In most states landholders have a legal obligation to control wild rabbits on their property as they are classed as a pest animal. There is a range of different methods used to control rabbits, however the RSPCA is concerned that none of these methods are without animal welfare problems and…
Recreational hunting causes inevitable pain and suffering to animals and is not an effective form of pest management. In the limited circumstances where shooting is carried out as part of a pest animal management program, professional marksmen have been shown to be more effective than recreational hunters. The RSPCA opposes…
The answer is yes. Recreational hunters have interfered with the effective control of pest animals in some areas, especially in state forests. Evidence from genetic studies has shown that pig hunters have illegally transported feral pigs into new areas. The national threat abatement plan for feral pigs states that “the…
The RSPCA does not support killing sharks as a response to shark incidents involving humans. This approach causes unnecessary animal suffering to both target and non-target species. In addition, culling disturbs marine ecosystems and affects protected and vulnerable species including the targeted great white shark and non-target species such as…
Water buffalo (Bubula bubalis) are large (450–1,180kg) wallowing herbivores that were introduced to Australia around the mid-1800s, for work and for their meat and hides. First introduced to Melville Island and Cobourg Peninsula in the Northern Territory, wild herds were seen from 1843. In the Northern Territory, buffalo hides and…
In the past, native animals could not be kept as companion animals unless a government permit was issued. However, over the past few years, some jurisdictions across Australia have allowed and continue to allow certain species of native animals to be kept as pets without requiring a permit. The RSPCA…
A wild-domestic hybrid is the result of breeding a wild species of animal with a similar domesticated animal species, most commonly a cat or dog. A number of different cat or dog hybrids have been created, including Bobcats, Savannah cats, Bengal cats and wolf-dog hybrids. Of these, only Bengal cats…
When sick, injured or orphaned wild animals are taken into care, they should be assessed by a veterinarian as soon as possible. To be considered for rehabilitation and release, wild animals must be able to recover and reach a stage where they are well enough to seek food and fend…
If you find a sick or injured wild animal, contact your nearest veterinarian or wildlife carer organisation as soon as possible so that it may receive appropriate treatment. Wild animals become stressed by handling, so you should seek expert advice before handling an injured animal. Try to minimise the amount…
First you need to check that the bird really is injured or abandoned. In the nesting season, birds that have recently fledged (left the nest) are sometimes found on the ground while their parent(s) are nearby feeding. The bird might look abandoned, but often it isn’t. If the baby is…