The mongoose in Australia: failed introduction of a biological control agent

David Peacock; Ian Abbott

doi:10.1071/ZO10043

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Next Contents Vol 58(4)

The mongoose in Australia: failed introduction of a biological control agent

David Peacock ^A ^C and Ian Abbott ^B

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Natural Resources Management Biosecurity Unit, Biosecurity SA, GPO Box 1671, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.

^B School of Earth and Environment, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6007, Australia and Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Bentley, WA 6983, Australia.

^C Corresponding author. Email: david.peacock@sa.gov.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 58(4) 205-227 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO10043
Submitted: 17 June 2010 Accepted: 7 September 2010 Published: 13 October 2010

Abstract

We reviewed historical literature and obtained nearly 200 records of the mongoose in Australia up to 1942. Although the earliest importations (from 1855) were for its snake-killing prowess, often as entertainment, its perceived potential as a control agent for the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) plague saw concerted introductions made in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, primarily in 1883 and 1884. At least 1000 mongoose were released to control rabbits at 14 reported release locations in these states. As many as 700 of these mongoose were reported released in one New South Wales rabbit-control trial. These numbers indicate that insufficient propagule pressure does not explain why Australia escaped the additional devastation of an established mongoose population. The only reason stated for the failure of the mongoose releases to control rabbits is destruction of the mongoose by rabbit trappers, both inadvertently and in seeking to protect their employment. Unfavourable climate was implicated by CLIMATCH modelling in the failure of all releases, especially those into semiarid areas such as western New South Wales. No contemporary detail could be located of the reported 1884 failed introduction of ‘numbers’ of mongoose into North Queensland to control rats in sugarcane plantations.

Additional keywords: biocontrol, bounty, Herpestes, Oryctolagus cuniculus, pest, rabbit.

Acknowledgements

We thank: Staff at the State Library of South Australia, particularly Joyce Garlick, for procuring requested mongoose accounts; David Stemmer, South Australian Museum, and Sandy Ingleby, Australian Museum, for providing details of mongoose specimens held in their care; Mary Bomford for reviewing our CLIMATCH analysis and commenting on the manuscript; and Win Kirkpatrick and Marion Massam, Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food, for running a comparative CLIMATCH analysis – obtaining results similar to those presented in this paper.

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**Appendix 1. Early records of mongoose and other herpestids in Australia related to their release into the wild as a biological control agent for agricultural pests**
In quotations, spelling and capitalisation are exactly as in the original. Abbreviations: NSW, New South Wales; Qld, Queensland; SA, South Australia; Vic., Victoria; WA, Western Australia

**Appendix 2. Early records of mongoose in Australia related to imports for exhibition (in menageries, zoos, snake fights), their use as pets, and for the control of snakes and domestic pests**
In quotations, spelling and capitalisation are exactly as in the original. Abbreviations: NSW, New South Wales; Qld, Queensland; SA, South Australia; Vic., Victoria; WA, Western Australia; Tas., Tasmania

The mongoose in Australia: failed introduction of a biological control agent

Abstract

Acknowledgements

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