These categories incorporate risk of establishing populations in the wild, risk of causing public harm, and risk of becoming a pest (eg causing agricultural damage, competing with native fauna, etc). Mammals and birds were assessed for the pest risk they pose if introduced to Australia, by calculating Vertebrate Pests Committee (VPC) Threat Categories. The Risk assessment for the Axis deer ( Axis axis), has been assigned a VPC Threat Category of EXTREME. Preventative measures: Risk Assessment models for assessing the risk that exotic vertebrates could establish in Australia have been further explored by the Western Australia Department of Agriculture & Food (DAFWA) to confirm that they reasonably predict public safety, establishment and pest risks across a full range of exotic species and risk levels. axis include: leptospirosis, cryptosporidiosis, and strains of Escherichia coli (Anderson, 1999). They carry common parasites that can directly affect humans if and when droppings enter freshwater systems. axis have been found to carry and transmit bovine tuberculosis and several other diseases. axis will eat bark off trees (Anderson, 1999). axis can also graze forage grasses and other plants much closer to the ground than domesticated species. Although they prefer to graze grass, it is clear that the deer will respond to available forage conditions and eat what is available to them, which causes damage to local native species. In their introduced range, they can also compete directly with cattle for forage. axis cause crop damage when natural forage is scarce. These trails can lead to significant erosion and, in wet forest areas, increase runoff by decreasing the mossy layer available that would normally retain water (Anderson, 1999 and the National Park Service, 2004). When deer populations become too large, their trailing behaviour creates dirt pathways through even the thickest of vegetation. This results in a loss of the stability that vegetation provides, with resulting destabilisation of stream banks, changes in stream flow and increased erosion and sedimentation of streams, ponds and rivers. During the rut (reproductive season) significant impact to trees occurs when bucks rub and polish their antlers on bark, frequently leading to the death of the trees. When they occupy riparian areas, they heavily trample and browse vegetation. Each antler has three tines the brow tine forms at near right angle with the beam and the front (or outer) tine of the terminal fork is much longer than the hind (or inner) tine.Īxis axis often congregate in large groups and return to, and remain in, areas for long periods of time. Antlers over 76cm take roughly five months to fully develop. The larger the antlers, the longer the development period, from \"velvet\" through to \"hard\" antler. Antlers are present only on bucks, and immediately upon shedding a set of antlers, growth begins on the next set. Weights can reach 66-113kg in males and 43-66kg in females (Mungall and Sheffield, 1994). Males measure an average total length of 1.7m with a tail 200mm in length and their height at the shoulder can reach 90cm. axis dental formula is similar to elk, Cervus elaphus, but the upper canines (the so-called \"elk teeth\") are lacking. A gland-bearing cleft is present on the front of the pastern of the hind foot. A dark stripe runs down the back from the nape to the tip of the tail. It has a rufous brown coat that is covered with white spots on the abdomen, rump, throat, insides of legs and ears and underside of tail that persist throughout the life of the animal. Axis axis is a moderately large deer standing 88-97cm at the shoulders.
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