Marsupial destruction in Queensland 1877-1930

Abstract

So-called Marsupial Destruction Acts were in force in Queensland horn I877 to 1930. The Acts were administered by District Boards which paid bonuses (bounties on presentation of scalps) and kept annual records of their activities. During that period over 27 million macropods and bandicoots, as well as dingoes and foxes (which were included under the Acts) were destroyed. The cost to Queensland was over £1,187,000 in bonuses paid by the boards which included £349,000 in government subsidies. The annual reports on these Acts, which do not always provide information on individual boards, provide essentially reliable data reflecting the number of animals in existence. it is seen that despite the large number of pests destroyer, the original, purpose of Acts was not achieved in that the larger marsupials and the dingo successfully proliferated; no effect on fox numbers was discernible, the numbers of some medium-sized species remained static, me smaller species declined.