Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017C00220:reg:2:p15
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017C00220
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2 (pt 15/20)
Character Range: 70876–73942

for threatened species heavily preyed upon by feral cats. Research ways in which adaptation by threatened species may improve survival rates
Action 3.4 focuses on further research into alternatives to direct killing or complete exclusion of feral cats that can help threatened species populations to recover. Examples of alternatives may include research into how habitats can be manipulated (e.g. increase the structural complexity of vegetation, introducing plants containing toxins that native herbivores are tolerant to but will impact on feral cats predating upon those species), the use of guardian dogs (e.g. Marrema breed) or trained hunting dogs to protect threatened species populations, and the training or selection of traits within a species to make them more predator savvy. Directly linked to this action is Action 1.7 on understanding feral cat abundance and impact on threatened species in the landscape. As mentioned in Action 1.7, within this research should be an understanding of some feral cats specializing in particular prey (e.g. Dickman & Newsome, 2014).

Action 3.5 Continue research into cat diseases, including Toxoplasma gondii and sarcosporidiosis, their prevalence, ability to transmit to other species (including livestock and humans) their impacts, and ways to mitigate the impacts
Cats in Australia carry a number of diseases that are transmissible to other species. The best known of these is toxoplasmosis, caused by a protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, of which felids are the only definitive host. In addition, other diseases including sarcosporidiosis that are carried by cats and affect livestock are important to understand because of this impact. Action 3.5 acknowledges that the transmission of diseases from feral cats can have a deleterious impact on social and economic values, as well as biodiversity. While investigating diseases that also impact on livestock and communicating the risk from feral cat-borne diseases to primary producers, it is also important to be mindful that the overall risk to the international disease-free reputation of Australian agricultural produce is not compromised. Through this action, the plan seeks to focus research into the impacts of these cat-borne diseases on other species including threatened species, other native animals, livestock and humans.

Performance Indicators
    * Additional offshore islands cat-free or under sustained control programs.
    * Implementation of effective biosecurity programs for all islands that are currently cat-free and at risk of a cat incursion.
    * Further fenced reserves ("mainland islands") created for threatened species most affected by predation.
    * Research conducted into alternative ways to assist threatened species to avoid predation and published.
    * Results of research into alternative ways to assist threatened species to avoid predation adopted by land managers as demonstrated through plans and reported techniques and outcomes.
    * Cat borne diseases and their impact on other species, including native