Elephants could be Australia's giant weed killers, scientist says

Feb 2, 2012, 4:36 GMT

Sydney - An Australian academic was ridiculed Thursday for proposing that elephants could keep down the weeds that are taking over the savannah in the far north of the continent.

Botanist David Bowman proposed that bringing in elephants would both help with their survival and help deal with an introduced species, gamba grass, that is too big and tough for native animals to eat.

'The idea of introducing elephants may seem absurd but the only other methods likely to control gamba grass involve using chemicals or physically clearing the land, which would destroy the habitat.' Professor Bowman said.

The University of Tasmania researcher, writing in the journal Nature, said that gamba grass, unknown in 1984, now covered 3,800 square kilometres.

'Using mega-herbivores may ultimately be more practical and cost-effective, and it would help to conserve animals that are threatened by poaching in their native environments.'

Environment Minister Tony Burke, speaking to the Weekly Times, said that 'from time to time in this portfolio people come up with some wacky ideas - I think this is one of them.'

Bowman's plan was likened to the disastrous importation of cane toads in 1935 to chomp on the beetles infesting coastal Queensland sugar cane plantations.

There are now billions of cane toads colonizing the continent. Bowman noted that cattle and sheep are introduced species - as are the camels, pigs, horses, goats and deer that have gone feral in the Outback.

'We need to trial things, debate things and respect differences of opinion,' he said.