundant macropods in Australia proposed that expanded professional shooting is likely to lead to better biodiversity and animal welfare outcomes. While the tenets of this general argument are sound, it overlooks one important issue for biodiversity and animal health and welfare: reliance on toxic lead‐based ammunition. Lead poisoning poses a major threat to Australia's wildlife scavengers. Current proposals to expand professional macropod shooting would see tonnes of an extremely toxic and persistent heavy metal continue to be introduced into Australian environments. This contrasts with trends in many other countries, where lead ammunition is, through legislation or voluntary programs, being phased out. Fortunately, there are alternatives to lead ammunition that could be investigated and adopted for improved macropod management. A transition to lead‐free ammunition would allow the broad environmental and animal welfare goals desired from macropod management to be pursued without secondarily and unintentionally poisoning scavengers. Through this article, we hope to increase awareness of this issue and encourage discussion of this potential change.