BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF POSSUMS

Research on biological control of possums has a high priority because such control could be effective nationally and achieve a sustained reduction in numbers without the continual input of resources. A biological control agent could be a naturally occurring parasite or pathogen from Australian possums or possum relatives, or an organism modified by biotechnology to act in the same way as a vaccine. Potential physiological targets include lactation, the hormonal control of reproduction, sperm, and eggs. Although more efficient, agents that kill are likely to be socially less acceptable than those that interfere with reproduction. To allay the concerns of the public and our trading partners, any biological control agent must meet rigid specifications. It must be humane, unable to survive away from possums, infective only to possums, and have a possum-specific mode of action. Biological control alone will reduce the possum population, but total eradication is unlikely. The development of effective biocontrol for possums will require the co-operation of institutions around the country, and it may be 10-15 years before an agent is ready for release. Work needs to continue on short and medium-term strategies for possum control using existing technologies.