Sheep Around the World At Risk from Predators

Wolves, coyotes, jackals and wild dogs are dining on sheep industry profits globally. Across the world, wild animal predation on sheep is a struggle, with global consequences of reduced production.

Don Hamblin, president of Australian grower group Wool Producers, said sheep countries look to Australia for leadership in research as shepherds guard American sheep, wolves feast on European sheep and South Africans find that new animal friendly soft-jawed traps do not beat the jackal.

"South African people have animal welfare concerns, so animals have to be destroyed or captured in a welfare-friendly way," he stated. "They are like us in Australia, having to find ways to control predation on their animals in a way that meets community standards.

"Australia is the major sheep country in the world. We are spending the most amount of money in research into wild dog control so a lot of countries are looking to Australia to see what better ways we can achieve for our growers to control wild dogs."

Reprinted in part from ABC Rural Australia