Wildlife Bytes 25/8/10

Green Politics

The Australian Greens increased their Senate vote from 5 to 14 per cent in last weeks Federal Election, and look likely to claim a total of nine Senate and one House of Representatives seat. With the major parties polling neck-and-neck, this would hand the Greens the balance of power in the Senate. Greens leader Senator Bob Brown described the election result as a “greenslide”. However today it appeared that for any of the major Parties to hold Federal Government, the three rural independent MP's may have to be a part of that Government. That's a big worry for wildlife, as motormouth Bob Katter, infamous Far North Queensland independent, is totally anti-green, anti-flying fox, anti-National Park and an enthusiastic shooter as well. However these extremes may be balanced to some extent by the Victorian Green who was elected to the House of Reps, and the Victorian Greens have strong animal welfare policies. Not all Green Branches do. If Andrew Wilkie in Tasmania is elected, which is likely, he will probably support the Greens. We live in worrying times, and with government priorities, wildlife always comes last. Crikey sums it up well....."So what happens next? Which side will stumble over the line? What price will Windsor, Katter and Oakeshott extract for their support? How will this election change our political system? What power will the faceless men have now? Can Abbott and Gillard survive as leader of a losing side? How long until we're at the polls again?" *WPAA

Whales

A young whale has been found dead off the central Queensland port of Gladstone. The carcass of the 12m sub-adult humpback is resting on a tidal bank near Facing Island, within the bounds of Gladstone harbour. Officers from the Department of Environment and Resource Management inspected the corpse yesterday after it was found by a fisherman. ``There was no indication of the cause of death,'' said DERM senior ranger Bruce Knuckey. The juvenile whale has been dead for some time and a post-mortem examination was not practical. ``As the carcass had already significantly decomposed the department will be unable to investigate further,'' Mr Knuckey said. *CM

Birds Stolen

Police are pleading with the public to help them catch a rare bird thief who has conducted a series of raids on an aviary near Gawler. During three raids in the past three weeks, the thief has stolen 15 to 20 of the rare birds, worth about $4000, from the aviary at Evanston. Among the rare birds stolen were four kakariki birds, which are native to New Zealand, and one plum headed parrot. The kakariki birds are mainly green in colour and have a yellow or red band above the eyebrows and on the crown of the head. The plum headed parrot has a plum coloured head, is the size of a canary and has a grey and green coloured body. Anyone with information regarding these thefts should contact BankSA Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.sa.crimestoppers.com.au. *abelaide Now

Climate Change

British scientists say they have found new evidence that woolly mammoths died out 9,000 years ago because of climate change. The cause of their demise has been debated by scientists for many years and the most common theory is over-hunting by humans. But researchers from Durham University, in northern England, say climate change may have played a part. The research team leader, Professor Brian Huntley, says the Earth warmed rapidly and trees replaced the grass which mammoths fed on. "We cannot rule out the possibility that humans added an extra pressure - they may even have been the straw on the camel's back for some of the species that weren't extinct," he said. "But humans alone, we feel, are extremely unlikely to have been the sole cause of the extinctions." *BBC

Meanwhile up to 50 million tonnes of ice has fallen off New Zealand's largest glacier. The Tasman glacier has changed from a U shape to an L after shedding the ice. Mount Cook Alpine Village general manager Denis Calleson says a trail of huge icebergs has been left behind. One is believed to be the largest in a fresh water lake outside Antarctica. The event was thought to have triggered a three-metre-high tsunami in a remote part of Mount Cook National Park. *ABC

Locusts

The State Government says Queensland is facing its worst locust plague in 30 years, as hot winter weather in the state's west today expected to prompt huge swarms to move. The weather bureau says temperatures for the winter day (19/8/10) will be well above average, with 36 degrees Celsius expected at Mount Isa and Longreach. Biosecurity Queensland spokesman Graham Hardwick says today's heat could send them east into Darling Downs or central Queensland cropping country. "We're flying around today and it is quite hot, and they are starting to move around already," he said. "There are still a lot of locusts out west - further out west - and we just hope that they will either move north or wherever they go." Weather forecaster Ben Annels says today will be very warm to hot as a surface trough makes its way over the region. "We're going to see temperatures well above the average ... around 36 degrees in Mount Isa and Longreach and around 30 to 32 degrees around Charleville and Roma," he said. *ABC

Melbourne Wildlife

A field guide to the fauna of Greater Melbourne was recently launched at the Melbourne Museum. It provides a complete reference guide to fauna in the Greater Melbourne area. The book was published by Museum Victoria in conjunction with CSIRO Publishing. It contains colour photograph of 700 species and a short description of the behaviour, habitat and distribution of each animal. The publication also includes extensive maps to find wildlife such as koalas, platypus, and lyrebirds. Melbourne's Wildlife is on sale at the Melbourne Museum shop. It can also be purchased online from CSIRO http://www.publish.csiro.au (RRP $39.95). You can get a free sample of the book here: http://www.publish.csiro.au/samples/Melbou...life_sample.pdf

Coral Bleaching

One of the most destructive and swift coral bleaching events ever recorded is under way in the waters off Indonesia, where water temperatures have climbed into the low 90s, according to data released by a conservation group this week. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) says a dramatic rise in sea temperature, potentially linked to global warming, is responsible for the devastation. In May, the WCS sent marine biologists to investigate coral bleaching reported in Aceh — a province of Indonesia — located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. The initial survey carried out by the team revealed that more than 60 percent of corals in the area were bleached. * MSN. Read more ....http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38741347/ns/us_news-environment/

Dingoes

If you haven't yet had a chance to look at Jennifer Parkhurst's moving Fraser Island dingo uTube clip, right now would be a good time to see it.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_nHinnQ5eM
And a new photo taken last week of a starving Fraser Island dingo (that the Queensland government claims dont exist) can be seen here .... http://fraserislanddingoes.blogspot.com/

Kangaroo Web Page Stats.

We've been looking at the Kangaroo Protection Coalition website stats again, ( http://www.kangaroo-protection-coalition.com ) and they do provide interesting reading. Hundreds of visitors go to the website every day, from nearly 100 countries. 50% of visitors come from the US, 26% are from Australia, and the rest from the other 95 or so countries. Webpages read the most ( last month anyway) are about kangaroo pet meat, and kangaroo meat for human consumption. These pages detail the health risks of eating kangaroo meat or giving it to your pets. Other pages of high interest included the kangaroo facts page, and other information pages about kangaroos. Kangaroos swimming was another very popular page. We also note that local and overseas education institutions are regular visitors to the kangaroo website. I guess it shows that the Internet is one way of getting kangaroo issues out into the World community, now that the mass multi-national media is not interested in kangaroos unless they attack someone...... *WPAA

Wild Pigeons

Wildlife rangers are gunning for a gang of Darwin feral pigeons. The birds have been hanging out in the Darwin suburb of Ludmilla for many years. But their numbers have now grown to about 60. Conservationists fear the flock has grown so big that the pigeons could become established. Darwin is the only capital city in Australia free of introduced birds. Feral pigeons can carry disease and compete with native birds for food and nesting sites. Natural Resources Department senior investigator Peter Phillips said the pigeons could pass a form of of potentially-deadly canker to native birds of prey, such as kites and goshawks. He said it would be impossible to wipe out the feral pests. "But we keep their numbers down as low as possible." Pigeons are destroyed in four ways - shooting, trapping, sedation and nest robbing. Mr Phillips has to be careful when killing pigeons - they could be valuable racing birds kept by a "fancier" in Hudson Fysh Ave. Four house sparrows and a nest were destroyed at Darwin's East Arm Wharf recently. Mr Phillips urged Top Enders to report sightings of any feral birds, such as pigeons, sparrows, starlings and Indian mynas. The 24-hour, seven-day-a-week hotline number is 0401 115 702. *NT News

Climate Change

Coastal development in New South Wales is set to become much more restricted, under new planning guidelines released today. The NSW Coastal Planning Guidelines have been developed in response to concern about the effects of global warming, with the State Government anticipating a 40 centimetre rise in sea levels by 2050, and a 90cm rise by 2100. The guidelines define which land is at risk and urge councils to reject development and rezoning applications in those areas. It is the first planning tool available to all coastal councils dealing with the issue and is likely to affect thousands of potential developments. The Planning Minister Tony Kelly says councils that ignore the guidelines do so at their own peril, but there is flexibility. "This doesn't necessarily mean you can't build there but obviously homes may be able to be shifted," he said. "There are a lot of relocatable homes these days. So if we're talking about a building that might last 40 or 50 years and it's in the upper level of those, well the council can still approve developments." Australian Coastal Society President, Professor, Bruce Thom, has applauded the initiative saying land owners will now have greater clarity in making decisions about future developments on the coast. *ABC

Ed Comment; Pity they didnt introduce these new guidleines 30 years ago, when environmental groups were pushing for Climate Change regulations to be introduced then. While the new restrictions are welcome, its also far too late for much of the coastal development that has aready occurred in low lying coastal areas.

Indigenous Hunting

George Wilson from Australian Wildlfie Services (who was involved in the horrific Belconnen kangaroo kill, and the St Mary's kangaroo kill ) has recently completed a "study" into Aborigonal hunting. The study concluded that hunting was responsible for the reduction of numbers of bustards, emus, echidnas, and other species in Central Western Queensland. But the traditional Aborigonal people knew that when a certain flower blooms, it told them to hunt for certain plants and animals, and then those species may not have been hunted again for several months. Wilson tries to show that large scale burnoffs in the Northern Territory actually helped the indigenous hunting, when many other studies have expressed strong concern about the NT firebombing, blaming it for weedspreading and other biodiversity impacts. Nothing is mentioned in the Study about the impact of broadacre farming on species that are becoming less abundent either. We think the Wilson Study is grossly flawed, and just another way to advance funding for yet another study. For those interested, you can read more here http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/144/paper/WR09130.htm
and here http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/Aboriginal-hunting-practices-under-threat.htm But dont sweat if you haven't got time, its all nonsense anyway.

NSW Shark Nets

Almost 4000 sea creatures have been caught in shark nets lining NSW beaches over the past 20 years, new government figures reveal, prompting calls from environmentalists to immediately ban the meshing. Of the official count of 3944 creatures trapped, about 60 per cent were sharks and less than 4 per cent were considered ''target'' species (or those particularly harmful to humans) - that is, 100 great whites and 49 tiger sharks. The haul - as recorded in the Department of Primary Industries' Report into the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program - included a total of 2521 sharks. *SMH read more ... http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/nets-are-a-dead-loss-for-sea-life-20100821-139pq.html

Great White Sharks

The likely deaths of two mother sea otters from shark bites, and the rescue of their orphaned pups in recent days is a reminder of what researchers have learned from a decade studying adult great white shark behavior: These top ocean predators return to California's coastal waters each year at this time. The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sea Otter Research and Conservation program recently took in two sea otter pups, one from Cayucos (San Luis Obispo County) on August 12 and a second from Santa Cruz on August 17. In both cases, the mothers had suffered shark trauma – likely from great white sharks, according to biologists. "The number of shark-bitten sea otter carcasses recovered by our California Sea Otter Stranding Network has increased in recent years – especially in the southern portion of the range," said Brian Hatfield of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). "This mortality is likely having a significant impact on the population." * Underwater Times
Read More.... http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=41061538907

Locusts

Australia's peak red meat marketing association says chemicals used to rid locust swarms could pose a big risk to the cattle industry. The State Government says Queensland is facing its worst plague in 30 years, with spur-throated locusts expected to move due to recent hot weather and the insects set to hatch this month in the Channel Country. Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) spokesman Patrick Hutchinson says producers need to follow guidelines if they are using chemicals before selling stock or supplying feed to other farmers. "We are out there providing assurances across the board for our beef and sheep exports stating that these products are clean and green [and] free of residue," he said. "If those things don't occur, people are signing declarations that aren't true and are passing a risk onto the person purchasing the livestock." He says producers need to be vigilant. "Producers should be always aware of spraying that's occurring by both themselves and also by state departments," he said. "What they should be focusing on at all times is keeping records and also keeping track of paddocks that have been sprayed or areas that have been sprayed and ensuring that cattle, or any other livestock for that matter, don't get access to those areas." *ABC

Ed Comment; We've made this point before, but while they can shift cattle around when spraying, they cant or wont shift the kangaroos. Kangaroos graze on the grass impregnated with the poisonous chemicals used to kill locusts, then they shoot them and promote the kangaroo meat overseas as being "clean and green"!

Native Bees

With spring just around the corner, it's time to get buzzing. There are about 2000 native species of Australian bees but have you seen any in your backyard? Most native bees are small and fragile and have difficulty competing with the highly efficient commercial bees introduced from Europe. European honeybees collect 90 per cent of available nectar and pollen but pollinate only about 5 per cent of plants. Australia's Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife 's chief executive Leonie Gale said there were plenty of ways to bring native bees back to your backyard, including: GROW bee food bees love plants like angophoras, eucalyptus, brachyschomes, callistemon, melaleucas, scaevolas, grevilleas and tea trees. MANY non-native plants such as lavenders, roses, salvia and daisies also attract native bees. PROVIDE a safe bee home make nest sites for solitary native bees from dead or hollow stems or by drilling holes in blocks of hardwood timber. AVOID using pesticides and insecticides in the garden. Ms Gale said native bees were great for pollinating home vegetable gardens. Blue Banded and Teddy Bear bees perform a special type of pollination method known as ``buzz pollination'' which encourages fruiting of tomatoes, eggplant, kiwifruit and chillies. ``You can find Australian native bees in all of the country's varied environments,'' Ms Gale said. *ProgressPress, Melbourne

Koalas

The discovery of a koala colony may save a small Fraser Coast township fighting to stop a planned $35 million open cut coal mine. Northern Energy Corporation has lodged an environmental management plan with the Department of Environment Resources Management for its Colton Mine which borders the village of Aldershot, about 8km north of Maryborough. But in what looms as a David and Goliath battle in rural Queensland's coal wars, Aldershot property owner Allan Sharpe plans to register his property as koala habitat. Mr Sharpe said mining company workers were stunned to find he was living only 2km from the proposed mine when they stumbled upon him in 2008 as they walked along the railway line near his 63ha bushland block. ``They didn't realise I was here. They were looking at a 1996 map and I bought the house in 1999,'' Mr Sharpe said. As the company began preparing its EMP and staging community information sessions, Mr Sharpe found a koala about 250m from his home and called in environmentalists who identified more than a dozen ``scratchings'' on trees. `They're definitely around. You can hear them at night. There is a wildlife corridor here going right through my property down to Hervey Bay,'' Mr Sharpe said. The company's EMP said three field surveys were conducted which identified 11 potential rare and threatened fauna on the project site, including parrots, bats and lungfish. Field workers only found koala habitat and the report suggests strategies to limit the impact. *Qld Sunday Mail


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Kangaroos

Media Release CHIEF MINISTER ATTACKS ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANISATION AS 800 BABY KANGAROOS ARE KILLED AT TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

On the eve of the Australian elections, Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has made an attack on a well respected Australian animal welfare organisation, in the midst of a suspected cover up on baby kangaroo killings authorised by his department. When challenged on figures of the recent culling of kangaroos in the ACT’s National Parks, Stanhope refused to release the information and cited that he could assure the Australian Wildlife Protection Council (AWPC) that “culling operations are humane and are conducted to the highest standards.” Philip Woolley, AWPC EU Campaign Director hit out at Stanhope and said: “This government says it is open and transparent, yet when asked for simple details which are of public interest the Chief Minister’s department hides behind the quoted assurance that all went well. If this is the case, why is he frightened of supplying our request and instead decides to attack what we do?” As figures on kangaroo killings are rarely released in situations like this and are carried out with upmost secrecy, it begs the question, why? Why would this be hidden from the public if all were above board?

Mr Woolley stated: “If the figures are not forthcoming then we will be forced to make educated guesses based on the previous year’s figures that were finally released after pressure was placed on the Chief Minister’s office. It can be estimated that some 800 baby kangaroos were either bludgeoned to death or escaped the scene only to die of starvation after their mothers were killed.” Simon Corbell’s office got dragged into the story when they admitted that an error was made by Stanhope’s office stating facts that were misleading and incorrect. Woolley finished by saying: “The Chief Minister’s office has said that our website is “misleading and incorrect”, which we of course dispute. When others may make mistakes they are attacked by his office.
Makes you wonder; why the cover up and what other figures have been made in error by Stanhope’s office?” *Philip Woolley 440,000 EU Joeys Campaign Director - Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc - UK representative Email:Philip@440000joeys.eu

Wagga Kangaroos

Kangaroos which reside in the Wagga district were last night given a temporary reprieve by a council standing committee after it voted against commercial culling. The Hume Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) is hoping to expand the area in which kangaroos can be commercially culled to include land surrounding the city of Wagga. The pest authority had asked Wagga City Council for in- principle support for the expansion when it makes its submission to the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. However Councillor Ray Goodlass, the chair of the standing committee, last night spoke strongly against the concept and got plenty of support when it was put to a vote. "I'm not in favour of this," Cr Goodlass said. "I don't see how it is necessary. "However accurate a marksman is, I think shooting a kangaroo in the head is inhumane."

Arguing for the case of the Hume LHPA was deputy mayor Lindsay Vidler who said the native animal was a huge problem for road users in the district. "They're out of control, causing accidents and it's not very nice hitting them," Cr Vidler said. "You should see them out on Mangoplah Road -they're fairly thick. "I'd sooner see it done this way than indiscriminate shooting." When it came to a vote, Cr Vidler was on his own in support of commercial culling. Although the standing committee's refusal to endorse Hume LHPA's proposal will no doubt be a blow to the pest authority's submission to the Department of Environment, it is still possible that it will be approved and commercial culling will become a reality in the district. *Daily Advertiser
Ed Comment; You can thank Ray Goodlass here rgoodlass@gmail.com and send a letter supporting the Committee to the Daily Advertiser here letters@dailyadvertiser.com.au

Kangaroo Punchup

A Nicholls Drive resident has had a nasty bout with a kangaroo and although she is here to tell the tale, there is no question of who came off second best. Battered and bruised, Maria Holland notified the Yass Tribune in the hours following her frightening encounter with the big grey buck - only metres from her home at 10am on Friday - in an effort to warn fellow residents about the power and presence of kangaroos in residential estates bordering the fringe of town. Ms Holland moved to Nicholls Drive in September last year and says kangaroos have long been a feature of the landscape in south Yass. A herd of the marsupials regularly congregate in grasslands at the foot of Nicholls Drive and some venture closer to homes in the area, seeking food or water. Ms Holland says she has until now enjoyed a casual yet cautious relationship with the animals. She does not feed them and has alerted the relevant authorities to their predominance.

On Friday, Ms Holland was walking her small dog on a lead in her street when she came across a large male kangaroo, which she describes as “two metres tall with saliva dripping from its mouth.” The dog became excited and pulled the lead from her grip, barking as it approached the marsupial. Fearful for her pet, Ms Holland hesitantly walked towards the kangaroo and bent down to retrieve her dog, wary of not startling the wild animal. Just as she raised her head and began to stand up, the kangaroo pushed her back down and thumped her head and torso with his powerful legs. “He was tearing at my face and my clothes and started to rip my pants off. I thought ‘I’m going to die on my own in the middle of the road with my pants down’,” Ms Holland, who did not lose her sense of humour in the ordeal, told the Tribune laughing. “I was so frightened. I really thought it was the end of me.”

The dog started barking, which distracted the kangaroo and enabled Ms Holland to get away from her attacker. She drove herself to Yass Hospital with blood all over her face and body. There she was treated for shock, whip lash and large superficial lacerations to her face and lower abdomen. “He hit me like a ton of bricks,” Ms Holland said. “I just really want to let people know because there are a lot of mothers with babies and children with dogs who walk in the area and they might not be as lucky as I was to get away. “It certainly makes me think twice about going outside and walking my dog. We definitely shouldn’t wait for a kangaroo to attack a child.” Ms Holland says the hospital staff called council’s ordinance officer who attended the area in search of the offending animal. He did not locate the kangaroo but found Ms Holland’s dog, which had fled the scene in fear, wandering around with its leash still attached.

The problem of kangaroos sharing space with urban fringe dwellers is well documented throughout Australia. It remains a delicate issue in Canberra, where many housing estates back on to nature reserves. Council’s Director of Planning and Environmental Services, Paul De Szell, says council’s hands are tied. “It’s not our jurisdiction,” he told the Tribune. “We try to help out when and where we can but we don’t have the powers to do anything about it.” Julia Crawford, area manager for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, warned Eastern Grey kangaroos are wild animals that can be very unpredictable. “It’s probably true to say that kangaroos will not attack people unless they are feeling threatened. If you get too close to them, especially if you have a dog on a lead, they can become aggressive in defending their space,” she said. “Our strongest advice to people, especially with regard to big males, is to give them a wide berth.” Ms Crawford said instances of kangaroos attacking people are generally uncommon although the problem does occur periodically.

Most attacks tend to occur in places where the animals have been hand fed, which causes them to become overly familiar with humans and thereby lose their fear of people. Typically this occurs in places such as camping and picnic grounds. “We advise people living close to mobs of kangaroos not to feed them as this leads to aggressive behaviour,” Ms Crawford said. “If people are having problems with neighbourhood kangaroos they should contact the NPWS and we’ll come and do an inspection to assess the situation.” Kangaroos are protected by law and people caught harming them can be liable to penalties. *Yass Tribune


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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......


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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


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Kangaroos - Faces in the Mob! (We recently ran out of stock of this very popular magical DVD, but now have new supplies in! Buy Now! Buy Now!....before we run out again!)

On the east coast of Australia lies a valley of magical beauty, surrounded by mountains and shrouded in mists during winter. In these idyllic surroundings live a mob of wild Eastern Grey Kangaroos whose society is rich and complex. Faces in the mob is an engaging true story of life within this one mob of Australian wild Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

For two years, award-winning Australian filmmakers Dr. Jan Aldenhoven and Glen Carruthers lived with this mob. Hear their compelling account of the world of these captivating marsupials where each animal has its own personality. Buy the DVD now with Paypal...$29.95 Au includes free postage in Australia.

http://www.kangaroo-protection-coalition.com/kangaroos-facesinthemob.html

Follow the destinies of two lovable joeys - a female named Sunshade whose mother is conscientious and successful, and Jaffa, a little male full of pluck and courage whose mother is absent-minded. And witness everything from birth to the dramatic and sometimes deadly battles between adult males.

Never before has the richness and complexity of the kangaroo society and the daily drama of their family life been revealed in such stunning detail. Superbly photographed, this beautiful story of Australia's most famous animal will captivate you from beginning to end. This is the best documentary about our beloved kangaroos that has ever been produced. Profits from sales of the DVD go to help the Kangaroo Protection Coalition to campaign for the protection of our beautiful kangaroos.

Buy the DVD now with $34.95 Au Paypal for International postage delivery. http://www.kangaroo-protection-coalition.com/kangaroos-facesinthemob.html

This DVD would make a great "All Year Round" present!