Project - Threatened Species Network

Many people in Australia, especially wildlife carers, have been concerned for a long time about the entanglement of wildlife on barbed wire fences, and some have investigated local solutions. However the issues surrounding the problem require a coordinated national approach. Carol Booth recognised this, and through the distribution of an Action Plan, galvanised support for such an approach. Carol's support was instrumental in the successful application for a grant from the Threatened Species Network (TSN) of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The grant, to Tolga Bat Hospital, was announced on Threatened Species Day, 7 September 2006 and runs to April 2008.

Photo:Ashleigh Johnson Spectacled flying fox who aborted her baby that night.		Photo: Norm McKenzie Too late for a ghost bat in WA

Photos: These 2 species, Pteropus conspicillatus and Macroderma giga are listed as vulnerable and endangered respectively.

Although the WWF project has a limited life span, the WFF (Wildlife-friendly fencing) project is on-going. It will gather is own momentum as greater sections of the community become involved. We liken the ‘wildlife-friendly’ fencing concept to that of ‘dolphin-friendly’ tuna, and the issues of barbed wire entanglement to that of ghost nets that entangle sea animals.

The WFF project will begin the long process of raising public awareness of the impact of barbed wire on all wildlife, especially those already threatened with extinction. The flagship species for the project are Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus), Grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) and Mahogany Glider (Petaurus gracilis).

The project has introduced the concept of “wildlife friendly fencing” to the public, and is trialing fencing methods that minimise the likelihood of harm to wildlife. The challenge is to make fencing more visible to animals, especially at night. The project is looking for ‘champions’ within various industries (eg beef, dairy), various landscapes (eg wet undulating, dry flat) and various regions, who will be the pioneer adopters of new fencing approaches, and be the focus of education & awareness building. The project is developing case studies that can provide inspiration for others to gain ideas for their properties.

It is an enormous task as there are millions of kilometres of potentially harmful barbed wire fencing across Australia. Funding from WWF is targetting Queensland, in particular the Atherton Tablelands and south-east Queensland. Bat Rescue Inc and Bat Care Brisbane will administer the project in southeast Queensland. The full extent of the project will be determined by the amount of interest and co-sponsor support we muster.

Barbed wire is an icon in the Australian landscape that has remained unchallenged for too long. There are non-harmful fencing alternatives that are currently in use and that we are trialling with this project. Fencing is integral to good land management but it needs to be done in a way that is wildlife-friendly.

Photo: Ashleigh Johnson Keeping people out in South America

The WWF project 2006-8 involved the following activities:

1. Working with landholders to develop case studies of wildlife friendly fencing. Each time we rescue an animal off a fence, we sought to engage the landowner in the project. We budgeted for plain wire and a range of other materials to mitigate the impact of barbed wire. Landowners fall into the following categories:
Minimal involvement – education and deterrents
Moderate involvement – education, removal of barbed wire & replacement
Significant involvement – all of the above on a larger scale, possibly an element of research for inclusion as a case study.

2. Develop communication materials

Dedicated website
Dvd for educational purposes
Appropriate information at barbed wire outlets
T-shirts and bookmarks
A3 and A4 posters for rural field days, envirodays, conferences etc
Press releases for media – printed, TV, radio
DL brochure with basic information
An educational film, sponsored by BCI Bat Conservation International (in USA) - still in progress

The website provides the project with maximal exposure and accessibility. We can readily update information, and seek links to it from the websites of a broad range of organizations.

3. Invite barbed wire manufacturers, distributors and retailers into partnerships for the provision of educational materials at points of sale.

4. Develop partnerships with NRM groups; NHT committees; peak rural bodies, wildlife and animal welfare groups; wildlife rescue groups and government for distribution of information. We will target industry with high perimeter barbed wire fencing, golf clubs as well as rural landholders.

5. We would like all barbed wire fencing projects funded with public money eg NHT funds, to be assessed for ‘wildlife friendliness’ and appropriate measures taken before funding is approved eg a conservation agreement describing fencing methods.

6. Raise awareness of the need to monitor barbed wire fences, and the immediate reporting of any entangled wildlife. This will lead to a greater percentage of entangled wildlife being released, as an early rescue usually ensures fewer injuries. It is vital that the public know who to contact for rescue and we are extremely fortunate in Queensland that RSPCA has a 24hour wildlife rescue number 1300ANIMAL. Click here to find conact numbers for around Australia.