Wildlfie Bytes 28/9/10

Editorial

Willife continues to be targeted for death by those who are not prepared to learn to live with it. A story at the bottom of Wildlife Bytes about the SA kangaroo Industry shows how much trouble the kangaroo Industry is in. Now Russia has just confirmed it will not be resuming kangaroo imports, and with Australian markets falling rapidly as consumers become more aware of the health and sustainability problems, the kangaroo Industry is calling for taxpayer support to prop it up! If it wasnt for Coles and Woolworths still flogging kangaroo meat, the Industry would not exist. Please remember that when grocerey shopping ;o)

Meanwhile, the issue of dispersing the Maclean Flying Fox colony will come under the scrutiny of Federal Parliament when Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker this week moves to reintroduce a private member’s bill on the issue. Mr Hartsuyker said with Tony Burke being named the new Minister for the Environment, he trusted the government would have a more balanced approach on the issue, and allow the bats to be dispersed. Its probable that Burke (no friend of wildlife) will allow a dispersal. The school that is at the heart of the issue, was built in 1961 in the middle of the flying fox camp. Some of the teachers, and the Parents Committee, have been lobbying hard for a dipersal. We think the school should be moved, it will probably be cheaper and more effective than a dispersal attempt, which probably wont work anyway.


Lead Stories

Unmanned aircraft are flying around Shark Bay in Western Australia's mid-north coast in a trial to see whether military-style drones can help monitor and conserve marine mammals. In an Australian first, Murdoch University's Dr Amanda Hodgson has been funded by the Australian Marine Mammal Centre to investigate if Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are a useful alternative to manned aircraft for surveying marine mammals. "A huge benefit of UAV is that they eliminate human risk," she said. "We don't have to have observers flying low over large areas of ocean in small planes. "In addition, they should allow more accurate detection, location and identification of species."

Dr Hodgson has been given more than $400,000 to work with Boeing's Insitu Pacific over three years to improve their UAV camera system to conduct surveys of dugongs and humpback whales. "Large areas of the Australia coastline have never been surveyed for dugongs or humpback whales and UAVs capable of flying long distances may allow us to access these remote areas," she said. Dr Hodgson said the UAV could operate up to an altitude of 6,096 metres for up to 28 hours. Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) Shark Bay marine park coordinator Dave Holley said the project was a step forward for conservation. "Although these are early days, this project is great for conservation and it will help with DEC's ongoing obligations for monitoring and conserving marine mammals such as the internationally recognised populations of dugongs and dolphins in Shark Bay," he said. *WA News

Whales

A holiday-maker has told how he watched in horror as two men on jet skis hounded a pod of humpback whales yesterday. The man, who did not want to be identified, said the jet skiers began following the whales about 11.30am, and harassed them for about half an hour off Coolum. The whales were about 500 metres offshore. The man was unable to help as he watched the drama unfold from the balcony of his unit. “As soon as one of the whales surfaced, the jet skiers were there, waiting for them to come back up,” he said. “At one point it looked like the whales were trying to head out to sea but the jet skiers seemed to herd them back towards the shore.”

Under state and federal legislation, harassing whales is an offence punishable by fines of up to $10,000. The Coolum incident occurred days after reports that a teenager climbed on to the back of a southern right whale in Western Australia. The Western Australia incident is being investigated. It is an offence to touch a whale, feed a whale, deposit rubbish near a whale or make a noise which could disturb a whale. People are prohibited from approaching closer than 300m to a whale or a pod of whales. It is an offence to cause a whale to alter its direction, speed of travel or behaviour. *SC Daily

Crocodiles

Over 280 crocdiles have escaped from a crocodile farm in Venezuala, after weekend rain flooded the pens. Local authorities have asked residents not to go swimming for a while......


Insects

Apparently more than 1,400 different species of insects are eaten by humans in over 90 countries. Some are grilled, fried, parboiled or roasted, while others are transformed into sauces and pastes, or rolled into omelettes and baked goods. But we have to wonder how long it will be before the insects are endangered too? *WPAA

Primates

Adelaide Zoo says it does not think it should have to remove anti-palm oil posters plastered on its orangutan enclosure. The posters by international activists, the Palm Oil Action Group, suggest the palm oil industry in Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea causes the mass deaths of orangutans through loss of habitat. Malaysia's tourism minister saw the posters during a zoo visit last month. Adelaide Zoo chief executive Chris West says the posters help consumers make informed decisions about buying palm oil products. "The facts are that if you continue to cut down rain forests in habitat areas of orangutans to convert it to palm oil plantations then orangutans will disappear," he said. "We don't think that the Australian public want orangutans to disappear within five to 10 years from now." *ABC

Badger Cull Proposed

Uncertainty surrounds whether one of Britain's biggest landowners will grant permission for its tenant farmers to cull badgers. The National Trust owns more than 245,000ha (605,000 acres) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some 60% is leased to farm tenants. But as Farmers Weekly went to press, the trust was unable to say whether it would let those tenants cull badgers. The trust has previously ruled out participation in a voluntary cull on land that it manages directly in Wales, arguing that it would be counter productive and fail to make a major contribution to controlling bovine TB in cattle. A statement on the trust's website insists that the organisation is not against culling badgers. But based on the evidence from independent scientists, it does not believe it likely to be effective. "We are concerned that any significant decline in cattle TB could only be achieved through such large scale and draconian measures to reduce badger numbers as to make the option impractical, unaffordable and publicly unacceptable." Badgers that survive the cull become more mobile and could spread the disease to other badgers and cattle, the trust believes. "Culls of badgers could have a detrimental impact on farmers including National Trust tenants," says the website. * UK FWI

Climate Change

According to the NOAA Coral Reef Watch monitoring system, coral bleaching is likely in the Caribbean in 2010. With temperatures above-average all year, NOAA's models show a strong potential for bleaching in the southern and southeastern Caribbean through October that could be as severe as in 2005 when over 80 percent of corals bleached and over 40 percent died at many sites across the Caribbean. Scientists are already reporting coral bleaching at several Caribbean sites and severe bleaching has been reported from other parts of the world. *Undewater Times

Tasmania's mild summers will soon be a thing of the past, with climate researchers predicting an increase in the number of hot days and the length of heat waves. Climate researchers say by the end of this century, Tasmania will have an extra 40 to 50 days above 28 degrees. Professor Nathan Bindoff says the change is already noticeable. "Progressively, as we go out to 2100 the temperature will rise about three degrees and as a consequence of that rise the number of days which are warmer than 28 degrees, which is a pretty hot day in tasmania, will go up quite dramatically," he said. *ABC

NSW Parks Jobs to Go

Jobs are to be slashed in the NSW department that manages climate change, the environment, drinking water and national parks. Public servants in the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water have been told that dozens of workers may have to go to meet Treasury budget targets. Their union, the Public Service Association, said any job losses would threaten the government's ability to reduce bushfire risk; protect threatened species and heritage; monitor soil, water and air quality and manage national parks. The job losses come after the department already met budget cut targets under the government's Savings Implementation Plan. Union officer Geo Papas said: ''The department should be delivering what's vital to the community on the issues of air, water, noise and the environment. The more positions they keep knocking out directly involving front-line delivery, the more at risk we are as a community.'' Mr Papas said there had already been a restructure, completed in June, in the National Parks and Wildlife Service, with 40 job losses. A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Frank Sartor said all agencies had to meet annual efficiency savings. *Age

Poaching

Khanyisile Momoza, 29, was attacked and taken by a great White Shark as he harvested valuable perlemoen shells in the waters near Gansbaai in South Africa. The fisherman was among a group of 12 poachers who had tried to swim to safety after spotting the shark in shallow waters. A friend of Mr Momoza, who witnessed the attack, said: "There was screaming and crying. We just swam, we didn't look back. "We were swimming in a group but he was a bit behind us. "It jumped out of the water with him and then it took him down." Once ashore the group alerted authorities to the tragedy. Illegal harvesting of perlemoen is big business in South Africa, where the valuable shellfish are common along coastal areas. The molluscs' fleshy insides are considered a delicacy similar to oysters, and either served raw or cooked in seafood dishes. But widespread farming of the shells has sparked fears the population could plummet. In 2007 South African authorities listed the species, also known as abalone, as endangered with the global wildlife protection body CITES. The restrictions were loosened in July this year, although it remains illegal to harvest perlemeon without a licence. However hundreds of local fishermen are believed to continue to work in the illegal trade. Many poor workers risk arrest or injury to hunt for the wild shells, whose meat can be worth up to £25 a kilo. * Underwater Times.

Wild Introduced animals

Record rainfall across most of Australia means feral animals will begin to emerge, a peak research body says. Andreas Glanznig has been appointed to head the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, a $100 million-a-year research effort based at the University of Canberra. Mr Glanznig says feral animals already have a huge impact on the Australian environment. "For agriculture we're talking $700 million a year, that's led by rabbits which cost farmers alone over $200 million a year," he said. "But you've also got conservation threats posed by a range of invasive animals, headed up by foxes and their impact on mammals. You've also got a supporting act provided by cats and also then rabbits." * ABC
Ed Comment; Amazing, $100 million dollars a year to spend, and all they can come up with is bandade strategies like aerial shooting and poison.


A plan to kill thousands of wild horses in the Kimberley that sparked widespread public outrage has been cancelled by the State Government. The aerial cull of about 5000 brumbies on Lake Gregory cattle station, managed by the Aboriginal Lands Trust, was slated to go ahead next month. Indigenous Affairs Minister Kim Hames said yesterday he had weighed in to stop the kill. "A cull of wild horses had been planned, however I developed the view that I did not support the proposed cull," he said. Dr Hames credited a "passionate speech" made by Labor MP Lisa Baker as the catalyst that had galvanised his opposition to the cull. The decision was applauded by animal rights activists yesterday, who said they sent a petition signed by thousands of people protesting against the cull to Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls. More than 8000 others had sent emails and letters of protest to Dr Hames and Mr Grylls. *WANews

Fraser Island

Hervey Bay MP Ted Sorensen says he is concerned the Queensland Government is cutting back Fraser Island's maintenance budget. Mr Sorensen asked Sustainability Minister Kate Jones to provide the capital works and operational budgets for the south-east Queensland island's recreation area. Ms Jones says more than $5.7 million has been allocated under the capital works and operational budget for the 2010-2011 period. But Mr Sorensen says that is down on previous years. "The 2009-2010 budget had dropped back to $6.63 million and now for 2010-2011 budget it's dropped back to $5.7 million which is concerning to me, that's for sure," he said. Mr Sorensen says he wants assurance money generated from the island will go back to its upkeep. "If you look at those figures you'll be getting up between $7 million in revenue coming off of Fraser Island," he said. "They're not even spending the revenue that they're getting off Fraser Island back on Fraser Island." *ABC

Tweed rally

Former Tweed mayor Warren Polglase believes there is a “very strong chance” the Tweed will lose Rally Australia. Councillor Polglase has called on Tweed residents and businesses to band together with council to ensure the event, and its economic benefits, return to the shire next year. He said organised anti-rally groups were driving the event out of the area. “I have good reason to believe an online campaign by a minority of green activists, including outlandish claims about fictional native wildlife casualties, has organisers seriously considering taking the rally away from the Tweed and indeed Australia,” Cr Polglase said. “If we lose the rally we all lose economically – 1000 accommodation beds per night during the event is just one example. “It is time for the silent majority, particularly small business, to make its voice heard so organisers get a fair picture.” Cr Polglase encouraged new mayor Kevin Skinner to continue council's support of the event. “A decision on the event is coming as we need to support the rally as a council,” he said. Rally Australia chairman Alan Evans previously stated a decision on the future location of the event would be made in the coming weeks. * Tweed News
Ed Comment; The many locals who strongly objected to the Rally will be delighted if it goes somewhere else.

Freshwater Turtles

A perfect storm of habitat loss, hunting and a pet trade is decimat­ing the world’s freshwater turtle populations, according to an analysis from wildlife protection group Conservation International. Urgent action is needed to save the reptiles, say researchers affiliated with the Arlington, Va.based organization. A drop in many of the world’s turtle species, they add, is evidence that mismanagement of vital freshwater ecosystems is causing deep and damaging envi­onmental impacts that will affect people and wildlife alike. The Myanmar River turtle has seen its population plunge to fewer than a dozen mature animals due to egg collection and habitat destruction, researchers say. The last few specimens are being raised at a zoo in Mandalay, Myanmar for reintroduction. “The key problems these animals are facing are changes to their habitats – in particular because of the damming of the rivers where they live for hydro-electricity, on top of hunting for food and a very lucrative trade in rare turtles as pets,” said Peter Paul van Dijk, director of the group’s Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program. *World Science
Read More http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100915_turtles

Marine Turtles

A tropical green sea turtle is struggling for survival with a pneumonia after washing up way off course in New Zealand. Veterinarians have diagnosed the 70cm-long turtle with pneumonia and a fractured shell after she was found on Otaki Beach, near Wellington on Wednesday, suffering severe dehydration and "cold shock". Massey University's Wildlife Centre vet Kerri Morgan said the animal was critically ill. "We've never had a sea turtle," she told the Manawatu Standard on Friday. "It's very unusual for them to come this far south. "We were all relieved she was alive this morning, but she might not make it." The turtle, with flippers tapped back to fit, has been though a CT scanner normally used to test cats, dogs and lambs. It's shown up symptoms of a pneumonia. "We are going to take a biopsy of her lungs in a couple of days to find out what kind of pneumonia she has and how to treat it," Dr Morgan said. If the turtle recovers she could be sent to a New Zealand aquarium for rehabilitation, sending her back to the tropical north could be difficult. "There's biosecurity issues in taking her back to Australia," Dr Morgan said. *SC Daily. Ed Comment; Turtles are sometimes seen in the North Island, but never before has one been seen so far South.

Another Sick Turtle

A green sea turtle was spotted struggling in waters off the Port of Townsville's berth 1 in August and rescued by maintenance staff. Now named Porty and believed to be about 10 years old, he is overcoming bacterial pneumonia and kidney complications in Reef HQ's Turtle Hospital. Hospital staff said Porty would have likely died within weeks if he had not been rescued. The illnesses are common among marine turtle species seen at the hospital. Reef HQ Aquarium director Fred Nucifora said the turtle was recovering well with antibiotics. "Although we can't be sure what caused the pneumonia, we will be monitoring Porty over the next few months to ensure he recovers fully," he said. Port of Townsville environment manager Peter Smith said staff had been buoyed by the prognosis. "When Porty was first rescued the outcome seemed fairly touch-and-go," he said. "But we're now looking forward to seeing his return into the wild." The Port has donated $1250 to the turtle hospital program. Mr Nucifora said the hospital would not be able to care for sick and injured marine turtles without corporate support. Mr Smith said it was encouraging to hear workers had responded so quickly to the turtle's distress. *Townsville Bulletin

New Plant Species

Researchers have discovered rare plants growing in western Queensland that have only been recorded a few times since European settlement. A zoologist with the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM), Peter McRae, has been working with PhD student Jenny Silcock, surveying an area near Stonehenge and Yaraka in the state's central west. Dr McRae says big rain and flooding is only part of the reason behind the discoveries. "Between us we've collected a number of things that have only been recorded once or twice or three times before," he said. "Sometimes those areas haven't been collected before but also it has been an amazingly good year and those plants might only respond to this sort of event once every 20 or 30 years or whatever it might be." Dr McRae says among the discoveries was a rare prickly bush that has only been recorded once before. "Jen went into that area and found hundreds of them, so it's a plant that we don't know anything about," he said. "We've found a couple of portulacca-type things that are succulent plants with brilliant purple flowers. "These are the rare things that just pop up from time to time and we don't know much about them." *ABC

New Frog Species

The Northern Territory-based FrogWatch group says it has found a new species of frog in East Arnhem Land. FrogWatch coordinator Graeme Sawyer says the frog was first spotted a few years ago but it has taken until now to have it recognised as a new species. He says it is an exciting discovery and shows the need for more research into frog biology, especially because of the threat posed by cane toads. "It's a huge issue really that we're still discovering vertebrate species of frogs in places like the Northern Territory because we don't know so much about our wildlife and yet cane toads are already in the area where this frog was found," he said. "So the impact on their population and stuff like that we're unsure about but quite concerned about." The new species is yet to be named. *ABC

Whaling

Paul Watson, the president of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, sent word that approximately 15 pilot whales were killed Tuesday in Taiji, Japan, at the infamous ocean inlet featured in the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove. According to Watson, these are the first killings of the 2010/2011 hunting season in Taiji. Watson emailed supporters a field report from Scott West, Sea Shepherd's director of investigations, who was on site in Taiji to observe the activity at the cove.
Read more, http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/09/21/first-whale-killings-of-the-season-reported-at-infamous-japanese-cove

Sharks

Being a shark isn’t always easy. OK, you’re a top predator, but you’re also seeing your family and friends disappear every year, as fishermen haul them out of the water and cart them off to market. One of the biggest of those markets is South East Asia, where shark fin soup is a particular delicacy, but there is a huge dearth of information on fishing in the region. Now Vivian Lam and Yvonne Sadovy, of the University of Hong Kong, have used historical information and interviews with modern fishermen to produce the first historical account of the region’s shark catch. It’s a grim picture: although there are 109 species of shark historically present in the South China Sea, surveys of today’s markets found just 18 species. Of those animals that were found, 65% were below the size of sexual maturity. “Serious declines have occurred in shark biodiversity and numbers in the northern sector of the South China Sea over five decades,” the authors write in Fish and Fisheries. “From 109 species recorded in southern China in the past, to only 18 species recorded in the current market surveys, the degree of decline should be considered catastrophic.” All those interviewed in the study highlighted a drastic decline in shark abundance and diversity. They also said they had to travel further and fish harder to obtain the same amount of shark flesh. Their reports indicate that basking sharks and larger requiem sharks may even have been made locally extinct. Critically, shark fishing within Chinese waters is “unmonitored, unregulated and unmanaged” note Lam and Sadovy. *Underwater times

Flying Foxes

Thousands of flying foxes filled the skies in Sunset for most of the day yesterday. The phenomenon started on Tuesday and has not stopped since. Banks Crescent residents said they did not know why it was happening or what could be done about it. "They've been here on and off all day today and yesterday in the thousands," Nancy Wing said. Mrs Wing said she and her husband had been making various noises to disperse the flying foxes away in their backyard. "We don't want to hurt them or cause them alarm, but they're making so much mess with their droppings and they ruin the trees." Residents on the street had contacted council about the problem. Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) wildlife director Nick Rigby said the department had been made aware of the problem. "Flying foxes visit the Mount Isa area each year in search of food. Mount Isa City Council has lodged an application with DERM to disperse them," he said. Mr Rigby said given a number of residents showed concern, representatives of DERM would process the application as soon as possible. *Northwest Star

Echidnas

An echidna mum in Darwin is lucky to be alive and able to care for her new-born baby after being attacked by a dog. The echidna had been mauled in a Palmerston backyard and was taken to the ARK Animal Hospital with bite wounds. Head vet and practice principal Dr Stephen Cutter said during the surgery his team discovered an empty pouch. "We anaesthetised her to examine her properly and discovered she had an empty pouch and was lactating," he said. "That means she had a little baby somewhere out there which she needed to care for." The vet said he put special effort into a quick treatment for the injured mum to release her back to where she was found. "Echidna mothers leave their babies hidden while they go to find food and come back to feed them," he said. "She was treated quickly and the same day we released her back where she was found," Dr Cutter said. "Hopefully she found her baby again." *NTNews

Kangaroo

Kangaroo cabanossi. That's just one product that the south west based Maranoa Kangaroo Harvesters and Growers Cooperative has developed in a bid to diversify and become more profitable. The Queensland winner of the 2010 Rural Women's Award is using her title to implement a new business strategy for the group. Sharyn Garrett, from Mitchell, won the annual $10,000 bursary to help find ways to improve the branding of kangaroos and the sustainability of harvesting. Ms Garrett expects a new line of small goods products, developed by a local processor, to be a hit. "People do like the product and I think there might be a real market for this type of product which is kangaroo cabanossi, prosciutto, jerky those sorts of products for even gourmet hampers for international delegates that type of thing." *ABC

Fires

A group of ecology experts has assembled in Canberra to form a national response team that will assess damage immediately after a major bushfire. The interstate team will make rapid judgements about the extent of environmental damage after major fires like those in Victoria and Canberra, and offer timely advice to government authorities about remediation. The team includes experts in soil, forestry, wildlife and geographical systems. Dr Margaret Kitchin formed the group after working with a United States team in the wake of the Victorian fires. Dr Kitchin says there were many examples where the work of the group contributed to rehabilitating damaged areas and bringing back wildlife like the leadbeater possum. "The team got into some areas that had been really affected by the fires - totally scorched trees and loss of habitat - and identified that putting in possum boxes for the leadbeater possum could actually help with the habitat," she said. "Parks Victoria rapidly implemented that and provided that, so leadbeater possum has had some recovery in that area." Dr Kitchin says the response team is based on similar teams operating in the US and Canada. "We've come up with one that we think is appropriate for Australia - it's about seven or eight people and it's really working on the key parts of the environment," she said. *ABC

Birds

Florida wildlife officers have removed a burrowing owl from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The tiny and protected owl had made a home inside the ship's mini-golf course, on the upper deck. Crew members called the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for help relocating the bird. Commission spokesman David Bingham says the owl was safely moved to an open field in western Broward County. Florida burrowing owls are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. *Miami Herald

WildlifeCalendars

Seeing as all who bought my fundraising calendar last year commented on how fantastic it was (a HUGE thank you for your support), I decided to have another one printed (professionally) in the hope that it will sell as well or even better! It was a real task having to choose only 12 photos but I think it should appeal to all. I sure hope so anyway. The 2011 calendar photo's can be seen on my website under All Other Stuff!! http://wildwoodwildlife.com.au/ All animals have been in care at Wildwood Wildlife Shelter. It's an A3 size wall calendar, good quality paper with much bolder print than last year, it has all the holidays and moon cycles and all the proceeds go directly to helping our unique wildlife. I am currently bottle feeding 17 Joey's, that's about 6 litres of formula a day (and rising) so it's a huge cost. PLEEEEASE buy a calendar. They would make a great Christmas present. Please forward this to anyone and everyone you think might be interested. Cost is $25 plus postage. Please email me with your order and preferred method of payment, thanks. Pam Turner, Shelter Operator, Wildwood Wildlife Shelter, 4241 Moyston-Dunkeld Road, Glenthompson.Vic. 3293 Phone: 03 55774343 *Network Item

Wombats

In a real-life fairytale, an American millionaire has bequeathed $8 million to the Mannum-based Wombat Awareness Organisation. "We are still in shock, we're still waiting for someone to say the money's not coming," director Brigitte Stevens said yesterday. "It's unbelievable really, we're just blown away." The millionaire, whose family has requested anonymity, unexpectedly visited the team of volunteers about two years ago to see the southern hairy-nosed wombats in the wild. "I took him out into the wild population and showed him wombats with mange, wombats that were starving to death and wombats with burrows from motorbike tyres," she said. The millionaire, who worked in the horse-racing industry, was captivated by the volunteers' tireless efforts to save what may be becoming an endangered icon.
Ms Stevens - who works to help pay bills, including last year's $70,000 vet fees - wants to buy two properties in the Murraylands and run a 24-hour free vet advice phone clinic. However, with the bequest being delivered over eight years, and the first $1 million instalment due only next year, she says they still need money. "We still really need SA support from people, because we could be waiting 12 months for the money and we're really struggling," she said. *AdelaideNow

Primates

German scientists said they had discovered a new rare and endangered ape species in the tropical rainforests between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia by its distinctive song. The new type of crested gibbon, one of the most endangered primate species in the world, is called the northern buffed-cheeked gibbon or Nomascus annamensis, a statement from the German Primate Centre (DPZ) said. "The discovery of a new species of ape is a minor sensation," said Christian Roos from the DPZ. "An analysis of the frequency and tempo of their calls, along with genetic research, show that this is, in fact, a new species." The distinctive song "serves to defend territory or might even be a precursor of the music humans make," the statement added. The male of the new species is covered with black fur that appears silver in sunlight. His chest is brownish and his cheeks deep orange-golden in colour. The females are orange-beige in colour.

Crested gibbons are found only in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and southern China. Scientists had assumed there were six different species but the recent discovery takes the number to seven. Gibbons have become endangered due to illegal hunting. "Gibbons are kept as cute pets, or they are eaten, or they are processed into traditional medicines," said the DPZ. Many species number only around 100 individuals, said Roos. Scientists currently have "absolutely no idea" how many of the new species might be alive, but are conducting further study to determine this, he said. Like orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos, gibbons belong to the apes, man's closest relative. "Only if we know where which species is found and how many individuals there are can we start with serious conservation actions," added the scientist. News of the discovery was published in the Vietnamese Journal of Primatology. *AFP

Snakes

Brown tree snakes infest forests on the Pacific island of Guam, but now authorities are taking their battle against the reptiles to the skies. The US department of agriculture is dropping dead mice injected with poisonous chemicals onto forests to provide deadly snacks for the snakes. It has also stepped up trapping to prevent the snakes from hitching a ride on boats and aircraft to other Pacific islands. The snakes have wiped out the island's native population of forest birds since being accidentally introduced to Guam more than 50 years ago. They also cause millions of dollars in damage and power shortages when they become entangled in electric wires. The US department of agriculture's assistant state director of wildlife services in the Pacific, Dan Vice, told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat that officials had previously used detector dogs to track the snakes. "In the last five years we have also received the official go-ahead from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use an oral toxicant... as a poison for brown tree snakes and we are working on developing the technology to deliver this toxicant aerially," he said.

This targets more inaccessible blocks of terrain where snake populations are quite large, Mr Vice said. He said a mouse corpse was attached to a flotation system so it would "float relatively slowly to the ground and actually hang up in the forest canopy". "What we want to do is keep the bait from hitting the ground, actually keep them in the tree so that the snake, which lives in the trees, will be virtually the only thing that can get to that bait," Mr Vice said. This protects other species and prevents bait falling into crevices or otherwise missing the snakes, Mr Vice added. "We're putting radio transmitters in some of the baits. When we drop them, we can go out and find them in the forest and then we can track them and we can determine what actually happens to them," Mr Vice said. A pilot study of 10 radio-equipped mouse corpses found snakes ate a proportion of the bait and the native wildlife of Guam had become a little safer. "We're anticipating moving this project forward in the coming years," Mr Vice said. "So we were out testing our navigation system and testing the bait delivery and all of the things that we need to do to make sure that the system works before we go on a larger scale." *Radio Australia

Possums

Tasmanian butchers, shooters and natural clothing retailers hope a new plan for the commercial harvest of brushtail possums will create a niche industry and stop thousands of animals being shot and wasted. The Federal Government is considering a draft management plan for the harvesting and export of more than 100,000 Tasmanian brushtail possums each year. Last year about 380,000 possums were killed in the name of crop protection but possum products have not been exported from Tasmania since 2004, when the last management plan expired. Butcher Peter Byers, from Campbell Town's Butler's Butchery which is already famous for its "stag snags", tried roasted possum when he was in New Zealand. "The meat goes white like chicken and I enjoyed it. Mind you, the New Zealand possums only eat pine trees, not eucalypts, and that can change the flavour," Mr Byers said. But he reckons Tasmanian consumers would snap up certain cuts of local possum if it was available. "People would buy it and try it, that's for sure," Mr Byers said. "There are thousands which are killed each year. Why not eat them. "I would sell possum meat if a licensed processor offered it."

Outside Tasmania, there is a growing market for possum skins for clothing and hats in New Zealand and a market for possum meat has emerged in China. Tasmanian Field and Game Association president Peter Darke said Tasmania had a sound possum-skin market in in the 1980s. "But now when possum numbers are so high, I have heard stories about shooters culling 3000 possums in one year and leaving the carcasses in the bush to rot. What a total waste," Mr Darke said. The number of permits issued by the Department of Primary Industry, Parks, Water and Environment, fell to zero in 2008 and 2009. But in the 10 years from 1998 it issued permits to export 292,432kg of whole possum carcasses or meat, 2262kg of possum fur and 10,561 skins. The new owner of the Tasmanian Woollen Company in Salamanca Place, Judy Blackburn, said she stocked imported possum clothing but hoped a new commercial plan would allow her to finally stock Tasmanian products.

A full possum jumper or jacket can cost between $200-$500 while socks and gloves start at under $30. "I would stock it with pride, local product is what this business is about," Ms Blackburn said. Under the draft plan, brushtail possums can be taken under permit by spotlight shooting, trapping and destroying on site, or trapping for transport and slaughter by a licensed processor. The use of snares or steel-jawed traps is prohibited under the Animal Welfare Act. The Tasmanian Greens have already called on Environment Minister David O'Byrne to ensure the final draft plan addresses animal welfare concerns and risks to regional possum populations. Mr O'Byrne told Parliament it was important to get the balance right to ensure possums were not harvested to excess under any new commercial plan. * Mercury

Sharks

Scientists are circling cage-diving operators as they try to find out how regular visits from tourists are affecting the behaviour of great white sharks. Shark ecologist Dr Charlie Huveneers, from the South Australian Research and Development Institute and Flinders University, is leading the study. The study aims to ensure cage-diving is safe for both the tourists and the sharks because great whites are a protected species threatened with extinction. He said both of the existing tour operators used berley - a mixture of tuna blood, mince and offcuts - and baits to attract sharks without feeding them. Preliminary research, in Australia and overseas, suggests sharks lose interest over time. "The shark seems to come close to the boat for the first three or four days," he said. "After that they don't seem to be attracted by the berley as much." So far the team has tagged eight white sharks between 3m and 4.5m long. They will track up to 20 sharks at the Neptune Islands, 75km from Port Lincoln, to see how their behaviour changes when tour boats are close by.

Fisheries Minister Michael O'Brien said the study would be used to help manage future growth in the industry. "The white shark cage-diving industry at the Neptune Islands attracts a large amount of tourism to South Australia and Port Lincoln," he said. "However, the impacts of such activities are still poorly understood, and there is a need to investigate how berleying might affect white shark behaviour and movements. It is important to ensure that this industry is sustainable and that it does not negatively impact on the white shark population frequenting the Neptune Islands." Andrew Fox, from the Fox Shark Research Foundation, said he was careful not to spend too much time with the sharks. "We want to make sure we're doing the right thing by the sharks and not interfering with their natural way of life," he said. "If you have a lot of boats going out every day, you can see it would be easy to have a circus-like mentality, where you're ringing the dinner bell and banging on the boat, trying to get their attention again and again throughout the day, so everybody can have their `wow' factor." *AdelaideNow

Climate Change

The Australian Greens have secured a deputy chair position on a new parliamentary climate change committee, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced. The committee will receive independent advice from four experts - Ross Garnaut, Will Steffen, Rod Sims and Patricia Faulkner. Ms Gillard will chair the committee while Climate Change Minister Greg Combet and Greens climate spokeswomen Christine Milne will serve as co-deputy chairs. Ms Gillard said the committee would start from the position that a carbon price was required to reduce pollution and encourage investment in low-emission technologies. Labor will invite two members of the coalition to sit on the committee. There will also be two Greens and representation from the independent MPs. Independent Tony Windsor already has indicated his willingness to be a member of the committee. "Parliamentary members of the committee will be drawn from those who are committed to tackling climate change and who acknowledge that effectively reducing carbon pollution by 2020 will require a carbon price," Ms Gillard said.

The multi-party committee will report to Cabinet through Mr Combet. Its deliberations would be "broadly limited" to the issue of carbon pricing, Ms Gillard said. The committee will consider mechanisms for introducing a carbon price, including a broad-based emissions trading scheme, carbon levy, or a hybrid of both. Under the committee's terms of reference, decisions will be reached by consensus. However, if no agreement can be reached, the decision will be put before Cabinet. The committee will meet regularly, usually monthly, until the end of 2011, at which time the ongoing need for its existence will be considered. Its deliberations and papers it considers will remain confidential to the committee and the Cabinet until a final position is agreed or all parties to the committee agree otherwise. Greens leader Bob Brown, who will be a member of the committee, said there was widespread concern about climate change. "We will be consulting with the community when we go down the line and it's clearly not a case of winner takes all," he said. "We are working in the service of the nation to get the best outcome." * Daily Telegaph

Climate Change Committee Announced

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has unveiled the line-up of the new multi-party climate change committee that will investigate ways to put a price on carbon. Ms Gillard will chair the committee which will also consist of Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet, Greens senators Bob Brown and Christine Milne and independent MP Tony Windsor. Senator Milne will serve as co-deputy chair. The committee will report directly to Cabinet and will meet in the Cabinet room, meaning its deliberations will be kept secret until the Government chooses to release details of any decisions. It will consider how to put a price on carbon either by a tax, an emissions trading scheme, a levy or a mixture of several measures. The Coalition has also been invited to put two of its MPs on the committee despite Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's insistence that no Coalition MP would be doing so.

Opposition climate change spokesman Greg Hunt also says that will not be happening. "This committee, which was announced today, is repugnant because it has a test that somebody must sign up to a preordained outcome," he said. "I am not aware, and we are not aware, of any such belief test on a parliamentary committee in the last 110 years." Climate change economist Professor Ross Garnaut, climate scientist Professor Will Steffen, Rod Sims and Patricia Faulkner will also be on the committee as expert advisers. Mr Sims is the chair of the independent price regulator for electricity in NSW, while Ms Faulkner will advise on price impacts on households. Ms Gillard says it is imperative to put a price on carbon to give business certainty. "This isn't easy but we intend to work through and tackle the question of reducing carbon pollution and how we deal with a price on carbon," she said.

Ms Gillard extended the invitation to the Coalition to join the committee with the caveat that they must agree climate change is real and that a carbon price is needed. "We are saying very clearly to the Coalition that we would ask them to work in good faith with this committee," she said. "He shouldn't seek to wreck this and he shouldn't seek to fearmonger about it." Senator Brown says the nation will be happy the committee is up and running. "There is widespread and popular concern about climate change," he said. "This is different politics. This is constructive. This is positive." Senator Brown says all options for a carbon price will be up for negotiation. "I don't see any matter that's beyond us talking over and trying to find common ground on, but we will have expertise in the room which is going to help facilitate this being a very informed committee," he said. The committee will meet once a month, starting next month, until the end of 2011 when its existence will be reconsidered. Professor Garnaut, who authored the Government's white paper on climate change in the last term of Parliament, will also be asked to update his review.

The committee also has to decide whether Ms Gillard's unpopular Citizens' Assembly on climate change announced during the election campaign would be established. Under former prime minister Kevin Rudd Labor committed to an emissions tradings scheme but shelved the policy in April and Ms Gillard has now indicated a carbon tax could be an option. The Coalition rejects a tax and a trading scheme and only supports direct-action measures. *ABC

Kangaroos

South Australia's kangaroo meat industry is struggling to recover from years of drought, a ban on imports by one of its biggest markets and a licensing system for shooters heavy on red tape and fees.
With kangaroo numbers expected to leap on the back of a great season in pastoral South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, the Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia is calling for support from pastoralists to ensure populations remain in check. KIAA president Ray Borda, Macro Meats, Adelaide, says competition for sheep and cattle feed from kangaroos will rapidly increase in the next 18 months. "If we are really going to get ahead of the game we need to be preparing for it now," he said. "If pastoralists are serious about having a shooting program and seeing it continue and be sustainable, the pastoralists really need to put their weight behind the industry. "The kangaroo industry needs to get closer to beef and lamb. It is never going to threaten beef and lamb because we can't do the numbers." A lower harvest in SA in 2010 is likely to be attributed to a range of factors affecting the industry including:

Reduced population due to previous drought effects, Effects of the global financial crisis, New meat hygiene requirements, Low skin prices, Field processors pursuing other work opportunities, such as mining, Low financial returns and increasing operating costs, Recent rain preventing field processors from operating, Kangaroos more evenly dispersed across the landscape due rainfall events, making it harder for field processors to harvest numbers. (Ed. and shooting of course! )

John Wilkinson, Kootaberra Station, Port Augusta, said unless there was a viable industry, kangaroo numbers would not be controlled which is why shooters were vital in controlling numbers and reducing grazing pressure. "If we have not got a viable industry, it will become our problem to keep numbers at a respectable level," he said. He said shooting also preserves the kangaroo population so it does not get to plague proportions and drastic measures need to be taken, such as the camel cull in central Australia. Kootaberra has had a resident full-time kangaroo shooter for six years, living on property and covering the local area. Aside from the expected population boom, Mr Borda said SA shooters have "the toughest job in Australia" because of years of drought, limited infrastructure, greater distances to travel from towns, and the nation's highest licence fees and tag prices. "The SA side of the industry used to be where I got 100 per cent of my product from, now it is only about 10pc," he said. He said demand would increase for kangaroo shooters in South Australia on the back of recent good rains and good feed providing a favourable breeding environment for kangaroos. SA Stock Journal