Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017C00220:reg:2:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017C00220
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2 (pt 3/20)
Character Range: 34274–37124

such as drought, and the role of cat-borne diseases. When research and development are being undertaken, evaluation of the success of control options for feral cats needs to consider how the biodiversity outcomes can be monitored as well as knowing how many feral cats have been killed or the change in their abundance/activity.

Action 1.1 Ensure broad-scale toxic baits targeting feral cats are developed, registered and available for use across all of Australia, including northern Australia
Land managers require effective tools for achieving feral cat control. These have been lacking on a broad-scale for feral cats with shooting, trapping and fencing being the main options available.
In 2014, a toxic bait (Eradicat®) was made available for use on Western Australian lands managed by or in agreement with the Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife, which provided an additional tool for that state. Eradicat® contains the toxin 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) directly injected to the sausage bait (Algar et al. 2013). The Eradicat® baits can be surface laid in southern Western Australia with minimal risk to native animals that may consume the baits because native species in this area have a degree of tolerance to the toxin. This is because some plants in Western Australia naturally contain the toxin allowing tolerance to develop in the native species.
In the rest of southern and central Australia, with the exception of Tasmania, a new bait (Curiosity®) is being developed for use. Instead of directly injecting the sausage bait, the Curiosity® bait encapsulates the toxin para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) in a hard plastic pellet to reduce the risk to non-target native species that may eat the sausage bait. Most of these non-target species have been shown to reliably reject the hard plastic pellet while eating the bait (Department of the Environment 2015a). During the life of this threat abatement plan it is expected that the Curiosity® bait will be registered for use.
In northern Australia and Tasmania, neither Eradicat® nor Curiosity® are suitable for use due to risks to the non-target species of varaniids (goannas) and Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). However, a variation to the existing baits — Hisstory — is likely to be suitable. The Hisstory bait encapsulates the the toxin 1080 instead of PAPP, because varaniids and Tasmanian devils are tolerant to it. It is intended that Hisstory will be able to be laid where varaniids and Tasmanian devils are active but still provide protection for other non-target native species. The Hisstory bait still requires additional research and development.
There is additional information on baiting for feral cats in the background document and Department of the Environment website.
It should be noted that with all of the toxic baits it will be necessary for