AUSTRALIA’S BUFFALOES

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 21

AUSTRALIA’S BUFFALOES

BIG GAME IN THE NORTHERN! TERRITORY. (Faou Ocii Own Coiu; esponden t . J SYDNEY, September 20. About a century ago, somewhere between) 1824 and 1828, the Britishers who settled for a few years on Melville Island and Port Essington, on the mainland of the Northern Territory—that great tract of virgin country which is one of Australia's greatest problems imported from Timor a quantity of beat's of burden known as the Indian or Mater Buffalo. When the settlements were abandoned they were left behind, and, becoming wild, multiplied in large herds over the whole of the Coburg Peninsula, the coastal lands east of Van Diemen’s Gulf, the areas on the East and Mouth Alligator Rivers, and Melville island. Tens of thousands of them roamed over those wild ;\wts, until they became the prey in recent years of the big game hunter, who sought "them for their hides. In a report regarding them, based upon investigations which lie made while acting Administrator of tlie Territory in 1920, Mr Staniforth Smith declares that at a rough estimate there are now only about 20,009 buffaloes left ill the Territory. To indicate tin* havoo wrought by buffalo shooters it is only necessary to record the accelerated i.itc of destruction. Over 100,000 hides were exported during tiie 25 years ended December 20, 1910, or at the rate of 4000 per annum. During the first two years of the commonwealth regime the number of hides exported were —in 1911, 49 fB, and in 1512, 7262. No later statistics have bem preserved. Failing some action to preserve them it seems likely that in a few years they will be extinct so far ns Australia is concerned. But Mr Staniforth Smith gives interesting details of the value of the buffaloes when domesticated, both as beasts of burden and for purposes of food. If the buffalo industry can be developed successfully. he says, it will mean that, instead of having the coastal lands covered with the rotting carcases of these magnificent beasts, which now only attract alligators and dingoes—both serious pests—this great destruction of a potent ini asset will be turned into channels of wealth and production. as is done in every other land where buffaloes are found. An interesting experiment to this, end is being made by three well-known men who have bce.i granted, under stringent conditions, the hvtse for 21 years of a large aboriginal reserve, for the purpose of demonstrating the feasibility of domesticating the animals and putting them to profitable use.