Wildlife Bytes 2/3/10

Wildlife MiniBytes

Kangaroo Industry

The kangaroo Industry has outdone itself in the noxious Industry awards for stupid statements. In an article in the Weekly Times but not avaliable online, Nicholis Swadling, from the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation stated that the largest growth area for kangaroo meat was in the nutritional food sector - for use in hospitals, nursing homes, as precooked meals for diabetics, and also in the fast food sector. (Imagine a Big Mac kangaburger!) It has huge potential he said, because of the leanness of the meat, its ability to be easily flavored, and also because of its high protein source. He didnt say anything about the high levels of salmonella or eColi that has been found in kangaroo meat.


Here is an interesting website on kangaroo killing... http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:Kangaroo_Culling


A Press release that came across Back Paddock's desk announced more training for kangaroo harvesters. Had they finally invented a machine for mowing down and butchering kangaroos in the bush? Err no. Kangaroo harvester is now the politically correct term for a kangaroo shooter. It sounds much nicer harvesting kangaroos than shooting them doesn't it? "Harvesters will need to demonstrate their competency through one of a number of assessment methods, such as an on-the-job demonstration," the press release says. In other words they have to prove they can shoot straight. *Weekly Times


Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and regional Queensland Tim Mulherin has announced a trial of new technology to assist the kangaroo industry in Queensland. Currently kangaroo harvesters use a paper-based traceback system, but overseas markets, including the E.U. are demanding improved traceability. With this in mind, Queensland will conduct field trials on two different identification tags to track kangaroos from the time they're harvested until they arrive at the processing factory. The first trial, supported by $61,000 in state government funding, will use a Radio Frequency Identification Device. The two month trial will begin in southern Queensland in March this year and will involve Ipswich based 'Game Meat Processing' and a number of local kangaroo harvesters and field depots. "The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) will supply an economist to look at the true economic advantages," Mr Mulherin said. *Qld Country Life

Wild Cats Targeted

Australian scientists are hoping to add some truth to the old adage by using curiosity to kill some of the country’s millions of wild cats. New traps that attract cats using sound and light, and then squirt them with poison, will soon be tested in South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre said on its website. ‘This is a tunnel that emits a… sound and bright features that attract cats to it,’ professor Steven Lapidge said, according to public broadcaster ABC. ‘It requires them to walk through a tunnel and if they set off certain sensors in a certain configuration, then it detects the shape of the animal. If it is a cat then it will deliver a short spray onto its belly of a toxic substance that puts them to sleep.’ The centre believes Australia may have more than 18 million feral cats descended from escaped domestic pets, which kill native wildlife and are hard to control using conventional poisons. Australia’s vast size makes it vulnerable when new species are introduced, with the country suffering large-scale environmental and agricultural damage from wild pigs, rabbits, foxes, cane toads and even camels. * AFP

Wildlife Auction

About 300,000 items made from wildlife are being sold through a special online eBay-style auction that began Monday. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reducing costs for storing and maintaining forfeited and abandoned wildlife property at its National Wildlife Property Repository in Denver. Though the auction of current lots on sale ends March 8, new lots will be posted every few weeks over a period of up to six months. The sale will clear space for newly obtained wildlife property and support conservation education and other activities benefiting wildlife. The sale is being conducted under contract by Lonestar Auctioneers based in Fort Worth, Texas. The company will offer items individually and in lots of varying size and content over a period of several months. Auction merchandise consists primarily of reptile-skin shoes, boots, belts, jewelry, and other products made from seashells and coral. Read more http://wvgazette.com/Outdoors/201002250550

White Stingray

A small aquarium in Nelson has got its hands on a rare white short-tailed stingray and they think it might be one of the only ones in captivity in the world. The stingray, known as Nookie, was found by a local fisherman just before Christmas and gifted to the Mapua Aquarium in Nelson. While grey stingrays are nothing unusual, Nookie is different. "It's a genetic thing, where you get what they call a melanistic form. This is where the dark colours kind of get dropped out and so every so often you will get something which is particularly light," says Richard de Hamel, Mapua Touch the Sea Aquarium. The aquarium think that she could be one of the only ones in captivity in the world. Fisherman George Marsh has been fishing for 70 odd years when he came across Nookie. "I've seen three or four in my lifetime but that's not a lot when you see all the black one's I've seen," he says. *TVNZ

Sea Lion Attack

Hot on the heels of death of an Orca trainer in the US, a sea lion has attacked a keeper at Adelaide Zoo as the animals were being put away for the night. A small number of visitors were watching the sealion enclosure from the boardwalk about 4.40pm, when male sealion Tasco attacked the keeper, aged in his 20s, inflicting bite wounds to his arm and leg. The keeper was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital by ambulance. An Adelaide Zoo spokeswoman said the keeper was experienced and she did not think the zoo had experienced any similar problems with sealions in the past. Adelaide Zoo assistant curator of carnivores Jason Hakof said sea lions could be territorial. "Tasco was probably acting defensively towards his space and the female in his territory," he said. Adelaide Now

Elephant Rampage

An elephant hired for a Hindu wedding in India caused over £200,000 in damage after trying to reach an in-heat female. The turned-on mammal crushed 20 limos trying to get to the female in a nearby sugar cane field in the Indian capital New Delhi. He then mounted and attempted to mate with a truck, and smashed through a shopping mall in a 15-hour rampage, reports the Metro. Wildlife experts managed to finally bring him down with a tranquilliser gun to end the elephant's chaotic adventure. One expert said: "It is a very powerful urge." *network Item

Hunting

Three men all aged in their 20s will be charged with firearms offences after a kangaroo was shot at Creswick. The men were spotlighting in a pine plantation next to the Creswick Forest Resort on Wednesday night. Leading Senior Constable Athol Chaffey said the men were from Clunes, Miners Rest and Creswick. He warned people against attacking native animals and said there had been problems in the past with the shooting of kangaroos, koalas and magpies. Senior wildlife officer Jim O'Brien of the Department of Sustainability and Environment said all native animals were protected. He said the DSE would investigate the matter and consider laying charges under the Wildlife Act. "We are taking this very seriously," Mr O'Brien said. "It's certainly not the first incident we have had recently of destruction of kangaroos." Mr O'Brien said the penalty for killing native animals could include fines of more than $5000 or six months' imprisonment. He urged the public to report any incidents involving native animals. *The Creswick Courier


A man who shot and killed a kangaroo in a national park devastated by bushfires last year has been fined $4,000. Lloyd Cameron Rouse was fined in Dandenong Magistrates' Court on after pleading guilty to shooting the kangaroo in Bunyip State Park east of Melbourne. Parks Victoria staff had spotted Rouse in the park on August 3, 2009, and he was interviewed by police and later charged with wildlife and firearms offences. His two firearms have since been seized and forfeited. In Victoria, it is an offence to carry a firearm into a national park and kangaroos are a protected species. Rouse's fine included $2,000 for firearms offences and $2,000 for charges under the Wildlife Act. Glenn Sharp, a senior wildlife officer for the Department of Sustainability and Environment says the fines show how seriously the community takes wildlife offences. Shortly after the man was charged, Mr Sharp expressed outrage over the killing of an animal in bushland that had been burnt by bushfires only months earlier. 'With more than 26,000 hectares of this park and the neighbouring forests burnt in the February fires, you'd think the resident native animals would be finding it tough enough to survive,' he said. *BigPond News


A Tungamull man has died from a gunshot wound in a tragic hunting incident on Thursday morning at a Central Queensland property. The 38-year-old man was hunting for kangaroos with a 19-year-old man on his property at Ogmore, 100km north of Rockhampton. It’s understood he suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. But the circumstances surrounding how the man was shot were the main focus of police investigations yesterday. Police were first called to the Ogmore property, on Ogmore Styx Road, at 8.20pm after the man was reported dead. The 19-year-old man was helping police enquiries yesterday, showing detectives the area on the 60-acre property where the shooting occurred. A post-mortem examination was conducted early yesterday and results returned to police in the afternoon. At this stage police believe the shooting was an accident, but would not comment on the autopsy results. Although the man owned the Ogmore property, he lived at Tungamull, near Rockhampton. Police officers declared the property a crime scene and guarded it throughout Thursday night. Yesterday forensic officers spent most of the day examining the scene of the shooting. However, weather conditions made their task difficult. The road leading to the property was also cut in three places, making it awkward for officers to get there. The family yesterday asked that the man’s name not be released. *Morning Bulletin


Skippy

Skippy has knocked out Matilda the Boxing Kangaroo, as well as Phar Lap and Fatso the Wombat to be voted Australia's most iconic animal. A total of 836 people responded to an online VetShopAustralia survey, with Skippy the Bush Kangaroo attracting the most votes - 29 per cent of votes. Legendary racehorse Phar Lap was second with 21 per cent of votes. Surprisingly, the dog that said "bugger" in a Toyota commercial came third with 15 per cent, ahead of Simpson's Donkey (12 per cent), Matilda the Boxing Kangaroo (9 per cent) and the Dog on the Tucker Box (4 per cent). Eight per cent voted for Mr Percival from the children's book and film Storm Boy, while Fatso the Wombat from the long-running drama series A Country Practice lagged the field, pulling just two per cent of votes. "Skippy is perhaps Australia's greatest television export and an icon not only to Australians but people worldwide," VetShopAustralia chief vet Dr Mark Perissinotto said in a statement on Monday. "No wonder people love her - the remarkable eastern grey kangaroo can understand and communicate with humans, rescue hapless bushwalkers, foil villains, open doors, play the drums and even make phone calls, among a host of other amazing feats." Dr Perissinotto said while the survey was a bit of fun, it showed what an incredible influence animals, real or otherwise, have had and continue to have on Australia. "Australians have always had a soft spot for animals," he said. "Those like Simpson's Donkey and Phar Lap are etched into our history and national psyche, we grew up with others like Skippy and Fatso while some, like the cursing Toyota dog, simply make us laugh." * BigPond News

Ed Comment; The Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism (CRC) is a joint Federal and State Government /Tourism Industry/University partnership aimed at improving the sustainability of Australia’s tourism industry. In the early 2000's a survey was taken by them at Australian airports. Visiting overseas tourists were asked to identify 20 world tourism icons. The Statue of Liberty was number one, followed by the kangaroo. Other significant findings were that 4% would not have come to Australia if they could not see kangaroos, 50% want to see kangaroos or other wildlife as part of their visit to Australia, 25% do not see the kangaroos they wanted to see, and little information is made available to international tourists on where to see kangaroos in the wild.

Koalas

Conservationists say they will confront loggers head-on in an effort to save the habitat of a small colony of koalas on the far south coast of New South Wales. Surveys by the Environment Department have found evidence of a recovering population of around 50 koalas in the Mumbulla State Forest, south of Bermagui. The New South Wales Government is due to start logging parts of the forest next month. Most of the timber is to be sent to a mill in Eden, which exports some of it as woodchips to Japan. John Hibberd from the ACT Conservation Council says if NSW Environment Minister Frank Sartor lets the logging go ahead, the koala population will be wiped out. "I think it's absolutely staggering that we're still having this debate," he said. "The south coast is marked by fantastic beaches, beautiful forests and yet we're prepared to log the forests and destroy an iconic species like koalas for the sake of supporting a foreign-owned industry that's heavily subsidised by the NSW taxpayer." Mr Hibberd will meet with Mr Sartor in Sydney today together with other conservation groups.

A meeting between environmentalists and Mr Sartor yesterday failed to reach any agreement to protect the koalas. Noel Plumb from conservation group Chip Busters says it is almost inevitable there will be direct conflict in the forests. "The community is not going to allow this koala population to become extinct because you've got an arrogant state forest agency that won't listen to anybody," he said. Meanwhile, deputy director-general of the Environment Department, Joe Woodward, says State Forests has agreed to hold off on some of its logging plans in the area. "Importantly, [State] Forests have stated that they won't be going in and initially logging in those areas where the koalas have been identified," he said. "Then we'll be having further discussions with State Forests to work out what can be done to protect the koalas."*ABC


Koalas are under threat from logging due to start on NSW's south coast as early as Monday, conservationists say. (from Condobetter.org) A study done by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) confirms there is a small but viable koala colony in the Mumbulla and Murrah state forests, which lie between Bermagui and Bega. They are a small colony, but how are they going to be preserved if their habitat is destroyed? State forests should be incorporated into National Parks to stop the logging Mafia from having so much power. We in Australia are obsessed by economic returns and jobs at the expense of our environmental heritage and the little value being put on wildlife and their habitat. Jobs are only temporal. Koala numbers are under threat in Queensland and NSW. Surely timber can be found elsewhere? It is far more important to keep our environment intact and protect our native animals. These loggers have too much destructive power. Please contact the Premier of NSW to stop this vandalism.http://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/contact_us *Network Item


New Wildlife Survey

Australia's government has launched a new survey to find out more about the country's unique wildlife. The program will see scientists camping out in the bush in the hope of rediscovering forgotten species, and finding new ones. Peter Garrett, Australia's Environment Minister, launched the nation's new "Bush Blitz" program. The star of the show was a rarely-seen species of lizard - the Swain's Leaf Tail gecko. This gecko was one of the first finds in the New England National Park in northern New South Wales. Peter Garrett, Australia's Environment Minister, said, "Look I think it is surprising for us to see that there are still pretty big opportunities in terms of identifying new species. We've got 400 now already - previously unreported, unrecorded, undiscovered species - how incredible. Australia is home to more than 560-thousand species. However, less than a quarter have been properly recorded, and less than half of the huge continent has been surveyed. Mitzy Pepper from Australian National University, said, "Bush Blitz is going to go into areas that haven't been surveyed before, or have only been very poorly surveyed. So we really need to get a stronger idea on the sorts of species that we have in these areas, particularly if they're narrow range species, if they're only found in very small areas, they're the things particularly that we really need to concentrate on." Over the next three years, scientists will survey 300 properties in a bid to set up one of the most comprehensive databases of native species. By understanding the habitat and ecosystems, they also hope to establish what threats lie ahead. * CCTV.com


Flying Foxes

Pink batts aren't the only bats that will be preying on Peter Garrett's mind at the moment. Of the many native species the Minister has responsibility for in his environment portfolio, probably none cause as much public and political controversy as flying-foxes -- that is, fruit bats. Within the next two months, the Minister will have to make a decision on whether to approve the proposal by Botanic Gardens Trust to disperse, by means of noise harassment, the colony of grey-headed flying-foxes from Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. There will be immense political pressure on the Minister to approve the action. The gardens are within the NSW environment portfolio and, to date, the state bureaucracy has done everything it can to ensure the dispersal goes ahead. All that stands between the Botanic Gardens Trust and some bat harassing is Commonwealth approval.

But to approve the dispersal, currently the subject of a referral under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, the Minister will have to place a higher value on the preservation of exotic plant exhibits in the gardens than on the protection of a federally listed threatened species. There is a body of evidence that shows that dispersals generally don't work and are likely to have serious implications for the bats' welfare and breeding success. Problematically for him, the Minister's own department recently listed for public comment the Draft National Recovery Plan for the grey-headed flying fox. This draft, endorsed by the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (of which Botanic Gardens Trust is a part), contains criteria that will be used to determine whether habitat should be classified as critical for the survival of the species. The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney meets every single one of the criteria.

Loss of such habitat is highlighted as being a high priority threat to the recovery of the species. Approving a dispersal would be akin to dismantling a policy before the ink is even dry on the signatures. Approving the Royal Botanic Gardens dispersal will inevitably have a domino affect on those areas of conflict where residents feel that flying fox colonies are diminishing their quality of life but are being stonewalled when it comes to applications to disperse the bats. Maclean, on the mid-north coast of NSW, is a site of ongoing conflict; Singleton in the Hunter Valley is another with a long-term history of bat-related stress and it's only a matter of time before Kareela in Sydney's south and Bowraville on the mid-north coast turn into political problem areas because of flying-fox conflicts.

If the Minster approves the dispersal of the colony at the Botanic Gardens -- where human conflict with the bats is minimal and no one can seriously claim that their quality of life is being degraded -- how will he then be able to stare down applicants at sites where there is obvious conflict but don't have the loose change to spend on the extensive applications and approvals process (Botanic Gardens Trust has a budget for the dispersal that far exceeds what a local council could ever commit)? Garrett's bat problem is only going to get worse. *Crikey


Raining Fish

It's raining fish ... no really..While the Top End and Central Australia have been battered by torrential rains, a Territory town has had fish falling from the sky. The freak phenomena happened not once, but twice, on Thursday and Friday afternoon about 6pm at Lajamanu, about 550km southwest of Katherine. Christine Balmer, who took these photos of the fish on the ground and in a bucket, had to pinch herself when she was told ``hundreds and hundreds" of small white fish had fallen from the sky. "It rained fish in Lajamanu on Thursday and Friday night," she said, "They fell from the sky everywhere. "Locals were picking them up off the footy oval and on the ground everywhere. "These fish were alive when they hit the ground." Mrs Balmer, the aged care co-ordinator at the Lajamanu Aged Care Centre, said her family interstate thought she had lost the plot when she told them about the event. "I haven't lost my marbles," she said, reassuring herself. "Thank god it didn't rain crocodiles."

Lajamanu sits on the edge of the Tanami Desert, hundreds of kilometres from Lake Argyle and Lake Elliott and even further from the coast. But it's not the first time the remote community has been bombarded by fins from above. In 2004, locals reported fish falling from the sky, and in 1974, a similar incident captured international headlines. The small white fish are believed to be spangled perch, which are very common through much of northern Australia. Weather bureau senior forecaster Ashley Patterson said the geological conditions were perfect on Friday for a tornado in the Douglas Daly region. He said it would have been an ideal weather situation to allow the phenomena to occur - but no tornados have been reported to the authority. "It's a very unusual event," he said. "With an updraft, (fish and water picked up) could get up high - up to 60,000 or 70,000 feet. "Or possibly from a tornado over a large water body - but we haven't had any reports," he said. *NT News


Albatross

A growing number of the majestic and endangered wandering albatross are being horrifically injured or killed by discarded fishing hooks. Tasmanian wildlife officers this week released the second albatross in as many weeks to have been injured by a hook. The latest victim was successfully released near Eaglehawk Neck after being found in the same area on February 21 by a bird-watching group. Wildlife biologist Rachael Alderman said it was another reminder for fishermen to be aware of ways to minimise the threat to the endangered seabird. "This wandering albatross was actually lucky as many birds which are hooked in fishery operations simply drown," Ms Alderman said. She said that even if the seabirds did survive the initial hooking incident, they often died later of infection. Ms Alderman said the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment was contacted after the bird watchers captured the wandering albatross and she was able to work with a local vet to remove the seven-centimetre hook.

Late last year a Tasmanian shy albatross was found with a fishing hook embedded in its bill and was successfully rescued off the North-West Coast. Ms Alderman said assessment of the hook in the latest incident indicated it was of the type used in commercial tuna fishing operations. The wandering albatross is found right across the Southern Ocean, including Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and sub-tropical waters. Young birds often remain at sea for five to 10 years before returning to the islands where they were born to breed. Fishery interactions have been identified as one of the threats to their survival. Since 1994 the species of albatross listed as threatened has increased from seven to 18 of the 22 species. Globally it is estimated interactions with long-line fisheries kill about 100,000 albatrosses each year. *Mercury


Crocodiles

Tourists have been photographed wading through water where a huge saltwater crocodile is still believed to be on the loose. The men - driving cars with Victorian and New South Wales number plates - were photographed walking through the water at Fogg Dam, 70km east of Darwin on the Arnhem Highway. They had ignored signs clearly warning them to stay out of the water. A 5m crocodile has been lurking in the area for more than a year and still hasn't been caught, despite rangers setting a trap for it. Newsbreaker Dudley Sergo said he was shocked by the actions of the men. "I went there on Sunday and there were the two guys, must have been tourists from Victoria, past their knees in the water, fishing," he said. "They actually even caught some fish. "When I left after fifteen, twenty minutes they were still there - obviously they weren't really smart," Mr Sergo said. "It seems you get stupid stuff like this quite often in the area."

Parks and Wildlife senior ranger said he was stunned by the stupidity displayed by the men. "Not again," he said. "To start with, there is no good fishing there anyway - it's not allowed, it's a park. "And there is no doubt the 5m saltie is still there and others have probably moved in, too." Mr Nichols said Fogg Dam was connected to the Adelaide River, a waterway famous for its high population of saltwater crocodiles and its 'Jumping Crocodile' cruises. "That's where they all are (the crocodiles), no doubt some of them are at Fogg Dam, too," he said. "Standing in the water (there) is just incredibly silly - you never, never know what might come out of it," Mr Nichols. It is illegal to fish without a permit in any conservation reserve in the Northern Territory and under the Territory Parks and Conservation Act, and people interfering with protected wildlife could face five years in prison. Only three weeks ago, a woman was photographed swimming at Shady Camp, a place with one of the highest crocodile populations in the Northern Territory. The woman, who wore little but a pink bikini, became infamous for her dip with crocs, but her identity still remains a mystery. *NT News

Fraser Island Dingoes

Last week Wildlife Bytes ran the story about Jennifer Parkhurst, the photographer who had her house invaded by DERM thugs early one morning last year. Jennifer now faces a maximum two years' jail or up to a $300,000 fine under the Nature Conservation Act and Recreation Area Management Act, for allegedly interfering with the Fraser Island dingoes. The real reasons for the raid were that, like many others, Jennifer has been highly critical of the Fraser Island dingo mis-management strategies. Anyway, a rally or two are being planned, and Fund has been set up to help Jennifer and the dingoes. People can contribute to the fund at Westpac Bank, Pialba, Hervey Bay. Save Fraser island Dingoes Inc. BSB 034-136 Acct 303196.


The Fair Dinkum Characters

The new Summer range of toddlers wildlife shirts, shorts, and singlets are now avaliable on the Fair Dinkum Characters website at http://www.fairdinkum-characters.com too late for Christmas unfortuntely. The Dinkums are Ambassadors for the Wildlife Protection Association of Australia Inc. Watch for them playing in a Shopping Centre near you!

New political party, Animal Justice Party The time has come for animals to have a voice in the political arena. Animal Rights/Welfare is the next social justice movement and everyone can be a part of it. Please go to this website below to see how you can make a difference. Help end the suffering and become a voice for those without one. http://www.animaljusticeparty.org/About_the_AJP.html There you will find forms for both NSW and Federal memebrship. At this point no memebership fee is payable, and its important to get 750 members for the ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY to be registered as a political party. Other States will follow. It is important you fill in your name exactly as it appears on the Electoral Roll, otherwise your application will be invalid. You can download membership forms from the website. Please post to this address only... Animal Justice Party, P.O. Box 3126, Blakehurst 2221, Sydney NSW http://www.animaljusticeparty.org/About_the_AJP.html The animals need you......


Thinking about Wildlife? Who’s going to watch over our wildlife when you no longer share their World? Well, we are! The Wildlife Protection Association of Australia Inc. will continue to forcefully lobby governments to do better with wildlife management, and by taking them to Court if necessary. We are currently working on developing eLearning projects, so students can become aware of the importance of our wildlife living in a safe and secure natural environment. After you have looked after your family and friends in your Will, think about wildlife. A bequest to the Wildlife Protection Association of Australia Inc. will ensure that we can continue to take a leading role in protecting and conserving our precious wildlife. None of the donations we receive are diverted to "administration". Every dollar we get through bequests or donations for wildlife hits the ground running! Talk to your solicitor, or if writing your own Will, add the words "I bequeath to The Wildlife Protection Association of Australia Inc. for the purpose of protecting wildlife in Australia (a specified sum), or (specified items including land or vehicle), or (the residue of my estate) or (percentage of my estate) free of all duties, and the receipt of the President, Secretary or other authorised WPAA officer for the time being shall be a complete and sufficient discharge for the executor(s)." You can also phone me for a confidential chat, as to how a bequest can help us work to protect our wildlife, when you are no longer able to. * Pat O’Brien, WPAA 07 54941890