Journal article
Quantitative analysis of animal-welfare outcomes in helicopter shooting: a case study with feral dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius)
Jordan O Hampton, Brendan D Cowled, Andrew L Perry, Corissa J Miller, Bidda Jones, Quentin Hart
WILDLIFE RESEARCH | CSIRO PUBLISHING | Published : 2014
DOI: 10.1071/WR13216
Abstract
Context Helicopter shooting is a common and effective tool for reducing overabundant wildlife populations. However, there is little quantitative information on the humaneness of the method, leading to uncertainty in wildlife-management policy. There is, subsequently, a need for an improved understanding of the welfare implications of helicopter shooting. Aim A study was undertaken to infer the humaneness of helicopter shooting for a case study species, the feral dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius). Methods Seven post-mortem studies (n≤715) and one ante-mortem study (n≤192) were undertaken during routine helicopter shooting programs of free-ranging camels. In these studies, we measured four..
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Funding Acknowledgements
We thank all contributing shooters, helicopter pilots and field staff for accommodating our study. The project was supported by funding from the Australian Government, via the Australian Feral Camel Management Project, and Ninti One, who coordinated the verification exercises underlying this audit study. Comments by Steven McLeod and three anonymous reviewers greatly improved the manuscript.