Conservation efforts at Arkaba Station

Feral animal control is very important in the fight to protect and preserve our unique native flora and fauna. 

Our native plants and animals adapted to life on an isolated continent over millions of years. The last 200 years of European settlement has seen the introduction of over 130 species of animal that has been introduced to Australia. Through this introduction our native wildlife had to compete for habitat, food and shelter.  This also brought new predators and new diseases.  The new pressures not only affected native wildlife but also caused a major impact on our country's soil, waterways and native plants.

The most significant feral animals are the European rabbit, European fox, feral cat, feral goat, feral pig and cane toad. 

In Northern Australia the Australian Wildlife Conservancy research has found that 2 million mammals each day are killed by feral cats alone!  

With the assistance of the SA National Parks supported 'Operation Bounceback' and our own feral animal control efforts at Arkaba, 504 goats, 43 foxes and 7 cats have been destroyed.  

As a result our guides at Arkaba Station have seen a marked increase in the number of Quails and other ground nesting birds as well as nocturnal species that spend time on the ground foraging food including Owlet Nightjars, Southern Boobook, Tawny Frogmouth and more.   There has also been an increase in the sightings of some parrot species including red rump, mulga parrot and the elegant parrot.  

Below is a photo of a 6.1kg feral cat that was recently trapped on Arkaba.  The stomach content analysis shows the remains of a beared dragon lizard the cat had eaten.