The large numbers of buffalo in Kakadu National Park are damaging ancient Aboriginal rock art … and safari-style hunting trips to manage the growing population is an option now being considered.
Parks Australia already regularly runs culling programs, but buffalo and feral pigs still remain in large numbers.
Indigenous tour guide Rueben Jones told the ABC that his family, who live in the park, were upset the art was being damaged.
“There are a lot of rock art sites taking a bit of punishment either from feral animals or weather conditions,” he said. “The buffalo and pigs are also sitting in the beautiful springs that my family would go and swim in.”
Mr Jones wants his family to be given the opportunity to earn an income from the “sustainable use of wildlife”, including safari hunting to control pigs and buffalo.
“What we’re doing is just controlling the numbers,” he told the ABC. It’s satisfying a need of a people who need to go and hunt an animal.”
A spokesperson for Parks Australia told ABC Rural that the Kakadu Board of Management was keen to support traditional owners establishing sustainable businesses on country.
“The Board is considering a range of approaches to control pest animals and provide multiple benefits for traditional owners,” the spokesperson said. “These ideas have merit as one means of controlling feral animals.”
The buffalo which wander through the area were introduced in the early 19th century. Brought over from Timor and Indonesia to feed the military settlements in the area they escaped and had multiplied to near plague proportions. They have caused havoc on the native fauna seriously depleting the lotus lily and trampling the vegetation.
* Have you seen the damage caused by buffalo in Kakadu National Park? Should safari-style buffalo hunts be allowed? Comment below.
Yes,ideally buffalo should be completely eliminated. They do not belong in this country. If the traditional owners can make a living out of tour guiding and at the same time proactively protecting their country they should be allowed to go ahead. Good on them for trying to do something for themselves and their country.
Years ago all the buffalo were hunted and sent to the Katherine meat works. Good money for all concerned and kept the numbers down. Whatever happened to that?