Interesting/Little Known introduced populations

[Chlidonias]

A recent scientific paper about the establishment of the llamas is included below:
Unsafe management of a zoological garden as a cause of introduction of an alien species into the wild: First documented case of feral naturalized population of Lama glama in Europe - ScienceDirect

The paper also mentions Patagonian mara as an introduced species in Europe, but the source linked to it is just a general species profile with no information about their presence in Europe. Does anyone know more about this?

I've been reading back through the thread and came across this. I had a bit of a Google search and could find literally nothing on wild Mara in Europe - I'm wondering if they were actually referring to Mara which have been released to live freely within zoo grounds, e.g. at Whipsnade.

However I came across a sentence without any references on Wikipedia saying "A population has also been recorded in the northern United Arab Emirates, possibly as a result of escaped pets or captive animals." Some Googling on that found a few mentions including photos, such as this blog from 2018: UAE 2018

 

[Swampy]

I'm sure I've read somewhere about mara establishing a population in Britanny, France...

 

[Jurek7]

During recent research of Dutch Tree frog-populations it was discovered that several populations belong to species which don't belong to the Dutch fauna. In National Park Hollandse Duinen a population of Eastern tree frogs was discovered with its orgin in Greech and near Den Haag a population of Italian tree frogs were found :

The introduction of three cryptic tree frog species in the Dutch coastal dunes challenges conservation paradigms in: Amphibia-Reptilia - Ahead of print

Perhaps the best choice would be to introduce confirmed native Dutch tree frogs, to pre-emptively prevent unauthorized introductions. Also, voluntary providing local treefrogs to hobbyist keepers to eliminate escapees / introductions of exotic races would be possible. Luckily, treefrogs reproduce rapidly in good conditions, so source animals could be readily provided.

 

[DesertRhino150]

I have just seen this interesting article about the history of a population of released African lions in the Kuno region of India, that began with the first releases in 1908 and was last recorded in 1937. Unfortunately, while the lions almost certainly did breed in the wild, the whole thing seems to have been a pretty unmitigated disaster - the lions killed at least fifty people, and one of the male lions was killed shortly after release by a tiger.

A little teaser at the bottom of the article also mentions a potential introduction of lions to the Chitwan National Park in Nepal in 1939, but details on that are not mentioned.

Connect. Collaborate. Express | RoundGlass Living

 

[UngulateNerd92]

Here's an introduction that surprised me: gemsbok at White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, USA

Here is a relevant article about Gemsbok (Oryx gazella) in New Mexico.

Rising Oryx Numbers May Distress New Mexico Ecosystem

South African ungulates introduced decades ago have expanded exponentially in Chihuahuan Desert

The sharp horns of South African oryx splay straight up from the back of their zebra-striped heads in a nearly straight line, leaving many people in awe of their beauty.

But looks aren’t everything, especially since these animals are now increasing rapidly in New Mexico, thousands of miles from their native range.

The New Mexico Game and Fish Department first introduced the South African oryx—also known as the gemsbok (Oryx gazella)—to the Tularosa Basin starting in 1969 as a game species. Dozens were released over the next few years, and this relatively small initial population took off.

“They are this classic invasive,” said TWS member Casey Wagnon. “It still remains pretty elusive how to manage , because recreational opportunities and revenue generation are at odds with ecosystems impacts and human-oryx conflicts.”

They began to expand into the Jornada Basin, and perhaps beyond, though large-scale surveys are still needed to learn more about their distribution. There are now an estimated several thousand oryx in New Mexico.

“They are highly adapted to the Chihuahua Desert,” Wagnon said.

Rising oryx numbers may distress New Mexico ecosystem - The Wildlife Society

 

[DesertRhino150]

A couple of updates about introduced populations of birds within Europe:

In Valencia in Spain, three species - the red-masked parakeet, red-whiskered bulbul and orange-cheeked waxbill, have all increased in population to an extent where they are now seen as 'countable' species by birdwatchers:
Valencia's Category C birds - BirdGuides

On the other hand, the British population of golden pheasant has now declined to the point where it is functionally extinct, with little or no self-sustaining populations remaining. At their peak, between the 1940s and 1970s, there were probably over 1,000 golden pheasants in Britain:
British Golden Pheasant population deemed functionally extinct - BirdGuides

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

Here is a relevant article about Gemsbok (Oryx gazella) in New Mexico.

Rising Oryx Numbers May Distress New Mexico Ecosystem

South African ungulates introduced decades ago have expanded exponentially in Chihuahuan Desert

The sharp horns of South African oryx splay straight up from the back of their zebra-striped heads in a nearly straight line, leaving many people in awe of their beauty.

But looks aren’t everything, especially since these animals are now increasing rapidly in New Mexico, thousands of miles from their native range.

The New Mexico Game and Fish Department first introduced the South African oryx—also known as the gemsbok (Oryx gazella)—to the Tularosa Basin starting in 1969 as a game species. Dozens were released over the next few years, and this relatively small initial population took off.

“They are this classic invasive,” said TWS member Casey Wagnon. “It still remains pretty elusive how to manage , because recreational opportunities and revenue generation are at odds with ecosystems impacts and human-oryx conflicts.”

They began to expand into the Jornada Basin, and perhaps beyond, though large-scale surveys are still needed to learn more about their distribution. There are now an estimated several thousand oryx in New Mexico.

“They are highly adapted to the Chihuahua Desert,” Wagnon said.

Rising oryx numbers may distress New Mexico ecosystem - The Wildlife Society

I know what should be done about this: Wholesale slaughter.

Gemsbok aren't endangered, they're doing just fine in their natural habitat and are commonplace in captivity. They never should've been introduced to the New Mexico desert - If sportsmen want to hunt them, they can do so on private ranches. (Whose ranchers can pay for the high fencing needed to contain them.)

If people want to "save" them, they can scoop up the babies and start their own populations on private property.

 

[Chlidonias]

I've been reading back through the thread and came across this. I had a bit of a Google search and could find literally nothing on wild Mara in Europe - I'm wondering if they were actually referring to Mara which have been released to live freely within zoo grounds, e.g. at Whipsnade.

I'm sure I've read somewhere about mara establishing a population in Britanny, France...

It seems like there may indeed have been an attempt at introducing Mara to France in the 19th century by one of the Acclimatisation Societies. Unfortunately I can't find anything more than one sentence via Google because the paper is only an abstract.

The paper is "Climates of Opinion: Acclimatization in Nineteenth-Century France and England" from 1992
Climates of Opinion: Acclimatization in Nineteenth-Century France and England on JSTOR

The sentence I found (it appears as part of Google's search result but is not in the abstract itself) reads "The French selected the Patagonian cavy, a rodent as big as a dog and said to be good to eat, though it had never found any favor with the English."

 

[Pertinax]

On the other hand, the British population of golden pheasant has now declined to the point where it is functionally extinct, with little or no self-sustaining populations remaining. At their peak, between the 1940s and 1970s, there were probably over 1,000 golden pheasants in Britain:
British Golden Pheasant population deemed functionally extinct - BirdGuides

I regularly visited Thetford Forest in Norfolk for a time during the late 90's which used to have the largest(?) population in UK. I think I only ever saw one once or twice, crossing a ride between the pine forest blocks, but there was one place where I'd regularly hear males crowing (a very distinctive call) in a dense thicket. They are still present on a couple(?) of the islands in Poole Harbour but thought not self-sustaining there.

 

[Jennings]

I regularly visited Thetford Forest in Norfolk for a time during the late 90's which used to have the largest(?) population in UK. I think I only ever saw one once or twice, crossing a ride between the pine forest blocks, but there was one place where I'd regularly hear males crowing (a very distinctive call) in a dense thicket. They are still present on a couple(?) of the islands in Poole Harbour but thought not self-sustaining there.

My understanding is that the decline of Golden and Lady Amherst's Pheasants in the UK is a direct result of the growth of the Goshawk population. As with Pine Martins and Grey Squirrels, a rare case of a recovering native species polishing off an introduced one.

 

[Jennings]

The Singapore Feral Guppy is interesting in that, being descended from a range of wild Guppies introduced for mosquito control, and fancy Guppies deliberately or accidentally introduced from aquaria and fish farms, it has developed into a distinct variety with a fairly standard male body colur of red below and silver above with two black spots, but without a set tail morphology. No two male tails are exactly alike. It's also interesting in that it is an escapee from the aquarium hobby which has now returned to the aquarium hobby; some were collected in 2014, and here's my breeding group.

 

[DesertRhino150]

It's been a long time coming - for the first time, the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta has been found to have established a population in Europe. A total of 88 nests have been found in a 4.7 hectare area along a river in Sicily. Accounts from locals suggest the ants may have been there since at least 2019. It is thought that they may have originated from either America or China.

The researchers are planning to eradicate the nests, using methods used in New Zealand (so far the only place to completely eliminate the species) and efforts currently underway in China.

More information can be found in the link below:
https://phys.org/news/2023-09-invasive-red-ants-europe.html

 

[vogelcommando]

African clawed frogs found in Belgium :

Morphological, acoustic and genetic identification of a reproducing population of the invasive African clawed frog Xenopus laevis (Anura, Pipidae) recently discovered in Belgium

 

[DesertRhino150]

Another possible alien ungulate for Texas that I've just learned about - in October 2018, a herd of twenty greater kudu escaped from a game hunting reserve when a fence was brought down in a storm. I haven't managed to find anything else yet, as to whether they survived or are breeding:

Escaped exotic animals are changing the Texas landscape

 

[dillotest0]

Another possible alien ungulate for Texas that I've just learned about - in October 2018, a herd of twenty greater kudu escaped from a game hunting reserve when a fence was brought down in a storm. I haven't managed to find anything else yet, as to whether they survived or are breeding:

Escaped exotic animals are changing the Texas landscape

How many species would that be now...?!

 

[Great Argus]

How many species would that be now...?!

Too many - at minimum Nilgai, Gemsbok, Aoudad, Fallow Deer, Wild Boar. I've heard Warthog tossed around as well.

 

[birdsandbats]

How many species would that be now...?!

AFAIK, the full list is:

Feral Horse
Feral Donkey

Wild Boar
Common Warthog (?, status debated)

European Fallow Deer
Sambar
Sika Deer
Chital

Nilgai
Impala
Blackbuck
European Mouflon
Aoudad
Gemsbok

 

[Pleistohorse]

Kudu may not survive as a feral animal in Texas…at least not in the developed areas of the Hill Country. Lots of roads, lots of development, high fences to keep them out of suitable habitat in undeveloped areas, and once they make it on public property (such as it is) that allows hunting no trophy fees or bag limits. I don’t think they have much of a chance. Had they escaped down in the brush country of the Rio Grande Valley below the frost line maybe. Not sure the Kudu does very well in the colder parts of winter without supplemental feeding. The reason Blackbuck aren’t spreading north is also attributed to winter temperatures.

I’ve seen Kudu between Del Rio and Eagle Pass but they were definitely behind high fences and I’m sure subject to feeding…but the climate and landscape were probably sufficient to their needs. Still doubt they’d make it on their own.

On a side note, right around the time New Mexico was considering releasing the Gemsbok, they also investigated the suitability of the Kudu too the same area and found the Kudu not hardy enough and abandoned the release.

On a second note, outside of unpinned animals on ranches (if there are any) I don’t believe there is any viable populations (aside from the occasional stray) of feral horses in Texas. Feral Asses are limited to the southern Big Bend region (I believe I saw two in Val Verde County in an unfenced Pasture) and are rather scarce and supplemented by animals moving in from Mexico. I think they are removed (one way or the other) by land owners and TP&W agents wherever the animals pop-up.

 

[birdsandbats]

On a second note, outside of unpinned animals on ranches (if there are any) I don’t believe there is any viable populations (aside from the occasional stray) of feral horses in Texas. Feral Asses are limited to the southern Big Bend region (I believe I saw two in Val Verde County in an unfenced Pasture) and are rather scarce and supplemented by animals moving in from Mexico. I think they are removed (one way or the other) by land owners and TP&W agents wherever the animals pop-up.

Interesting. I just assumed they were present in Texas since most of the other western states have them. A bit odd to know that Texas doesn't.

 

[Pleistohorse]

Interesting. I just assumed they were present in Texas since most of the other western states have them. A bit odd to know that Texas doesn't.

I think a lot of it has to do with the lack of public lands in Texas. Most Feral Horses in the West live on Public Lands. I’m sure there are some bigger ranches with horses that graze pretty freely, but they would be considered livestock for sure and subject to confinement and roundup.

Google Wild Horses in Texas and you’ll find a few articles including one from Texas Monthly that specifically asks “What happened to all of Texas’s Wild Horses.”