Vale Dr Alan Wilson
Last week we received the very sad news that Dr. Alan Wilton, Patron of the "Save the Fraser Island Dingoes" organisation, lost his battle with cancer. Associate Professor Alan Wilton was from the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at The University of New South Wales. Alan was a prominent Australian geneticist, and was passionate about dingoes. He consulted with dingo conservation groups and government agencies about the hybridisation problem that may drive the dingo to extinction. He was awarded the Australian Science Communicators Unsung Hero of Science award in 2004 for his work in identifying genetic markers that can be used to discriminate between pure dingoes and hybrids and was Patron of the Bargo Dingo Sanctuary. Alan developed DNA testing as part of his canine disease research, which led to US and Australian patents. He provided genetic advice to dog breeders and developed DNA testing to work towards eliminating disease from breeds, particularly Border Collies. Alan, who was 56, was engaged to Dr Barbara Zangerl and they had planned to marry on Sunday 16 October 2011. *WPAA
Leading Article....Earthwatch Needs Help
Help volunteer and protect Melbourne Microbats & Manly's Long Nosed Bandicoots.
Families and volunteers are needed to help in a range of family and individual research teams. For those in Melbourne join an overnight expedition inside the Royal Botanical Gardens to help locate and record what number of Microbats are in the gardens and determine what impacts our urban landscape are having on these elusive bats. Family teams are also available for children ages 10+ to join their parents. Only $59 for children and $89 for adults with breakfast, snacks and accommodation all included. Dates start from November 4th through to March 3rd.
For those in Sydney spend either a day or a weekend out in North Head Sanctuary helping protect the Bandicoots from predators by luring traps to record them on camera. The weekend camping team is running on November 18th-20th and also gets to stay overnight inside the Sanctuary as well as getting up close to these rare animals on the twilight spotlight walks. Total cost is $49 for day teams and $195/$155 for the camping weekend. Dates run November and December only. To find out more information, available dates or to make a booking call Kirsty Richardson at Earthwatch on 03 9682 6828 or email krichardson@earthwatch.org.au More information can also be found on Earthwatch's website: http://www.earthwatch.org.au
Another Ghost Net Found
Crocodiles, sharks, turtles, dugongs and fish are among the victims of deadly ghost nets like this half-tonne killer found snagged on a reef at the Cobourg Peninsula. The 500kg loose fishing net was retrieved from a reef 50m off Smith Point by NT Parks and Wildlife rangers, last week. GhostNets Australia project officer Grace Heathcoat gave an update on the floating menace in Darwin at the Territory Natural Resource Management and Landcare forum, revealing 1042 nets had been found in Territory waters this year alone. Local fishermen are not believed to be at fault as 90 per cent of ghost nets come from international waters. "Ghost nets don't just kill marine creatures, if they settle on a coral reef they can smother the coral and can be a safety hazard for boats," she said.
Indigenous sea rangers, NT Fisheries and Parks and Wildlife rangers retrieve the nets from 1500km of coastline, with the average net size in a recent clean up being less than 50kg. *NT News
Birds
Scientists studying seabirds are pushing for the establishment of a feather bank. Until now, the only way to collect any information from seabirds like albatross or petrels has been attach satellite trackers to their legs when they come to shore to breed. However, the Australasian Seabird Group says wing feathers amass a large amount of data through absorbing isotopes from their environment. Group secretary Nick Carlile says as seabirds grow new feathers to replace those lost during moulting, the isotopes are trapped and can be analysed to reveal new information about their activities through the non-breeding period. "We can work out whether it's living in contaminated seas, we can work out whether it's feeding on something at the top of the foodchain or the bottom of the foodchain, we can even work out whether during that non-breeding season it's feeding on the same species of fish, perhaps but different populations." Interested people need to be registered by the Australasian Seabird Group to collect specimens as seabirds are protected species in all states. To register contact the Feather Bank representative for each state. *ABC
Turtles
Work is under way to develop a prototype highway to help turtles navigate man-made barriers in rivers, creeks and weirs. The $4 million project, funded by the Queensland government, aims to aid turtle migration. The Tartrus Weir, on the Mackenzie River north-west of Rockhampton, has been chosen as the site to develop the turtleway prototype, which will be followed by a two-year monitoring program. Bulk water supplier SunWater will lead the research, design and construction of the prototype with the help of the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management. "The research and development project will investigate the design, development and installation of passages to allow turtles to migrate safely over a range of structures," Environment Minister Vicky Darling said in a statement today. She said the project would particularly follow the movements of the threatened white-throated snapping turtle and the Fitzroy River turtle species found in the Mackenzie River system. *AAP
Mountain Possums
''I hope you're sitting down,'' the email sent to Marissa Parrott last week began. As the reproductive biologist at Zoos Victoria read on, she discovered why. The email contained the results of a much-anticipated paternity test on Healesville Sanctuary's precious population of mountain pygmy possums. The results showed that the tiny alpine possums, listed as endangered in Victoria and critically endangered internationally, were capable of doing what Dr Parrott had hoped for but had never seen any evidence of - producing a litter fathered by two males. ''We're all extremely excited,'' Dr Parrott said. ''It's a huge step forward in the conservation of the species.'' But there was more to come. The paternity tests conducted at Melbourne University also proved for the first time that hybrid males were fertile - providing a vital new path for boosting the species' genetic diversity. * Age
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/animals/hybrid-mountain-pygmies-hold-hope-of-a-bright-future-20111016-1lriq.html#ixzz1bAjEOwuO
Orangutans
A rare Sumatran orang-utan born at Perth Zoo will be released into a protected rainforest in Indonesia as part of an international program to save the species from extinction. The six-year-old male named Semeru will become the first zoo-born male orang-utan in the world to be released into the wild. It follows the success of Temara, a female Sumatran orang-utan also born in Perth Zoo and released into Bukit Tigapuluh National Park in Sumatra in November 2006. Semeru - chosen for release based on his temperament and age - will be flown to Indonesia on October 16 and spend two weeks in quarantine before he is released into the same park.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/rare-orangutan-to-be-released-into-wild-20111013-1lmod.html#ixzz1amy8Fyqm
Koala shot seven times
A sickening act of animal cruelty is believed responsible for a koala found overnight with seven slug gun pellets lodged in its body. The male koala, found at a remote location at Kippa-Ring on Brisbane's northside, had been callously shot in every limb sometime last week. The six-year-old will today be operated on at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, where staff have nicknamed him Fleet. Vet Dr Amber Gillett, who examined Fleet last night, placed him on intravenous antibiotics, strong pain relief and fluids. She said she was angry the koala had suffered such "immense cruelty". "Every limb has been shot," she said. "He's been shot from every side. "It's just an immense cruelty to picture someone standing there taking pot-shots as this animal as he tries to move away from them - it's just horrible. "Although they're only little slug pellets, if these people got close enough, they could do serious damage. "If one had gone through his eye it could have been a completely different story."
Fleet was believed to have been found by Department of Environment and Resource Management officers who were surveying bushland at Kippa-Ring yesterday afternoon. The Australia Zoo Rescue Unit retrieved the injured animal about 4pm and it was last night examined at the Wildlife Hospital in Beerwah. Dr Gillett said Fleet, who has large cuts on his face and foot, had been suffering with his wounds for up to a week. She said: "The wounds are infected and usually it would take at least four to five days for infection like this to set in, so I suspect the injury may have happened about a week ago. "The big laceration on his nose I suspect is a graze injury, so a pellet has taken away the tissue but hasn't lodged anywhere. He has an entry point on the top of his nose, behind the big laceration, so I suspect that's where the bullet in the sinus went in."
Dr Gillett said she would today remove the other pellets, which were not lodged too deeply. "Tomorrow (Friday) we'll assess him and see how he is," she said. "If he's stable and bright I'll attempt to remove the superficial pellets at the back of the ear and elbow. "The one in his skull will stay where it is forever, it's too deep to go poking round to try to remove it." Environment Minister Vicky Darling said she was sickened by the act. "I am absolutely appalled by this," she said. "I hope whoever is responsible for injuring this animal has the book thrown at them. "I would urge anyone who knows anything about it to contact police." Under the Nature Conservation Act, the maximum penalty for harming a koala is $300,000 or two years' imprisonment. Police have been called in to investigate. *Courier Mail
Dolphins
A unique pod of rare Australian dolphins could be wiped out by a coal port planned for an island just off the central Queensland coast, WWF Australia warns. Researchers believe the 70-strong snubfin dolphin population at the mouth of the Fitzroy River, 40km north of Gladstone, is genetically distinct from other Australian snubfins. The native snubfin, discovered in 2005, inhabits rivers and coasts of northern Australia and is believed to be rare.
The WWF says an Xstrata coal port planned for Balaclava Island on the mouth of the Fitzroy River could easily wipe out the local snubfin population over the next 10 to 20 years. "Even just the loss of just one dolphin per year is enough to trigger the extinction of that local population," WWF spokesman Richard Leck said.
The dolphins currently feed in the relatively pristine coastal mangroves of Balaclava Island, Mr Leck said. "The unfortunate situation is that the habitat they rely on is exactly the type of habitat that's likely to be destroyed or significantly damaged by the Balaclava Island development," he said. What's more, he expects the Australian snubfin dolphin to be declared a threatened species shortly. Xstrata's environmental impact statement for its Balaclava Island coal port is expected to be released early next year. Mr Leck said the port would almost certainly have an impact on local marine life. "When you're seeing how badly the health is in Gladstone Harbour at the moment the last thing we want to be doing is having that type of impact up and down the coastline," he said. "At some point you have to say right, we just can't keep industrialising the whole Great Barrier Reef coastline." * AAP
Climate Change
A marine research charity has confirmed a small whale spotted near Penzance was a dwarf sperm whale. The animal, little more than the size of a porpoise, swam into Mounts Bay, in west Cornwall, on Sunday. Dr Peter Evans, Director of Sea Watch, said the species had never previously been recorded off the UK coast. The confirmation means that 29 species of cetaceans have now been recorded in UK and Irish waters. Scientists know little about the whale. The whale was spotted on the beach and the sighting then reported to the coastguard and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust strandings officer, Jan Loveridge. A member of the public then managed to re-float the animal, which subsequently swam away. Dr Peter Evans said: "Pictures of the Penzance whale show it to be dwarf sperm whale, its fin being large and almost triangular. "This species has been recorded on only a handful of occasions in Europe, including Spain and France, and never in Britain or Ireland. "It is just one of the increasing number of records of warm water species to be turning up around the British Isles in recent years." To little is known about the dwarf sperm whale,other than it is listed as 'data deficient' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Meanwhile, divers have recorded a species of prawn and fish off Devon and Cornwall for the first time, the Marine Conservation Society has said. The black faced blenny and the anemone prawn were found during the summer as divers surveyed the coastline. In 2011, the blenny was photographed off the Lizard, and the prawn was seen off Babbacombe, the society said. Both species have recently arrived in the UK and have spread along the south coast of England, the society added. Chris Wood, from the Marine Conservation Society, said "They seem to be spreading in suitable habitats along the coast." Both species are found in shallow seas around mainland Europe, but Mr Wood said he was unsure how they arrived off the English coast. "They clearly find the water warm enough to survive, which may not have been the case in the past." Both species were found during the summer months by volunteer divers The society said that the blenny and prawn were first seen in British waters in Dorset. The blenny was first discovered in 1977, and the prawn in 2007, it added. Volunteer divers from the Seasearch programme made the discoveries. The project is co-ordinated by the Marine Conservation Society. *BBC
Whaling
As the Steve Irwin approached the equator last week, word that Japan would be sending a strengthened whaling fleet to Antarctica next month reached the bridge of the old Aberdeen-built customs vessel. The crew of activists on board cheered, as their veteran leader, Captain Paul Watson, resigned himself to his eighth "whale war" among the icebergs and 100mph winds of the Southern ocean.
Captain Paul Watson gives the Guardian's environment editor John Vidal a tour of the Steve Irwin Link to this audio
Watson, on what is nearly his 350th voyage in nearly 40 years defending whales and other marine wildlife at the helm of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, is sending three ships to intercept, chase and harass the Japanese. He promises "aggressive non-violence", while the Japanese, still smarting from last year's humiliation when their fleet took only a fifth of its planned whale catch, say they will heighten security and take an armed government fisheries patrol vessel.
"We intend to carry out the [whale] research after enhancing measures to assure that the fleet is not obstructed," said fisheries minister, Michihiko Kano.
The two fleets expect to meet in the Antarctic whale sanctuary before Christmas and will shadow and confront each other for at least 12 weeks. Both have helicopters and water cannon. In addition, the Steve Irwin has iron spikes to prevent the Japanese from boarding, and Watson's crew has a store of vile-smelling butyric acid stink bombs to fling aboard any vessel that comes close. Both fleets are expected to wage a media and diplomatic battle, as well as engage in a dangerous physical tussle on the high seas.
But it was Australia, which fired the first diplomatic shots, this week condemning Japan and urging it not to send its fleet. "There is widespread concern in the international community at Japan's whaling programme and widespread calls for it to cease", said foreign minister, Kevin Rudd, this week. Australia last year took Japan to the international court of justice seeking an end to the harpooning which it conducts under a "scientific" loophole.
Read more http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/18/whale-war-japan-antarctica?newsfeed=true
Ed Comment; and that's all the Australian Government will do....just a bit of bluster...the whalers must be laughing their heads off....
Loggiing
The massive log stockpiles at Bridgewater and Leslie Vale (South Tasmania) started to shrink yesterday as the first trucks rolled northward, thanks to a government freight subsidy. There are around 39,000 tonnes of logs in the two stockpiles and in forest landings in the state's South, some of it destined for China but the logs were left stranded by the ongoing impasse over the reopening of the Triabunna woodchip mill. Over coming weeks, the entire stockpile will head north by road for export via Bell Bay, with some of the stockpile going to China as Forestry Tasmania opens up a new market for peeler logs that can't be processed in Tasmania. The leftover logs represent a significant loss of income thanks to the impasse that has dogged the southern Tasmanian timber industry for months since millionaire environmentalists Jan Cameron and Graeme Wood bought Gunns' Triabunna mill.
Without the income from woodchip exports, the industry has lost a valuable source of additional income. One million dollars in government freight subsidies announced this week means around $6 million in income will flow to forest and haulage contractors and their employees up to Christmas. Forestry Tasmanian chief operating officer Mike Farrow says being able to shift the logs was a big boost for the industry. "You can see the extent of the problem we've got here so the announcement by the Government will certainly help," he said. "The Triabunna solution is something we're obviously going to need to look at in the longer term. Right now we're focusing on moving logs. "It will help with cashflows for harvesting contractors, it will help the transport contractors as well, it will deliver an immediate solution. *Mercury
Fraser Island Blasted
An international newspaper with an audience of millions has labelled Fraser Island "a certified no-go zone". Listing deadly dangers that would have Bear Grylls trembling with fear, Britain's Telegraph has claimed the iconic island is home to "one of the worlds most dangerous beaches". The newspapers website, one of the country's most popular with 1.7 million daily readers, fearfully features Fraser on its home page. Headed the "travel editors choice" the page has been tweeted, "liked", and shared by hundreds globally. Detailing six killer reasons to avoid the island, the site warns would-be travellers with this chilling yet amusing account: "The seas surrounding Fraser Island, to the south-east of Queensland, are a certified no-go zone. "That is unless you mind swimming with sharks, saltwater crocodiles and box jellyfish, while battling strong rip currents. "Head inland and you're likely to bump into some of the world's deadliest spiders, as well as dingoes, which are known to occasionally attack humans."
Ever proud of our World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, The Chronicle would like to allay fears any concerned Cornwallians, terrified Tottenhamites or looting Londoners may have. We welcome all international visitors with open arms, particularly pasty-white, long-suffering Poms. To ensure our forbears survive their stay we offer the following timely tips: If you leave snakes, spiders and dingoes alone, they will return the favour. The last crocodile to be seen on Fraser Island was of the plastic, blow-up variety. As for sharks, stingers and rips, swim in patrolled areas, under the watchful eye of a bronzed, chiselled guard and all will be fine. Those planning a trip to England and similarly concerned about personal safety may want to consider the following travel alert: "The land that makes up England, to the west of continental Europe, is a certified no-go zone. "That is unless you like crowded, dirty cities, drinking warm beer, or battling rioters on the High Street. "Head inland and you're likely to sample some of the world's most miserable food, weather that is even worse, and whinging and whining like you would not believe." *Fraser Cost Chronicle
Kangaroos
A South West (WA) woman who was mauled by a kangaroo has described her survival as a miracle. Janet Karson, of Deanmill near Manjimup, suffered multiple cuts to her neck, ears and back when she was attacked while walking her dogs in bush off Muir Highway near Kunandra Road on Saturday. She needed more than 20 stitches to her ears and was told that had she been in Perth, she might have undergone plastic surgery. "I decided to take my three dogs for a walk as it was a lovely day - at least it was to start with," Ms Karson said. "I went off the main track and suddenly this big kangaroo jumped out from nowhere and one of my dogs chased after it. "I could hear her barking and then it stopped so I thought she must be in trouble and I ran after her." Ms Karson said her blue heeler was being bear-hugged by the kangaroo when she arrived at the scene behind her other dogs. She went to rescue her pet and that's when the kangaroo attacked. "I used a stick to lever its claws off my dog and then it reared up in front of me - it was huge. All I can remember is its claws going to work on me and the smell of my own blood when my head fell on to its chest. "I thought, 'That's it, I'm finished'. It all happened so quickly, it was over in a few seconds. "Either the dogs fought it off or I was lucky, but it just hopped off. I honestly believe it's a miracle I'm alive." Ms Karson said that despite her horrific injuries, her first thought was for her animals so she staggered back to her vehicle and drove home to tend to them. It was not until a friend came to her house shortly afterwards that she agreed to go to hospital. "I don't have any hard feelings for the roo. Maybe it was a female protecting her joey," she said. *WA News
Gladstone Harbor Pollution
The mystery of the Gladstone fish disease outbreak continues, with scientists focusing on a parasitic flatworm and about 300 tonnes of barramundi that spilled into the Boyne River last summer from Awoonga Dam. Many of these fish have since become infested with the common saltwater parasite. The Gladstone Area Water Board estimated 30,000 barramundi of about a metre in length were swept over Awoonga's 25m wall from December to March after flood rains. This has seen an enormous spike in Gladstone's commercial barra catch, with fishermen selling 18 times the annual average take. Queensland Fisheries scientist John Robertson said yesterday the fish would have become stressed and susceptible to diseases and parasites after being hammered by the drop, having scales ripped off and shocked by rapid changes in conditions.
This was then exacerbated by crowded conditions in the Boyne River and a lack of food. Fishermen have had to dump up to 80 per cent of barramundi catches over past weeks because of disease and discolourations. They believe the disease problem is more likely to be related to a 46 million cubic metre harbour dredging program sullying the water. The Gladstone Ports Corporation argues previous, and far more significant, harbour dredging, has happened in past years without the impacts being blamed on the 1,316,234cu m dredged so far this year. Dr Robertson said red spot disease remained a factor and had been identified at nearby Port Alma, but he suspected parasite infestation might be severe.
Biosecurity Queensland was trying to determine the parasite's level of impact and if it occurred in other species. "We're not ruling anything out (including dredging impacts)," Dr Robertson said. "We think animals might be getting itchy with the parasite and trying to rub themselves, which opens up the skin (causing red rash-like marks and opening up a pathway for bacteria). Further testing will verify that." In Canberra yesterday, federal Environment Department assessment and compliance division acting secretary Mary Colreavy told a Senate hearing that dredging was not contributing to fish deaths. Queensland Nationals senator Ron Boswell repeatedly asked Ms Colreavy what her agency was doing to determine whether the two million cubic feet of dredging in the harbour was causing the problems.
She replied that State Government and other data had shown little change in water quality. "It's just miraculous we happen to dredge and the fish happen to die, and it all happens at the one time," Senator Boswell said. As of August 30, 185 tonnes of barramundi had been caught at Gladstone, a major increase on the harbour's annual catch of 9.8 tonnes. *Courier Mail
Ed Comment; We have been twice to Gladstone in the last couple of weeks, and its a dump! A huge area of vegetation on the lower end of Curtis Island, which has long been proposed as National Park, has been scoured and bulldozed away for the CSG processing plant to be built there. The air is bad, the harbor pollution is a disgrace, and noone believes the rubbish spouted by the Government agencies that everything in the Harbor is fine.There will be another coal loading Port built at Balclave Island, a Coal Terminal Project in Raglan Creek, and future Coal Ports on the Northern end of Curtis Island...which is another proposed National Park area again. It's just a nightmare of incredibly unsustainable development, in a very sensitive and valuable marine and terrestrial wildlife habitat area. And just in case thats not enough, the disgustingly dirty shale oil project that was sunk by Greenpeace and other local groups 10 years ago, is now back on the drawing board! Time to find another Planet perhaps......
Poisonous Cull Backfires
More than 2000 birds have died on Macquarie Island since the federal government began a scheme to cull rabbits, cats, rats and mice. The Federal Environment Department's heritage and wildlife division told a Senate estimates hearing today that 2190 birds had died since the eradication program began last year. Department officials said the birds had died after feeding off the corpses of poisoned animals and not from eating the pellets themselves. Tasmanian Liberal senator Eric Abetz asked if the 110 dead ducks had fed off corpses or whether it was more likely they had fed off the 305 tonnes of poison bait on the island, which lies between Tasmania and Antarctica in the Southern Ocean.
An assistant secretary for the division Theo Hooy agreed the ducks would not have fed off corpses. "I can't confirm whether or not that the ingestion by the ducks had been anticipated," he said. "I do know that there was concern about ingestion of bait by albatross chicks." However, Senator Abetz said no albatrosses were listed among the 2190 deaths. "This is a complete debacle which just goes from bad to worse," he said after the hearing. "The collateral damage seems worse than the problem the government was seeking to eradicate. "The real number of deaths was much higher because while 2190 bird carcasses had been discovered on Macquarie Island more had probably died at sea, Senator Abetz said.
Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings said the pest eradication effort was worthwhile. "Nobody wants to see wildlife hurt or damaged by programs," she told reporters in Hobart. "However, what is Eric Abetz’s alternative? Those same birds were being threatened by destruction of the natural habitat on Macquarie Island because of rabbits grazing." Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said in a statement that the bird deaths were inevitable. "When you do baiting, the fact is you will lose some of the birds you are wanting to protect," he said. "But if you don't do baiting, feral animals like rabbits and rodents will keep wiping everything out."
On the plus side, rabbit numbers are believed to have dropped from a whopping 150,000 to less than 30 since the program was implemented. Mr Burke said the impact on fauna were continually monitored, adding he had moved to tighten the program's regulations in November. He said up to 24 bird species ultimately stood to benefit from the eradication program. *AAP
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Wildlife Bytes 13/10/11
Editorial
Shark nets will not be introduced in Western Australia despite yet another fatal attack at Perth's popular Cottesloe Beach that claimed the life of prominent businessman Bryn Martin. It was the sixth shark death on the west coast in 11 years. Police, lifeguards and search and rescue volunteers last night scaled down their search for the remains of the 64-year-old, whose bathers were found on the seabed with tears that experts believe were caused by a great white shark. In Queensland the Government has consistently refused to remove the shark nets, in spite of them also catching whales, dugongs, and turtles. They are also unsafe in that they provide large gaps for sharks to swim into beaches, and create an impression amongs some swimmers that the beaches are safe. They are not safe, sharks can turn up in any marine or estuary waters. The WA Government have investigated the nets and believe aerial patrols are more effective. Pity the Queensland government wasnt more sympathetic to the plight of other marine animals that are caught and die in the nets.
For our US readers.....Sequoias
The majestic sequoia trees in the state of California are in danger of logging. These beauties can date back as far as 3500 years, and unfortunately any tree located outside protected areas (such as the Sequoia National Park) are not regulated under U.S. government protection. Sequoias have very shallow root systems and depend on the smaller trees surrounding them for water retention and protection against high winds. Even if sequoias are spared from logging, the other trees will not be, and the sequoia the depend on their "tree friends" for life will therefore also be lost. If you are concerned about this logging threat and wish to voice your opinion, you can send a message to Agricultural Secretary Vilsack. To learn more about this and other environmental concerns, check out http://www.sierraclub.org *WarriorTimes
Wildlife Calendars
Wildwood Wildlife Shelter have their amazing wildlife calendars on sale again! The shelter for injured and orphaned wildlife recieves no other funding, and rather than thinking of just purchasing a calendar, they would like purchasers to think of it as a 'donation' to wildlife. These rescued Wildlife Calendars are beautiful. You can order now from Pam Turner at Wildwood Wildlife Shelter, PO Box 64, Glenthomson, Victoria, 3293, or phone 03 55774343. They are $25 each, plus postage. Postage costs are 1 calendar $8, 2 to 3, $10, 4 to 6, $12, 10 calendars for $15.
Climate Change
Soaring temperatures last century may have been hard work for many species across the planet but, by the end of this century, those temperatures, once considered extreme, will become the norm for many of the world's most delicate ecosystems. Research suggests that, over the coming decades, increased temperatures and rainfall will put increased stain on the survival of the Global 200 ecoregions, threatening both plant and animal life. The Global 200 is a set of ecoregions that the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has classified as having exceptional biodiversity. They contain a high concentration of the earth's species. They include the Amazon, Lord Howe Island's sub-tropical forests and the north-east Queensland Wet Tropics, (Queensland's tropical rainforests).
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/hot-to-be-the-new-normal-as-species-struggle-20111005-1l98h.html#ixzz1a2ECXsv6
Penguins
Fifteen dead penguin chicks have been found near the Kingscote breeding colony on Kangaroo Island. It is thought a dog or a cat mauled them. There was a similar attack in the same area just over a year ago. Martine Kinloch from the area's Natural Resources Management Board says its cameras have shown domestic and feral animals are often near the colony. "This is a particularly long run of it and very visible because the bodies are all being left sort of by the side of the main road," she said. "So they're very visible and ... they've all had their heads taken off." A census of penguin numbers on the island is about to start at Emu Bay. The Natural Resources Management Board says about 60 volunteers will count the little penguin burrows. Ms Kinloch says the census had been done only at Kingscote in the past, but a funding boost now allows a count at four locations on the island. "We take the geographical coordinates of each burrow, so we end up with a map and each of those burrows has some information about it, for example whether we found it occupied at the time we did the census, so we get an exact map of each colony and half a dozen colonies across the island that we haven't previously had," she said. She says last year's census found about 700 adult penguins at Kingscote, down from 860 back in 2007. "Could be nothing more than total population variability, or it could be factors to do with different conditions when you conduct the census," she said. "For example in years where you have a lot of tall grass it can be quite a lot harder to actually find penguin burrows or, you know, we could be seeing some sort of slow trend downward in their numbers." *ABC
Batty Boat Trips
The bat family has enjoyed a bad reputation of late, blamed for attacking a woman hanging out a towel, spreading a deadly virus and generally annoying their neighbours in parts of Brisbane. But the creatures' champions hope Brisbane's "Batty Boat Cruises" can help to turn things around. Joanne Towsey is part of Bat Conservation and Rescue Queensland which, in partnership with Wildlife Queensland, has organised cruises along the Brisbane River to educate the public about the animals. The hope is that passengers will disembark with a newfound love for bats. Ms Towsey is currently completing a PhD on urban flying foxes and hopes that her research will explain the habitats and eating habits of flying foxes in built-up areas. “It is very very rare for a flying fox to actually attack somebody, a very small proportion of them carry the Lyssavirus, which causes the rabies-like disease in people,” she said. Brisbane's Batty Boat Cruises will run on October 16, October 30, November 20 and December 4. On a classic timber cruiser, passengers are taken up the Brisbane River and arrive at Indooroopilly Island as thousands of flying-foxes spectacularly take to the skies. Bookings can be made at www.wildlife.org.au *Age
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/batty-plan-to-counter-bad-reputation-20111004-1l70b.html#ixzz1a2F3pA00
Climate Change
The Antarctic ozone hole, yawning open longer than usual, is topping out this year as one of the larger holes ever recorded. Instead of following the usual pattern of hitting a maximum, then declining, the hole has stayed near its peak for weeks, even rising again last week, according to measurements made by NASA. The US space agency's OMI satellite captured a maximum of 26 million square kilometres on September 12, but showed it rising again in recent days as ozone-depleted air repeatedly brushed the far south of South America. Larger than in the previous two years, it was still short of the record 2006 hole measured by NASA at 27 million square kilometres - the size of North America. It was persisting under the influence of particularly strong prevailing winds in the upper atmosphere, the CSIRO's Paul Fraser said yesterday. Age
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/ozone-hole-grows-to-near-record-size-20111010-1lhmd.html#ixzz1aVWf6jbA
Dredging Concerns
A proposal to dredge central Central Queensland’s Fitzroy River (near Rockhampton) delta for a new coal export terminal is “way too risky“, according to a community group. The Keppel And Fitzroy Delta Alliance (KAFDA) says the dredging required would remove five million cubic metres of material so bulk carriers can access proposed wharfs on Balaclava Island near the Port of Rockhampton. The group fears the dredging could leave the delta in a similar state as Gladstone Harbour, where fish are diseased and fishermen have been left with weeping sores. Many in the Gladstone community blame dredging for the state of the fish. KAFDA says in light of this, they cannot see how dredging material from the mouth of the second biggest river catchment in Australia could be considered safe. *
Read more ... http://www.dredgingtoday.com/2011/10/11/australia-proposal-for-fitzroy-river-delta-dredging-causes-concern/
Flying Foxes
Some Queensland Councils have voted to call on the state to allow flying fox populations to be reduced and managed following a spate of Hendra virus outbreaks. Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Cr Steve Jones told a meeting of councils on the Gold Coast this week that it was time something was done. "These bloody things are vermin and they are being put above people,'' Cr Jones said. "No one wants to wipe them out but keep the numbers down to proportions whereby the humans get a fair go.'' Cr Jones called on his fellow mayors and councillors at the Local Government Association of Queensland's annual conference to get behind those councils struggling with "nuisance" flying fox populations. "It's about time on this issue that we all stood firm,'' Cr Jones said. "It's about time people in Queensland grew up and made the message really clear and definite that these things need to be kept in perspective.'' The motion, which called for the state to "introduce controls to immediately reduce flying fox populations and adopt a system that allows for the maintenance of those populations at a sustainable level", was carried. *Courier Mail
Even Australia’s most iconic, charismatic species are in danger of extinction. Species such as the cassowary, Tasmanian devil and koala all enjoy significant community support and relatively generous funding and yet find themselves at risk. And if our most popular species are in danger of extinction, what will become of our unpopular species? For species that are feared, disliked or even hated, conservation presents further challenges. Negative community attitudes show up as opposition to conservation efforts and to legislated protection. Unpopular species may even be deliberately harassed, harmed or killed, or have their habitat destroyed. Flying foxes are often feared, despite their beauty. This is the case for flying foxes, particularly in rural NSW and Queensland, where tolerance for the animals has been traditionally low. * The Conversation, by Dominique Thiriet, Lecturer, School of Law at James Cook University. Read more ... http://theconversation.edu.au/conservation-shouldnt-be-a-popularity-contest-3529
Residents of one of Townsville's beachside suburbs fear they will be forced to leave their homes if a large colony of flying foxes is not moved on. About 30,000 little red flying foxes settled into trees at Mystic Sands about four weeks ago, creating noise, stench and health problems for about 40 residents living in waterfront properties. Townsville City Council says it will apply to the Queensland Government for a damage mitigation permit to move on the bats. But residents are fearful they will receive no guarantee the protected animals will leave. Resident Steve Wynne, who lives within 100m of the bats, said the colony had steadily increased its size over the past month.
Read more ... http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2011/10/13/274301_news.html
New Flying Fox Petition.............Please sign the petition: Help Stop Bats Dying in Oz
You can view this petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/help-stop-bats-dying-in-oz/
Koalas
He's been christened Kenny but "Bear Grills" might be a more apt name for a Gold Coast koala that survived being hit by a car travelling at 100kmh on the M1. Like British adventurer and TV star Bear Grylls, the koala is an action type - it escaped with only minor injuries after being lodged in the car grill for a 3km journey down the motorway. Kenny's survival has amazed Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital staff and Mark and Caroline Harris, who hit the koala in their Suzuki Swift on Tuesday night. They were driving from their Eagleby home, near Beenleigh, to the Gold Coast when they hit what they thought was a cat outside Coomera. Unable to stop on the highway, they pulled off at the next exit to discover a somewhat cranky Kenny stuck firmly to the front of their car. ''When we realised it was alive, we just went 'oh wow','' an emotional Mr Harris said. "We felt so blessed. We just said 'please God, let it live'.''
Mr Harris said it took two police officers about 25 minutes to free the koala, which was trapped by a piece of plastic grill stuck into its neck. The couple took Kenny to a local vet. He was then transported to the Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital for specialist treatment. "It's a small miracle - he only has superficial injuries,'' senior vet Dr Michael Pyne said. "Most koalas don't survive being hit by cars so to see one that has survived being hit at 100kmh is quite amazing. Kenny would be buying a lottery ticket if he could.'' Dr Pyne said the wildlife hospital took in about 150 koalas a year, most of them victims of car strikes and dog attacks.
"We've had 70 admitted in the last 70 days,'' he said.
The badly burnt koala rescued from Stradbroke Island looks set to make a strong recovery. Despite initial fears the female adult would not survive the hospital dash due to her extensive burns and possible smoke inhalation, she remained alert throughout the journey. The eight-year-old, named Rian, is this afternoon being assessed by Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital staff, who had been anxiously awaiting her arrival. Australia Zoo rescue officer James Muscillo impressed onlookers at Amity Beach this morning after scaling a 20m tree to capture the distressed animal. "She was really badly burnt around her face, her eyes, her ears ... It was just really terrible injury," he said. "She doesn't look too good. "She's quite alert but the injuries are quite bad around her nose and her face." Island locals said the koala was possibly injured during a burn-off three weeks ago. "It's quite incredible that she's made it this far but koalas are quite tough animals and they'll keep eating even though they're in such a bad way," Mr Muscillo said. Rian is expected to remain at the hospital at Beerwah for a number of months before returning to Stradbroke Island. *News.com.au
Ed Comment; The firebugs in DERM are at it again. These fires do terrible damage to the environment........no Australian plant is fire-adapted. Every fire kills many softwood plants and after a series of fires, the forest changes to mainly hardwoods. If these firebugs have a burning passion for lighting fires, why light the fires in Spring when small animals are nesting and breeding? Why light them at all?
Frogs
Scientists have discovered two new species of frogs living in remote pockets of Cape York Peninsula. Queensland-based scientists Conrad Hoskin and Kieran Aland discovered the new species in isolated piles of boulders while on a research trip to the region last year. Dr Hoskin said the new species, the Kutini Boulder-frog (Cophixalus kulakula) and Golden-capped Boulder-frog (Cophixalus pakayakulangun), were not only new to science but also were previously unknown to the local Lockhart River Aboriginal community. The discovery doubles the number of known boulder-dwelling frog species in Australia - two other species can also be found at Cape York. However, Dr Hoskin said the new discoveries were not closely related to the other species and appear to have evolved entirely separately in their respective rock formations. "They've all basically evolved to their own boulder piles. It's really interesting," he said.
Dr Hoskin said that, as a result of their evolutionary histories, the species had developed some distinguishing features. "They have got these adaptations to living in the rocks, they've got these really long arms and big hands and big triangular finger disks," he said. "They look a bit different to a typical frog ... they are amazing." Dr Hoskin said the frogs retreated to the cool and damp recesses of the rock piles during Cape York's brutal dry season but came out in large numbers to catch food during the wet. He said he was excited to have discovered an entirely new species. "You just rock up, you see these things and you immediately know they are brand new, it's not often you get to discover a really distinctive new species, it's pretty exciting," he said. Dr Hoskin said he believed there were many species - including reptiles, insects and plants - waiting to be discovered in the isolated and environmentally pristine region. *Courier Mail
Snakes
Experts are urging Territorians to be wary of snakes around their homes after reports of bites jumped in the Top End. Reptile wrangler Chris Peberdy said snakes were searching for water at the end of the dry season.
He said it was common to find snakes in houses - and even in beds. "I've been finding snakes in (sliding door) runners, toilets, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, all sorts of weird places," he said. "At this time of year, they are looking for water to drink, because a lot of dams are dry, so they come into homes to find water. "And females are looking for suitable areas to lay their eggs." A large number of Western Brown snakes have already been recorded across the Top End. Palmerston residents are living in the most at-risk area, followed by Karama - courtesy of the dump. To avoid snake bites, Territorians are urged to: WEAR covered footwear, gloves and long pants when in areas likely to be home to snakes. USE a torch when moving around at night. DO NOT try to catch or kill snakes. KEEP your yard free from rubbish piles. KEEP your property free from objects that snakes may hide in such as stacks of tin or wood piles. KEEP your grass cut short and do not allow vegetation to grow close to your house. If you are bitten: APPLY a firm broad pressure bandage to the bite site and extend to the rest of the limb. Don't remove clothing from limb, just bandage over the top. Wrap it as tight as for a sprained ankle. THE VICTIM should be kept very still and the limb should be immobilised by using a splint. REASSURE the casualty and call 000 for an ambulance. For snake removal in Darwin, call 1800 453 210, in Katherine call 0407 934 252 and in Alice Springs, call 0407 983 276.
A man accused of threatening police with a large snake during a bizarre stand-off was fined $700 yesterday. Shane David Hobbs, 29, threatened police with a 1.5-metre-long snake at the scene of a three-vehicle crash on Sugar Rd at Maroochydore in September. The heavyset New Zealander, who was not involved in the crash, walked straight into the scene with a Murray Darling carpet python draped across his shoulder. Hobbs pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court to assaulting police, obstructing police and being a public nuisance. He attempted to throw the 50mm-wide snake through the window of a police car and on to a male officer sitting in the vehicle. Witnesses said the barefoot man was abusive throughout the incident, shouting expletives at police officers before leaving on foot with the mellow snake still draped around his shoulders. Witnesses said that Hobbs, who told the court he was drunk, waved the snake in the faces of several onlookers. Hobbs had a permit for the reptile which is non-venomous. The pythons can grow to about 2.5 metres long. *Fraser Chronicle
A large female python which has eluded snake catchers at Yorkeys Knob for months has finally met her match. The 18.5kg snake, which had threatened to bring down the roof of the Hekili Outrigger Canoe Club, was captured on Tuesday by Cairns Snake Removals’ Dave Walton, The Cairns Post reports. He had the help of National Geographic’s Python Hunters from Florida, who have been in the Far North filming a documentary. Mr Walton has been trying for months to catch the 5m snake but she has proved elusive, even dragging Mr Walton around the boatshed roof she called home with up to five male pythons. Not even the charm of television’s Bondi Vet, Dr Chris Brown, could lure the python out when he came to Cairns in August looking for her. *Courier Mail
Fraser Island Fires
Raging Fraser Island bushfires started by a controlled burn gone wrong have infuriated and upset holiday-makers on the island. The fires ripped through dense bushland on Sunday afternoon, threatening Kingfisher Bay Resort and cutting access tracks. One witness described an area of burnt-out bushland south of the resort as like a nuclear winter. Geoff Newall made the long trip to the Island from his home in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, and had planned to camp on the island with family and friends but had his holiday cut abruptly short. Camping on the eastern side of the island, Mr Newall drove to Kingfisher Bay resort on Sunday for a whale-watching trip. Once at sea he said he looked back and could see smoke and fires building on the island. "I could not believe it," he said. "We had just been given flyers saying controlled burning was under way, but what we saw looked out of control. "After the whale-watch trip we tried to drive back to our camp on the ocean side.
"We were just out of the resort and the smoke was getting thicker and thicker. "We had to turn back and we're lucky we did. "We heard of other people with burnt paint and a melted snorkel, the fire was that intense. "We saw the upset passengers getting off the tour bus, one lady was shaking, she was absolutely terrified. "Her partner said they saw fire on both sides of the bus. "I'm so glad we turned back." Mr Newall said he was frustrated to be stuck on the western side of the island, away from his campsite. "Fair enough, we can't help it if there's a bushfire, but why did they light it in school holidays and when it was that windy?" he said. Another group, the Grassmayr and Dillaway families, also from Sydney, said they were upset not to have been informed of the fires prior to arriving on the island.
With a holiday house booked at Kingfisher Bay Resort, Stephen Grassmayr said it wasn't until he arrived on the island that he was told the houses had been evacuated. "We have two families here, with five kids," he said. "We've been looking forward to this for a year; why didn't they have signage over on the mainland or tell us the island was on fire?" Mr Grassmayr said. "We had the house booked for three days - when we got here reception told us the houses had been fully evacuated." Mr Grassmayr said the resort had made a full refund and had co-operated fully, however he said the ordeal had put a dampener on the holiday. He had also heard the fires started from a controlled burn and questioned why it was allowed to happen. Mr Grassmayr said after the 2½-day trip from Sydney the families would head to Hervey Bay and make plans for the rest of their holidays. "We'll make the most of it," he said. "But it has been very disappointing for us." *Fraser Coast Chronicle
Seagulls
Hobart City Council yesterday collected and destroyed hundreds of seagull eggs on the banks behind the Domain Slipyards in a bid to deter the protected bird from nesting there. Hobart City Council general manager Nick Heath yesterday said more than 5000 seagulls flock to the Domain slips everyday, causing environmental and health hazards for workers in the vicinity and cyclists using the nearby intercity cycleway. "It's become a very serious problem, but our aim isn't to cull the birds, but to encourage them to move to other parts of the [River] Derwent," Mr Heath said. "It is a very significant concentration and the disturbance it is having warrants action." The HCC general manager said slipyard workers complained that the pests had been depositing their droppings on workers on a frequent basis, as well as causing significant noise pollution. The war between council authorities and the pest birds has been ongoing for more than 10 years, with a minor cull by TasPorts helping to disperse the seagulls last year.
The tactic worked until recently, with seagulls returning to the site to lay their eggs. Mr Heath said permission to remove the eggs was obtained by the HCC from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment and that removal of the eggs was deemed the most humane way of deterring the seagull population. "The silver gull is a protected species and we ensured that all the proper research and reports were completed before we carried out this action," he said. However, Against Animal Cruelty spokesman Chris Simcox told the Mercury earlier this week that the seagulls nesting options were few and that destruction of the eggs was inhumane. "What they did last year [seagull cull] was very disturbing, as is collecting and destroying the eggs," he said. "They have no regard for the unborn chicks." *Mercury
Kangaroos
The kangaroo industry has labelled animal-welfare groups "environmental vandals" over their efforts to harpoon trade with Russia. The Weekly Times reported last week that Federal Trade Minister Craig Emerson was working on a deal that would see trade re-opened - the kangaroo industry has halved since the vital Russian market ceased trade in 2009. But the Australian Alliance for Native Animal Survival has written to Russia's foreign minister asking him to reconsider taking kangaroo products. Simultaneously, Voiceless has written to Dr Emerson with claims kangaroo meat carries "worrying levels" of E coli and salmonella and that the industry slaughters a million joeys a year, many inhumanely. AANAS president Rob Craigie said it was a group of "First (indigenous) Peoples" from around the nation. "I would like to inform you that the Australian Government and the meat industry currently condone unethical, inhumane and unhygienic practices when harvesting and culling kangaroos," Mr Craigie said in the letter to Russia. "This practice is offensive to the First People and, with respect, we urge you not to support this industry." Australian Kangaroo Industry Association executive officer John Kelly called the animal welfare groups "environmental vandals", saying the kangaroo industry was an essential environmental management tool. *Weekly Times
Kangaroo Pet Food
For readers who would like to write a letter, below are some of the companies that use kangaroo meat in their pet food.
VIP- reception@vippetfoods.com.au Ph: 0755471700
Natures Gift- http://www.naturesgift.com.au/contact-us
Eukanauba- http://www.eukanuba.com.au/en-AU/email-expert.jspx
Woolworths- http://www.facebook.com/woolworths
http://www.woolworthslimited.com.au/phoenix.zhtml?c=144044&p=contact
Ecopet- http://www.ecopet.com.au/index2.html?contact.html~content
Snappy Tom- website not working?
To find out more about cruelty within the kangaroo industry,and what companies are kangaroo free go to the ASK website at: http://www.australiansocietyforkangaroos.com/help.html *Australian Society for Kangaroos
Meanwhile we have found a website calling itself "the ethical consumers guide" http://www.ethical.org.au/contact/ which is recomending pet food companies that use kangaroo as "sustainable and ethical". You can contact them here Co-ordinator: Nick Ray, email: info@ethical.org.au, phone: 0417 114 492 We wrote to them, and have received reply asking for more information. Please write too if you have time.
A grandfather needed more than 10 stitches and his wife medical treatment after a kangaroo attacked them in their backyard. The 155cm marsupial first charged at the woman while she stood on the porch of her Lake Innes home. The couple, who did not want to be named, said they were “shaken up” by the ordeal. The animal approached the Long Point Dr woman when she was telling her grandchildren to go inside the house on Thursday last week. “I shouted at it and tried to shoo it away with my hands, but it just kept coming right at me. I was terrified,” the woman said. “It was completely unprovoked. My grandson simply pointed from a distance at another kangaroo, who had a joey in her pouch, and then this great big one started coming towards me.” The kangaroo scratched her on the arms and face, coming at her five times. Her husband attempted to come to her aid by cracking a whip near the kangaroo, but it then turned on him.
The grandparents finally managed to get the kangaroo to leave them alone and both had to go to the Lake Cathie Medical Centre for treatment. The man received 10 stitches to his calf and several stitches on his arm. The woman was given a cream for her wounds. The pair, who have lived at the Long Point Dr property for three decades, said kangaroo attacked an exchange student who was staying with them several years ago. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Port Macquarie spokesman Lawrence Orel said the incident should be a warning to people. Kangaroos are wild animals and act out of instinct. He said the animals had been known to attack people, perhaps seeing them as a threat to their mob or as a “sparring” partner for young males to practise their fighting techniques. “Never feed kangaroos, because often people will give them the wrong thing, such as bread, which is bad for their health, and can lead to future conflict for people who don’t feed those animals,” Mr Orel said. *Port Macqarie News
The track at Mount Panorama will be a no-go zone for kangaroos this race weekend. Bathurst Regional Council’s commitment to driver safety for the V8 Supercar endurance event has seen it working towards implementing a specially-prepared flora and fauna management plan for the precinct. Although there has been no culling of kangaroos over the past two years, there has been major fencing installed at key locations around the circuit to reduce the risk of any of the marsupials making their way onto the track. Council’s general manager David Sherley said yesterday a major focus of the management plan for the Mount has been the fencing initiative. “We have been putting in permanent fencing as an ongoing measure,” he said yesterday. “And there will be some temporary fencing going in at strategic locations as well.
“Council is also continually monitoring kangaroo numbers in that area, especially now that we are down to the serious part of race week, with official practice starting today (Thursday). “Basically, we are being as vigilant as possible and are confident the measures we have put in place regarding kangaroos getting onto the track will be successful.” City engineer Doug Patterson said yesterday there were still a lot of kangaroos on both the inside and outside of the track. He confirmed that, apart from the fencing, staff have been employed with a dedicated role of patrolling inside the circuit to monitor any wildlife movement, in particular, kangaroos. “Their job will be to keep them away from the track and prevent any adverse impact on the operation of the event,” he said. “The risks have been assessed and we have taken what we believe are appropriate measures to mitigate problems the kangaroos may pose.”
Bathurst Regional Council last used culling methods to control the kangaroo problem before the Great Race in 2009. At the time Mr Sherley said a range of measures were implemented, including fencing and operating electronic “shoo roos”. Environmentalists had rallied against council when they heard of the measures used to control the kangaroos, but Mr Sherley said council’s methods were constantly evolving. “Council will always continue to review control strategies put in place to minimise the risk of the circuit not only for the race but for the 300,000 tourists who drive around the track each year,” Mr Sherley said. *Western Advocate
Footie stars’ big-money boot deals prop up a cruel trade in kangaroo skins, claim campaigners. They say footwear used by the likes of Michael Owen, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole come from a business which sees baby kangaroos decapitated. Nike, adidas, Umbro and Puma all use ultra-soft kangaroo skin in their top-of-the-range boots. And nearly four million of the creatures are shot for commercial purposes in Australia every year. Aussie government rules say the babies must be killed with a blunt instrument or decapitated, while adults are shot from the back of trucks. But animal rights group Viva! said the practice leads to unnecessary suffering since many animals are often only wounded by hunters, leaving them to die over days. Once shot the adults are partially butchered in the Outback and taken to chiller compartments before being used for boot leather.
Kangaroo skin is softer and more pliable than cow leather and also provides better weather-proofing. But all four of the big makers have synthetic alternatives that are just as good, opponents claim. “Stars of the pitch don’t hear the gunshots in the night nor witness youngsters ripped from their dying mother’s pouch, decapitated and thrown in the trash,” said Viva! campaigns manager Justin Kerswell. “This is the Premier League’s dirty little secret.” Phil Woolley, of the Australian Wildlife Protection Council, said: “When millions of kangaroos are slaughtered for sports footwear, this results in over a million babies dying horrible deaths as a waste product. “It has nothing to do with the welfare of the kangaroos. “The code of practice is nothing more than a smokescreen for the industry to hide behind.”
A Viva! campaign saw adidas star David Beckham abandon kangaroo boots in 2006 and followed a formal pledge from Nike to use more synthetic material. But sports retailers across the UK, including Sports Direct, are still stocking kangaroo leather boots, including Nike’s Tiempo, worn by Ashley Cole, Man United’s Javier Hernández and Joe Cole, now at French club Lille. Other footballers wearing the skins include Manchester City’s Joe Hart and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson, who both use the Geometra shoe which Umbro boasts is made from “high grade K leather”. Manufacturers stand by their use of the product. Adidas told us: “This use of kangaroo leather is common practice in the footwear industry. “Adidas insists that our suppliers fully comply with the Australian government’s strict rules on culling. “We make a limited number of shoes using kangaroo leather, however it is not across the entire range and we ensure the leather does not originate from endangered species.”
Puma said it used “a limited amount of kangaroo leather” and followed the industry code of practice. Rivals Nike and Umbro – which is also owned by Nike – told us: “Nike has worked proactively on phasing out exotic skins from its product range over the past few years. “We are concerned about the humane treatment of animals and have been informed by the Australian government that suppliers must abide by their strict regulations for the humane treatment of animals.” *Daily (UK) Star
A Nichols Point woman had the shock of her life recently when she found a dead kangaroo in her pool. The woman, who did not want to be named, discovered the kangaroo after noticing flies around her house and an “awful” smell lingering around the pool area. “On Monday night I realised there was a body-like figure underneath our pool cover,” she said. “I opened it to find a large, wet kangaroo leg. “I was shocked as even though we’ve had many kangaroos near our house I never thought one could drown in our pool.” The woman said the roo must have jumped over the side fence, then the pool fence and finally onto the pool before it came to its untimely fate. “My husband has since disposed of it and the pool has been emptied and treated, ready for the summer season.” *Network Item
Kangaroo "Culling"
Ramifications of Indiscriminate shooting of Kangaroos destroys variability in the gene pool affecting the future survival of the mobs and in the short term, increases populations: The biggest problem which arises when Kangaroos are shot indiscriminately during ‘culling’ programs is that more breeding will possibly occur due to the large Alpha males being taken. Killing the alpha males creates an imbalance in the hierarchy which therefore affects the balance which in turn affects the behaviour of Kangaroos associated with the particular Mob.
When the Alpha male (Buck) is destroyed, the Juvenile or Bachelor males who usually patrol the outskirts will get a chance to harass the females( Does) as their protection has been taken ( ‘killed’ Alpha males) and therefore Juveniles will not be challenged. These smaller Bucks will mate many of the Does and often the Does are chased relentlessly by several young Bucks. This does not happen when the Alpha Buck is in charge of the Mob. Frequently Does are mated by several males and occasionally Does will die from exhaustion from trying to escape time after time. In the case of the Alpha male, he does not continually breed with all his Does, he is selective and moderates when breeding occurs.
In conclusion, indiscriminate shooting will exacerbate the so called reason for ‘Culling’, usual excuses being too many and over grazing an area of threatened vegetation. This will be due to a larger number of Does becoming pregnant due to the loss of their protector, the Alpha male. If unnecessary ‘culling’ persists (in our eyes there is never a reason to ‘Cull’) then a larger proportion of Kangaroos shot should be Juvenile males of weight range approx 40-50 Kilos, definitely never female kangaroos with baby kangaroo Joeys in- pouch young, those still dependent young-at foot, or Alpha males. * Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc.
Turtles
About 600 turtles with pig-like snouts, believed to have been caught in the wild in Indonesia, have been returned home. The pig-nosed turtles are distinguishable for having a nose which looks like that of a pig with nostrils at the end of fleshy snout. Hong Kong conservationists seized nearly 800 of the endangered baby reptiles smuggled from Indonesia in January. Indonesian customs officials display crates of the pig-nosed turtles after they were returned from Hong Kong. It was Hong Kong's biggest haul in its battle against the illegal pet trade. The animals were believed to have been caught from the wild in Indonesia before being brought illegally to Hong Kong. The record seizure came to light as authorities prepared to release 600 of the surviving turtles back to their native habitat in Indonesia's remote Papua province. "It's the first of its kind [of seizure] in Hong Kong in terms of the number and the species," Alfred Wong, an endangered-species protection official from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, told reporters. "They are quite popular in the pet trade; that's why they are threatened by the international trade," he said as the baby turtles were being packed into boxes, to be flown to Indonesia on Wednesday.
The pig-nosed turtles were also threatened because the demand for their eggs and meat, but Mr Wong said they were mostly kept as pets in Hong Kong. Authorities carried out an investigation into how the creatures came to be in Hong Kong and had questioned suspects, but could not charge them because of insufficient evidence, he said. He declined to provide further details including how many suspects were involved or their nationality. The pig-nosed turtles (Carettochelys insculpta) are listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which imposes international trade restrictions to protect the species from over-exploitation. The turtles, which were only a few days old when they were rescued, had been kept since then at a privately run conservation farm for care and temporary holding. They are set to be released into a national park in Merauke, which is located in the south-eastern coast of Papua. * AFP
NZ Oil Spill Gets Worse
About 70 containers have fallen from a stricken ship off the New Zealand coast in wild weather overnight and the captain has been arrested and charged. He will appear in court this morning. A Martime New Zealand spokesman told the Bay of Plenty Times that news containers had fallen off Rena was confirmed to them this morning by crew on the naval ship Endeavour. "We know that about 70 containers have fallen off. These came off the rear starboard side, which means the containers on the port side of the ship are unstable. "Shipping is being re-routed around the area because of containers afloat in the water." The spokesman said they would be taking a flight as soon as possible to view the situation but stormy weather was getting in the way. He said it was unknown at this stage if any of the containers that went overboard contained the hazardous substance ferrosilicon. The shipwreck of the Rena has become New Zealand's worst maritime environmental disaster with the Government saying it will require a marathon effort to clean the oil off the Bay's beaches.
Up to 350 tonnes of oil spewed out when the Rena shifted its position on Astrolabe Reef in heavy seas early yesterday - five times larger than the total amount previously discharged since the container ship grounded last Wednesday. * Sunshine Coast Daily
Ed Comment; The stricken container ship Rena has ''significant structural failings'' after large cracks were spotted in the side of the vessel, and looks like breaking up.
Shark nets will not be introduced in Western Australia despite yet another fatal attack at Perth's popular Cottesloe Beach that claimed the life of prominent businessman Bryn Martin. It was the sixth shark death on the west coast in 11 years. Police, lifeguards and search and rescue volunteers last night scaled down their search for the remains of the 64-year-old, whose bathers were found on the seabed with tears that experts believe were caused by a great white shark. In Queensland the Government has consistently refused to remove the shark nets, in spite of them also catching whales, dugongs, and turtles. They are also unsafe in that they provide large gaps for sharks to swim into beaches, and create an impression amongs some swimmers that the beaches are safe. They are not safe, sharks can turn up in any marine or estuary waters. The WA Government have investigated the nets and believe aerial patrols are more effective. Pity the Queensland government wasnt more sympathetic to the plight of other marine animals that are caught and die in the nets.
For our US readers.....Sequoias
The majestic sequoia trees in the state of California are in danger of logging. These beauties can date back as far as 3500 years, and unfortunately any tree located outside protected areas (such as the Sequoia National Park) are not regulated under U.S. government protection. Sequoias have very shallow root systems and depend on the smaller trees surrounding them for water retention and protection against high winds. Even if sequoias are spared from logging, the other trees will not be, and the sequoia the depend on their "tree friends" for life will therefore also be lost. If you are concerned about this logging threat and wish to voice your opinion, you can send a message to Agricultural Secretary Vilsack. To learn more about this and other environmental concerns, check out http://www.sierraclub.org *WarriorTimes
Wildlife Calendars
Wildwood Wildlife Shelter have their amazing wildlife calendars on sale again! The shelter for injured and orphaned wildlife recieves no other funding, and rather than thinking of just purchasing a calendar, they would like purchasers to think of it as a 'donation' to wildlife. These rescued Wildlife Calendars are beautiful. You can order now from Pam Turner at Wildwood Wildlife Shelter, PO Box 64, Glenthomson, Victoria, 3293, or phone 03 55774343. They are $25 each, plus postage. Postage costs are 1 calendar $8, 2 to 3, $10, 4 to 6, $12, 10 calendars for $15.
Climate Change
Soaring temperatures last century may have been hard work for many species across the planet but, by the end of this century, those temperatures, once considered extreme, will become the norm for many of the world's most delicate ecosystems. Research suggests that, over the coming decades, increased temperatures and rainfall will put increased stain on the survival of the Global 200 ecoregions, threatening both plant and animal life. The Global 200 is a set of ecoregions that the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has classified as having exceptional biodiversity. They contain a high concentration of the earth's species. They include the Amazon, Lord Howe Island's sub-tropical forests and the north-east Queensland Wet Tropics, (Queensland's tropical rainforests).
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/hot-to-be-the-new-normal-as-species-struggle-20111005-1l98h.html#ixzz1a2ECXsv6
Penguins
Fifteen dead penguin chicks have been found near the Kingscote breeding colony on Kangaroo Island. It is thought a dog or a cat mauled them. There was a similar attack in the same area just over a year ago. Martine Kinloch from the area's Natural Resources Management Board says its cameras have shown domestic and feral animals are often near the colony. "This is a particularly long run of it and very visible because the bodies are all being left sort of by the side of the main road," she said. "So they're very visible and ... they've all had their heads taken off." A census of penguin numbers on the island is about to start at Emu Bay. The Natural Resources Management Board says about 60 volunteers will count the little penguin burrows. Ms Kinloch says the census had been done only at Kingscote in the past, but a funding boost now allows a count at four locations on the island. "We take the geographical coordinates of each burrow, so we end up with a map and each of those burrows has some information about it, for example whether we found it occupied at the time we did the census, so we get an exact map of each colony and half a dozen colonies across the island that we haven't previously had," she said. She says last year's census found about 700 adult penguins at Kingscote, down from 860 back in 2007. "Could be nothing more than total population variability, or it could be factors to do with different conditions when you conduct the census," she said. "For example in years where you have a lot of tall grass it can be quite a lot harder to actually find penguin burrows or, you know, we could be seeing some sort of slow trend downward in their numbers." *ABC
Batty Boat Trips
The bat family has enjoyed a bad reputation of late, blamed for attacking a woman hanging out a towel, spreading a deadly virus and generally annoying their neighbours in parts of Brisbane. But the creatures' champions hope Brisbane's "Batty Boat Cruises" can help to turn things around. Joanne Towsey is part of Bat Conservation and Rescue Queensland which, in partnership with Wildlife Queensland, has organised cruises along the Brisbane River to educate the public about the animals. The hope is that passengers will disembark with a newfound love for bats. Ms Towsey is currently completing a PhD on urban flying foxes and hopes that her research will explain the habitats and eating habits of flying foxes in built-up areas. “It is very very rare for a flying fox to actually attack somebody, a very small proportion of them carry the Lyssavirus, which causes the rabies-like disease in people,” she said. Brisbane's Batty Boat Cruises will run on October 16, October 30, November 20 and December 4. On a classic timber cruiser, passengers are taken up the Brisbane River and arrive at Indooroopilly Island as thousands of flying-foxes spectacularly take to the skies. Bookings can be made at www.wildlife.org.au *Age
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/batty-plan-to-counter-bad-reputation-20111004-1l70b.html#ixzz1a2F3pA00
Climate Change
The Antarctic ozone hole, yawning open longer than usual, is topping out this year as one of the larger holes ever recorded. Instead of following the usual pattern of hitting a maximum, then declining, the hole has stayed near its peak for weeks, even rising again last week, according to measurements made by NASA. The US space agency's OMI satellite captured a maximum of 26 million square kilometres on September 12, but showed it rising again in recent days as ozone-depleted air repeatedly brushed the far south of South America. Larger than in the previous two years, it was still short of the record 2006 hole measured by NASA at 27 million square kilometres - the size of North America. It was persisting under the influence of particularly strong prevailing winds in the upper atmosphere, the CSIRO's Paul Fraser said yesterday. Age
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/ozone-hole-grows-to-near-record-size-20111010-1lhmd.html#ixzz1aVWf6jbA
Dredging Concerns
A proposal to dredge central Central Queensland’s Fitzroy River (near Rockhampton) delta for a new coal export terminal is “way too risky“, according to a community group. The Keppel And Fitzroy Delta Alliance (KAFDA) says the dredging required would remove five million cubic metres of material so bulk carriers can access proposed wharfs on Balaclava Island near the Port of Rockhampton. The group fears the dredging could leave the delta in a similar state as Gladstone Harbour, where fish are diseased and fishermen have been left with weeping sores. Many in the Gladstone community blame dredging for the state of the fish. KAFDA says in light of this, they cannot see how dredging material from the mouth of the second biggest river catchment in Australia could be considered safe. *
Read more ... http://www.dredgingtoday.com/2011/10/11/australia-proposal-for-fitzroy-river-delta-dredging-causes-concern/
Flying Foxes
Some Queensland Councils have voted to call on the state to allow flying fox populations to be reduced and managed following a spate of Hendra virus outbreaks. Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Cr Steve Jones told a meeting of councils on the Gold Coast this week that it was time something was done. "These bloody things are vermin and they are being put above people,'' Cr Jones said. "No one wants to wipe them out but keep the numbers down to proportions whereby the humans get a fair go.'' Cr Jones called on his fellow mayors and councillors at the Local Government Association of Queensland's annual conference to get behind those councils struggling with "nuisance" flying fox populations. "It's about time on this issue that we all stood firm,'' Cr Jones said. "It's about time people in Queensland grew up and made the message really clear and definite that these things need to be kept in perspective.'' The motion, which called for the state to "introduce controls to immediately reduce flying fox populations and adopt a system that allows for the maintenance of those populations at a sustainable level", was carried. *Courier Mail
Even Australia’s most iconic, charismatic species are in danger of extinction. Species such as the cassowary, Tasmanian devil and koala all enjoy significant community support and relatively generous funding and yet find themselves at risk. And if our most popular species are in danger of extinction, what will become of our unpopular species? For species that are feared, disliked or even hated, conservation presents further challenges. Negative community attitudes show up as opposition to conservation efforts and to legislated protection. Unpopular species may even be deliberately harassed, harmed or killed, or have their habitat destroyed. Flying foxes are often feared, despite their beauty. This is the case for flying foxes, particularly in rural NSW and Queensland, where tolerance for the animals has been traditionally low. * The Conversation, by Dominique Thiriet, Lecturer, School of Law at James Cook University. Read more ... http://theconversation.edu.au/conservation-shouldnt-be-a-popularity-contest-3529
Residents of one of Townsville's beachside suburbs fear they will be forced to leave their homes if a large colony of flying foxes is not moved on. About 30,000 little red flying foxes settled into trees at Mystic Sands about four weeks ago, creating noise, stench and health problems for about 40 residents living in waterfront properties. Townsville City Council says it will apply to the Queensland Government for a damage mitigation permit to move on the bats. But residents are fearful they will receive no guarantee the protected animals will leave. Resident Steve Wynne, who lives within 100m of the bats, said the colony had steadily increased its size over the past month.
Read more ... http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2011/10/13/274301_news.html
New Flying Fox Petition.............Please sign the petition: Help Stop Bats Dying in Oz
You can view this petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/help-stop-bats-dying-in-oz/
Koalas
He's been christened Kenny but "Bear Grills" might be a more apt name for a Gold Coast koala that survived being hit by a car travelling at 100kmh on the M1. Like British adventurer and TV star Bear Grylls, the koala is an action type - it escaped with only minor injuries after being lodged in the car grill for a 3km journey down the motorway. Kenny's survival has amazed Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital staff and Mark and Caroline Harris, who hit the koala in their Suzuki Swift on Tuesday night. They were driving from their Eagleby home, near Beenleigh, to the Gold Coast when they hit what they thought was a cat outside Coomera. Unable to stop on the highway, they pulled off at the next exit to discover a somewhat cranky Kenny stuck firmly to the front of their car. ''When we realised it was alive, we just went 'oh wow','' an emotional Mr Harris said. "We felt so blessed. We just said 'please God, let it live'.''
Mr Harris said it took two police officers about 25 minutes to free the koala, which was trapped by a piece of plastic grill stuck into its neck. The couple took Kenny to a local vet. He was then transported to the Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital for specialist treatment. "It's a small miracle - he only has superficial injuries,'' senior vet Dr Michael Pyne said. "Most koalas don't survive being hit by cars so to see one that has survived being hit at 100kmh is quite amazing. Kenny would be buying a lottery ticket if he could.'' Dr Pyne said the wildlife hospital took in about 150 koalas a year, most of them victims of car strikes and dog attacks.
"We've had 70 admitted in the last 70 days,'' he said.
The badly burnt koala rescued from Stradbroke Island looks set to make a strong recovery. Despite initial fears the female adult would not survive the hospital dash due to her extensive burns and possible smoke inhalation, she remained alert throughout the journey. The eight-year-old, named Rian, is this afternoon being assessed by Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital staff, who had been anxiously awaiting her arrival. Australia Zoo rescue officer James Muscillo impressed onlookers at Amity Beach this morning after scaling a 20m tree to capture the distressed animal. "She was really badly burnt around her face, her eyes, her ears ... It was just really terrible injury," he said. "She doesn't look too good. "She's quite alert but the injuries are quite bad around her nose and her face." Island locals said the koala was possibly injured during a burn-off three weeks ago. "It's quite incredible that she's made it this far but koalas are quite tough animals and they'll keep eating even though they're in such a bad way," Mr Muscillo said. Rian is expected to remain at the hospital at Beerwah for a number of months before returning to Stradbroke Island. *News.com.au
Ed Comment; The firebugs in DERM are at it again. These fires do terrible damage to the environment........no Australian plant is fire-adapted. Every fire kills many softwood plants and after a series of fires, the forest changes to mainly hardwoods. If these firebugs have a burning passion for lighting fires, why light the fires in Spring when small animals are nesting and breeding? Why light them at all?
Frogs
Scientists have discovered two new species of frogs living in remote pockets of Cape York Peninsula. Queensland-based scientists Conrad Hoskin and Kieran Aland discovered the new species in isolated piles of boulders while on a research trip to the region last year. Dr Hoskin said the new species, the Kutini Boulder-frog (Cophixalus kulakula) and Golden-capped Boulder-frog (Cophixalus pakayakulangun), were not only new to science but also were previously unknown to the local Lockhart River Aboriginal community. The discovery doubles the number of known boulder-dwelling frog species in Australia - two other species can also be found at Cape York. However, Dr Hoskin said the new discoveries were not closely related to the other species and appear to have evolved entirely separately in their respective rock formations. "They've all basically evolved to their own boulder piles. It's really interesting," he said.
Dr Hoskin said that, as a result of their evolutionary histories, the species had developed some distinguishing features. "They have got these adaptations to living in the rocks, they've got these really long arms and big hands and big triangular finger disks," he said. "They look a bit different to a typical frog ... they are amazing." Dr Hoskin said the frogs retreated to the cool and damp recesses of the rock piles during Cape York's brutal dry season but came out in large numbers to catch food during the wet. He said he was excited to have discovered an entirely new species. "You just rock up, you see these things and you immediately know they are brand new, it's not often you get to discover a really distinctive new species, it's pretty exciting," he said. Dr Hoskin said he believed there were many species - including reptiles, insects and plants - waiting to be discovered in the isolated and environmentally pristine region. *Courier Mail
Snakes
Experts are urging Territorians to be wary of snakes around their homes after reports of bites jumped in the Top End. Reptile wrangler Chris Peberdy said snakes were searching for water at the end of the dry season.
He said it was common to find snakes in houses - and even in beds. "I've been finding snakes in (sliding door) runners, toilets, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, all sorts of weird places," he said. "At this time of year, they are looking for water to drink, because a lot of dams are dry, so they come into homes to find water. "And females are looking for suitable areas to lay their eggs." A large number of Western Brown snakes have already been recorded across the Top End. Palmerston residents are living in the most at-risk area, followed by Karama - courtesy of the dump. To avoid snake bites, Territorians are urged to: WEAR covered footwear, gloves and long pants when in areas likely to be home to snakes. USE a torch when moving around at night. DO NOT try to catch or kill snakes. KEEP your yard free from rubbish piles. KEEP your property free from objects that snakes may hide in such as stacks of tin or wood piles. KEEP your grass cut short and do not allow vegetation to grow close to your house. If you are bitten: APPLY a firm broad pressure bandage to the bite site and extend to the rest of the limb. Don't remove clothing from limb, just bandage over the top. Wrap it as tight as for a sprained ankle. THE VICTIM should be kept very still and the limb should be immobilised by using a splint. REASSURE the casualty and call 000 for an ambulance. For snake removal in Darwin, call 1800 453 210, in Katherine call 0407 934 252 and in Alice Springs, call 0407 983 276.
A man accused of threatening police with a large snake during a bizarre stand-off was fined $700 yesterday. Shane David Hobbs, 29, threatened police with a 1.5-metre-long snake at the scene of a three-vehicle crash on Sugar Rd at Maroochydore in September. The heavyset New Zealander, who was not involved in the crash, walked straight into the scene with a Murray Darling carpet python draped across his shoulder. Hobbs pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court to assaulting police, obstructing police and being a public nuisance. He attempted to throw the 50mm-wide snake through the window of a police car and on to a male officer sitting in the vehicle. Witnesses said the barefoot man was abusive throughout the incident, shouting expletives at police officers before leaving on foot with the mellow snake still draped around his shoulders. Witnesses said that Hobbs, who told the court he was drunk, waved the snake in the faces of several onlookers. Hobbs had a permit for the reptile which is non-venomous. The pythons can grow to about 2.5 metres long. *Fraser Chronicle
A large female python which has eluded snake catchers at Yorkeys Knob for months has finally met her match. The 18.5kg snake, which had threatened to bring down the roof of the Hekili Outrigger Canoe Club, was captured on Tuesday by Cairns Snake Removals’ Dave Walton, The Cairns Post reports. He had the help of National Geographic’s Python Hunters from Florida, who have been in the Far North filming a documentary. Mr Walton has been trying for months to catch the 5m snake but she has proved elusive, even dragging Mr Walton around the boatshed roof she called home with up to five male pythons. Not even the charm of television’s Bondi Vet, Dr Chris Brown, could lure the python out when he came to Cairns in August looking for her. *Courier Mail
Fraser Island Fires
Raging Fraser Island bushfires started by a controlled burn gone wrong have infuriated and upset holiday-makers on the island. The fires ripped through dense bushland on Sunday afternoon, threatening Kingfisher Bay Resort and cutting access tracks. One witness described an area of burnt-out bushland south of the resort as like a nuclear winter. Geoff Newall made the long trip to the Island from his home in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, and had planned to camp on the island with family and friends but had his holiday cut abruptly short. Camping on the eastern side of the island, Mr Newall drove to Kingfisher Bay resort on Sunday for a whale-watching trip. Once at sea he said he looked back and could see smoke and fires building on the island. "I could not believe it," he said. "We had just been given flyers saying controlled burning was under way, but what we saw looked out of control. "After the whale-watch trip we tried to drive back to our camp on the ocean side.
"We were just out of the resort and the smoke was getting thicker and thicker. "We had to turn back and we're lucky we did. "We heard of other people with burnt paint and a melted snorkel, the fire was that intense. "We saw the upset passengers getting off the tour bus, one lady was shaking, she was absolutely terrified. "Her partner said they saw fire on both sides of the bus. "I'm so glad we turned back." Mr Newall said he was frustrated to be stuck on the western side of the island, away from his campsite. "Fair enough, we can't help it if there's a bushfire, but why did they light it in school holidays and when it was that windy?" he said. Another group, the Grassmayr and Dillaway families, also from Sydney, said they were upset not to have been informed of the fires prior to arriving on the island.
With a holiday house booked at Kingfisher Bay Resort, Stephen Grassmayr said it wasn't until he arrived on the island that he was told the houses had been evacuated. "We have two families here, with five kids," he said. "We've been looking forward to this for a year; why didn't they have signage over on the mainland or tell us the island was on fire?" Mr Grassmayr said. "We had the house booked for three days - when we got here reception told us the houses had been fully evacuated." Mr Grassmayr said the resort had made a full refund and had co-operated fully, however he said the ordeal had put a dampener on the holiday. He had also heard the fires started from a controlled burn and questioned why it was allowed to happen. Mr Grassmayr said after the 2½-day trip from Sydney the families would head to Hervey Bay and make plans for the rest of their holidays. "We'll make the most of it," he said. "But it has been very disappointing for us." *Fraser Coast Chronicle
Seagulls
Hobart City Council yesterday collected and destroyed hundreds of seagull eggs on the banks behind the Domain Slipyards in a bid to deter the protected bird from nesting there. Hobart City Council general manager Nick Heath yesterday said more than 5000 seagulls flock to the Domain slips everyday, causing environmental and health hazards for workers in the vicinity and cyclists using the nearby intercity cycleway. "It's become a very serious problem, but our aim isn't to cull the birds, but to encourage them to move to other parts of the [River] Derwent," Mr Heath said. "It is a very significant concentration and the disturbance it is having warrants action." The HCC general manager said slipyard workers complained that the pests had been depositing their droppings on workers on a frequent basis, as well as causing significant noise pollution. The war between council authorities and the pest birds has been ongoing for more than 10 years, with a minor cull by TasPorts helping to disperse the seagulls last year.
The tactic worked until recently, with seagulls returning to the site to lay their eggs. Mr Heath said permission to remove the eggs was obtained by the HCC from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment and that removal of the eggs was deemed the most humane way of deterring the seagull population. "The silver gull is a protected species and we ensured that all the proper research and reports were completed before we carried out this action," he said. However, Against Animal Cruelty spokesman Chris Simcox told the Mercury earlier this week that the seagulls nesting options were few and that destruction of the eggs was inhumane. "What they did last year [seagull cull] was very disturbing, as is collecting and destroying the eggs," he said. "They have no regard for the unborn chicks." *Mercury
Kangaroos
The kangaroo industry has labelled animal-welfare groups "environmental vandals" over their efforts to harpoon trade with Russia. The Weekly Times reported last week that Federal Trade Minister Craig Emerson was working on a deal that would see trade re-opened - the kangaroo industry has halved since the vital Russian market ceased trade in 2009. But the Australian Alliance for Native Animal Survival has written to Russia's foreign minister asking him to reconsider taking kangaroo products. Simultaneously, Voiceless has written to Dr Emerson with claims kangaroo meat carries "worrying levels" of E coli and salmonella and that the industry slaughters a million joeys a year, many inhumanely. AANAS president Rob Craigie said it was a group of "First (indigenous) Peoples" from around the nation. "I would like to inform you that the Australian Government and the meat industry currently condone unethical, inhumane and unhygienic practices when harvesting and culling kangaroos," Mr Craigie said in the letter to Russia. "This practice is offensive to the First People and, with respect, we urge you not to support this industry." Australian Kangaroo Industry Association executive officer John Kelly called the animal welfare groups "environmental vandals", saying the kangaroo industry was an essential environmental management tool. *Weekly Times
Kangaroo Pet Food
For readers who would like to write a letter, below are some of the companies that use kangaroo meat in their pet food.
VIP- reception@vippetfoods.com.au Ph: 0755471700
Natures Gift- http://www.naturesgift.com.au/contact-us
Eukanauba- http://www.eukanuba.com.au/en-AU/email-expert.jspx
Woolworths- http://www.facebook.com/woolworths
http://www.woolworthslimited.com.au/phoenix.zhtml?c=144044&p=contact
Ecopet- http://www.ecopet.com.au/index2.html?contact.html~content
Snappy Tom- website not working?
To find out more about cruelty within the kangaroo industry,and what companies are kangaroo free go to the ASK website at: http://www.australiansocietyforkangaroos.com/help.html *Australian Society for Kangaroos
Meanwhile we have found a website calling itself "the ethical consumers guide" http://www.ethical.org.au/contact/ which is recomending pet food companies that use kangaroo as "sustainable and ethical". You can contact them here Co-ordinator: Nick Ray, email: info@ethical.org.au, phone: 0417 114 492 We wrote to them, and have received reply asking for more information. Please write too if you have time.
A grandfather needed more than 10 stitches and his wife medical treatment after a kangaroo attacked them in their backyard. The 155cm marsupial first charged at the woman while she stood on the porch of her Lake Innes home. The couple, who did not want to be named, said they were “shaken up” by the ordeal. The animal approached the Long Point Dr woman when she was telling her grandchildren to go inside the house on Thursday last week. “I shouted at it and tried to shoo it away with my hands, but it just kept coming right at me. I was terrified,” the woman said. “It was completely unprovoked. My grandson simply pointed from a distance at another kangaroo, who had a joey in her pouch, and then this great big one started coming towards me.” The kangaroo scratched her on the arms and face, coming at her five times. Her husband attempted to come to her aid by cracking a whip near the kangaroo, but it then turned on him.
The grandparents finally managed to get the kangaroo to leave them alone and both had to go to the Lake Cathie Medical Centre for treatment. The man received 10 stitches to his calf and several stitches on his arm. The woman was given a cream for her wounds. The pair, who have lived at the Long Point Dr property for three decades, said kangaroo attacked an exchange student who was staying with them several years ago. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Port Macquarie spokesman Lawrence Orel said the incident should be a warning to people. Kangaroos are wild animals and act out of instinct. He said the animals had been known to attack people, perhaps seeing them as a threat to their mob or as a “sparring” partner for young males to practise their fighting techniques. “Never feed kangaroos, because often people will give them the wrong thing, such as bread, which is bad for their health, and can lead to future conflict for people who don’t feed those animals,” Mr Orel said. *Port Macqarie News
The track at Mount Panorama will be a no-go zone for kangaroos this race weekend. Bathurst Regional Council’s commitment to driver safety for the V8 Supercar endurance event has seen it working towards implementing a specially-prepared flora and fauna management plan for the precinct. Although there has been no culling of kangaroos over the past two years, there has been major fencing installed at key locations around the circuit to reduce the risk of any of the marsupials making their way onto the track. Council’s general manager David Sherley said yesterday a major focus of the management plan for the Mount has been the fencing initiative. “We have been putting in permanent fencing as an ongoing measure,” he said yesterday. “And there will be some temporary fencing going in at strategic locations as well.
“Council is also continually monitoring kangaroo numbers in that area, especially now that we are down to the serious part of race week, with official practice starting today (Thursday). “Basically, we are being as vigilant as possible and are confident the measures we have put in place regarding kangaroos getting onto the track will be successful.” City engineer Doug Patterson said yesterday there were still a lot of kangaroos on both the inside and outside of the track. He confirmed that, apart from the fencing, staff have been employed with a dedicated role of patrolling inside the circuit to monitor any wildlife movement, in particular, kangaroos. “Their job will be to keep them away from the track and prevent any adverse impact on the operation of the event,” he said. “The risks have been assessed and we have taken what we believe are appropriate measures to mitigate problems the kangaroos may pose.”
Bathurst Regional Council last used culling methods to control the kangaroo problem before the Great Race in 2009. At the time Mr Sherley said a range of measures were implemented, including fencing and operating electronic “shoo roos”. Environmentalists had rallied against council when they heard of the measures used to control the kangaroos, but Mr Sherley said council’s methods were constantly evolving. “Council will always continue to review control strategies put in place to minimise the risk of the circuit not only for the race but for the 300,000 tourists who drive around the track each year,” Mr Sherley said. *Western Advocate
Footie stars’ big-money boot deals prop up a cruel trade in kangaroo skins, claim campaigners. They say footwear used by the likes of Michael Owen, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole come from a business which sees baby kangaroos decapitated. Nike, adidas, Umbro and Puma all use ultra-soft kangaroo skin in their top-of-the-range boots. And nearly four million of the creatures are shot for commercial purposes in Australia every year. Aussie government rules say the babies must be killed with a blunt instrument or decapitated, while adults are shot from the back of trucks. But animal rights group Viva! said the practice leads to unnecessary suffering since many animals are often only wounded by hunters, leaving them to die over days. Once shot the adults are partially butchered in the Outback and taken to chiller compartments before being used for boot leather.
Kangaroo skin is softer and more pliable than cow leather and also provides better weather-proofing. But all four of the big makers have synthetic alternatives that are just as good, opponents claim. “Stars of the pitch don’t hear the gunshots in the night nor witness youngsters ripped from their dying mother’s pouch, decapitated and thrown in the trash,” said Viva! campaigns manager Justin Kerswell. “This is the Premier League’s dirty little secret.” Phil Woolley, of the Australian Wildlife Protection Council, said: “When millions of kangaroos are slaughtered for sports footwear, this results in over a million babies dying horrible deaths as a waste product. “It has nothing to do with the welfare of the kangaroos. “The code of practice is nothing more than a smokescreen for the industry to hide behind.”
A Viva! campaign saw adidas star David Beckham abandon kangaroo boots in 2006 and followed a formal pledge from Nike to use more synthetic material. But sports retailers across the UK, including Sports Direct, are still stocking kangaroo leather boots, including Nike’s Tiempo, worn by Ashley Cole, Man United’s Javier Hernández and Joe Cole, now at French club Lille. Other footballers wearing the skins include Manchester City’s Joe Hart and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson, who both use the Geometra shoe which Umbro boasts is made from “high grade K leather”. Manufacturers stand by their use of the product. Adidas told us: “This use of kangaroo leather is common practice in the footwear industry. “Adidas insists that our suppliers fully comply with the Australian government’s strict rules on culling. “We make a limited number of shoes using kangaroo leather, however it is not across the entire range and we ensure the leather does not originate from endangered species.”
Puma said it used “a limited amount of kangaroo leather” and followed the industry code of practice. Rivals Nike and Umbro – which is also owned by Nike – told us: “Nike has worked proactively on phasing out exotic skins from its product range over the past few years. “We are concerned about the humane treatment of animals and have been informed by the Australian government that suppliers must abide by their strict regulations for the humane treatment of animals.” *Daily (UK) Star
A Nichols Point woman had the shock of her life recently when she found a dead kangaroo in her pool. The woman, who did not want to be named, discovered the kangaroo after noticing flies around her house and an “awful” smell lingering around the pool area. “On Monday night I realised there was a body-like figure underneath our pool cover,” she said. “I opened it to find a large, wet kangaroo leg. “I was shocked as even though we’ve had many kangaroos near our house I never thought one could drown in our pool.” The woman said the roo must have jumped over the side fence, then the pool fence and finally onto the pool before it came to its untimely fate. “My husband has since disposed of it and the pool has been emptied and treated, ready for the summer season.” *Network Item
Kangaroo "Culling"
Ramifications of Indiscriminate shooting of Kangaroos destroys variability in the gene pool affecting the future survival of the mobs and in the short term, increases populations: The biggest problem which arises when Kangaroos are shot indiscriminately during ‘culling’ programs is that more breeding will possibly occur due to the large Alpha males being taken. Killing the alpha males creates an imbalance in the hierarchy which therefore affects the balance which in turn affects the behaviour of Kangaroos associated with the particular Mob.
When the Alpha male (Buck) is destroyed, the Juvenile or Bachelor males who usually patrol the outskirts will get a chance to harass the females( Does) as their protection has been taken ( ‘killed’ Alpha males) and therefore Juveniles will not be challenged. These smaller Bucks will mate many of the Does and often the Does are chased relentlessly by several young Bucks. This does not happen when the Alpha Buck is in charge of the Mob. Frequently Does are mated by several males and occasionally Does will die from exhaustion from trying to escape time after time. In the case of the Alpha male, he does not continually breed with all his Does, he is selective and moderates when breeding occurs.
In conclusion, indiscriminate shooting will exacerbate the so called reason for ‘Culling’, usual excuses being too many and over grazing an area of threatened vegetation. This will be due to a larger number of Does becoming pregnant due to the loss of their protector, the Alpha male. If unnecessary ‘culling’ persists (in our eyes there is never a reason to ‘Cull’) then a larger proportion of Kangaroos shot should be Juvenile males of weight range approx 40-50 Kilos, definitely never female kangaroos with baby kangaroo Joeys in- pouch young, those still dependent young-at foot, or Alpha males. * Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc.
Turtles
About 600 turtles with pig-like snouts, believed to have been caught in the wild in Indonesia, have been returned home. The pig-nosed turtles are distinguishable for having a nose which looks like that of a pig with nostrils at the end of fleshy snout. Hong Kong conservationists seized nearly 800 of the endangered baby reptiles smuggled from Indonesia in January. Indonesian customs officials display crates of the pig-nosed turtles after they were returned from Hong Kong. It was Hong Kong's biggest haul in its battle against the illegal pet trade. The animals were believed to have been caught from the wild in Indonesia before being brought illegally to Hong Kong. The record seizure came to light as authorities prepared to release 600 of the surviving turtles back to their native habitat in Indonesia's remote Papua province. "It's the first of its kind [of seizure] in Hong Kong in terms of the number and the species," Alfred Wong, an endangered-species protection official from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, told reporters. "They are quite popular in the pet trade; that's why they are threatened by the international trade," he said as the baby turtles were being packed into boxes, to be flown to Indonesia on Wednesday.
The pig-nosed turtles were also threatened because the demand for their eggs and meat, but Mr Wong said they were mostly kept as pets in Hong Kong. Authorities carried out an investigation into how the creatures came to be in Hong Kong and had questioned suspects, but could not charge them because of insufficient evidence, he said. He declined to provide further details including how many suspects were involved or their nationality. The pig-nosed turtles (Carettochelys insculpta) are listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which imposes international trade restrictions to protect the species from over-exploitation. The turtles, which were only a few days old when they were rescued, had been kept since then at a privately run conservation farm for care and temporary holding. They are set to be released into a national park in Merauke, which is located in the south-eastern coast of Papua. * AFP
NZ Oil Spill Gets Worse
About 70 containers have fallen from a stricken ship off the New Zealand coast in wild weather overnight and the captain has been arrested and charged. He will appear in court this morning. A Martime New Zealand spokesman told the Bay of Plenty Times that news containers had fallen off Rena was confirmed to them this morning by crew on the naval ship Endeavour. "We know that about 70 containers have fallen off. These came off the rear starboard side, which means the containers on the port side of the ship are unstable. "Shipping is being re-routed around the area because of containers afloat in the water." The spokesman said they would be taking a flight as soon as possible to view the situation but stormy weather was getting in the way. He said it was unknown at this stage if any of the containers that went overboard contained the hazardous substance ferrosilicon. The shipwreck of the Rena has become New Zealand's worst maritime environmental disaster with the Government saying it will require a marathon effort to clean the oil off the Bay's beaches.
Up to 350 tonnes of oil spewed out when the Rena shifted its position on Astrolabe Reef in heavy seas early yesterday - five times larger than the total amount previously discharged since the container ship grounded last Wednesday. * Sunshine Coast Daily
Ed Comment; The stricken container ship Rena has ''significant structural failings'' after large cracks were spotted in the side of the vessel, and looks like breaking up.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Wildlife Bytes 5/10/11
Kangaroo Meat in Pet Food
Wildlife groups are now campaigning to have appropriate labelling on pet food that contains kangaroo meat. For readers who have time to lobby their appropriate government department, a suggested letter content is below. The more letters the departments and the politicians get the better.
I object to the fact that kangaroo meat is not labeled on pet foods. I object to buying pet food with kangaroo meat as I am morally and ethically opposed to the mass utilization of our wildlife, the harassment and cruelty involved. Up to one million young and baby kangaroo are simply bashed to death or die slowly from this ugly trade. I do not want to support it in any way. However, currently it is not necessary to label the products as having this meat. I know that Purina are using it, and Nature's Best. I would like to see proper labeling on ALL pet meat so wildlife supporters can avoid these products. Thank you, *
White Whale Calf Sited
An all-white humpback whale calf has been spotted frolicking in the waters around the Whitsundays. The Townsville Bulletin reported that Wayne Fewings captured the white calf on camera while diving near the entrance to Cid Harbour last week. Mr Fewings saw the whale, believed to be about 4m in length and similar to the famous Migaloo, along with two predominantly black adult humpback whales while with his son's family in a 4.5m runabout boat. The calf raised its head out of the water and then dived before coming within four or five metres of the runabout. The last official sighting of Migaloo was by a cargo ship crew on August 10 about 10km north of Pipon Island in Far North Queensland, according to the White Whale Research Centre. *Courier Mail
Wildife Burning
Roos, birds and lizards have been left without food or homes as the fires ripped through the desert and mountains in the past six weeks - some of the blazes deliberately lit. Even captive animals are struggling to survive.
Wildcare carer Cynthia Lynch has been the go-to woman for people around Alice Springs whose pets have flu-like symptoms. The retired nurse has about five joeys on antibiotics for smoke-induced pneumonia. Ms Lynch said that, in 35 years, she had never seen the smoke so bad. "It is so thick it's infiltrating our houses," she said. "I've seen orphan joeys get pneumonia when they're left out in the cold but these ones are about eight months old. I keep the weaker ones inside at night." Ms Lynch started looking after joeys while she was still nursing. Her granddaughter, Honey, 5, is fond of helping her nurse the little roos. The Alice Springs Counter Disaster Committee was continuing to monitor several fires yesterday. Some were contained around Luritja Rd but the main threat was in the Henbury area. *NT News
Wasps
As the days grow warmer and spring gets into full swing, it's time for Australian paper wasps to go hunting. When you say 'wasp' many people might think of the aggressive introduced European wasp (Vespula germanica), which has spoilt many a Sunday picnic. Yet most of the wasps we see in Australian backyards are native wasps. Despite their jerky movements and ominous looking stingers, native paper wasps have little interest in people unless their nest is directly threatened. What they're really after are the fat juicy caterpillars that turn up in spring to graze happily on your garden. Caterpillars are ideal food for hungry baby wasps. Watch what a wasp does and you'll see it carefully inspecting each leaf for caterpillars, before grabbing its prize and flying off with it. *ABC
Read more .... http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/10/04/3327168.htm
New Marine Plants Found
WA scientists have discovered almost three-dozen new marine plant species in the South West of WA. Marine scientists from the WA Herbarium, responsible for the documentation of botanical species, and the Department of Environment and Conservation, made the series of discoveries in the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park. The survey unearthed a new green algae and the first records of red algae species' in Australia Environment minister Bill Marmion said the findings added to our knowledge of the inlet's biodiversity and complex food webs. "By understanding the life-cycles of these new species, scientists and marine managers can more readily recognise 'invaders' that could become major pests," Mr Marmion said. "The survey helps to provide insight into how certain marine species are distributed and significantly builds on the existing knowledge of marine plants in the inlets." A total of 49 species were recorded during the survey, a significant jump from the 14 previously recorded. WA News
Climate Change
A new plan to curb global warming risks becoming a battleground between rich and poor nations and could struggle to get off the ground as negotiators battle over the fate of the ailing Kyoto climate pact. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol covers only emissions from rich nations that produce less than a third of mankind's carbon pollution and its first phase is due to expire end-2012. Poorer nations want it extended, while many rich countries say a broader pact is needed to include all big polluters. Australia and Norway have proposed negotiations on a new agreement, but say it is unrealistic to expect that to be ready by 2013. They have set a target date two years later, in 2015. "This is the only way ahead. There is no other way than failure," said a senior climate negotiator from a developed country on the Australia-Norway proposal, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the talks. Rueters Read more ... http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/10/02/idINIndia-59659120111002
Tasmanian Animal Welfare Review Possible
Liberal leader Will Hodgman has backed a call to review Tasmania's animal welfare laws. Mr Hodgman said yesterday he was happy to be part of an animal welfare round table. The Tasmanian Greens have flagged a round table to formulate possible amendments to Tasmania's Animal Welfare Act. Speaking at the start of RSPCA Awareness Week yesterday, Mr Hodgman said the work the RSPCA did was critical. He said it was important to examine the level of State Government support for the organisation and to ensure animal welfare law was strong. "The last thing we can tolerate is the abuse of something as victimless and defenceless as an animal," the state Opposition Leader said. "It is inconceivable some of the things people will do to defenceless animals - it is a terrible indictment on our society." *Mercury
Cheetahs
Cheetahs went extinct in India in 1950's - India wants to reintroduce them. An Indian government minister has stated that cheetahs may be imported to India in an attempt to repopulate the country with the only animal that has been declared extinct in India in the last 1,000 years. "We will have to get them from abroad to repopulate the species," said Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh when responding to a question. "We soon hope to do so," he added. The statement sparked a lively 70-minute debate in the Indian government with Ramesh detailing the steps being taken to conserve the tiger in 37 reserves across the country, 16 of which are in dire straights. "Our analysis shows that the situation in 16 reserves is truly alarming and they stand to lose all their tigers if the appropriate action is not undertaken to improve the situation," the minister said. "These 16 reserves are in the danger zone from where tigers have vanished or are on the brink of vanishing. Twelve reserves are in good condition, while the situation in the remaining nine is satisfactory but needs to improve," he added. "The main reasons for tiger decline include poaching, degradation of forest status outside tiger reserves and protected areas due to human pressure, livestock pressure and ecologically unsustainable land-use," Ramesh said. * Wildlife Extra
Fishing
Cod stocks in the Irish Sea and the west coast of Scotland have collapsed because of overfishing and politicians' refusal to fix low enough catch quotas, according to a leading fisheries scientist who advises the European commission on fish quotas. Dr Paul Connolly's comments followed the European commission's decision on Wednesday to recommend for the first time that all fishing cod in the two sea areas is stopped. The commission has previously stopped short of pushing for such draconian measures in such a wide area of sea because of the political difficulty of placing a ban on fishing such a key species. Connolly, who is the director of Fisheries Science Services at the Marine Institute in Galway, advises the commission on "total allowable catches" and in 2013 is due to take over as president of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), the oldest marine scientific body. He said: "Continuous over-fishing has led to a collapse in cod in both these areas. The signs have been there for years and scientists have repeatedly warned quotas must be cut but fisheries ministers have time and time again ignored us. We do not know now whether the stocks will recover." *Guardian
Read more ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/sep/30/uk-cod-collapse-overfishing?intcmp=122
Murray River Rescue....or Not?
The national bid to save the River Murray appears to be in jeopardy with both green groups and irrigators attacking the revised plan. Ten environmental groups yesterday emerged from a briefing to condemn the plan, saying it would not restore enough water to save the system. That came as the South Australian Murray Irrigators group also attacked the revised plan, saying it had "barely changed from the original draft". The original draft guide to the plan, which proposed restoring up to 4000 gigalitres to the Murray-Darling, was released 12 months ago and them immediately withdrawn, after a backlash from irrigators fearful of losing water allocations. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has since redrafted the plan, and is proposing to restore about 2800GL. The authority is currently briefing affected groups across the basin. "The most recent comprehensive science review conducted by CSIRO showed anything less than 4000GL will fail the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth," Professor Diane Bell of the River, Lakes and Coorong Action Group said yesterday. The 10 groups said it would be impossible for them to support the current approach of the authority. The authority would not comment yesterday. *Adelaide Now
Lost Penguin
Day-trippers enjoying the heatwave on a Hampshire beach (UK) were stunned to spot a lost penguin frolicking in the waves. It's believed it was a jackass penguin which normally makes its home in South Africa, 6,000 miles away, reports The Sun. Visitors to Southsea beach, near Portsmouth, filmed the penguin diving in and out of the waves. Joanne Gordon, 35, of Aldershot, said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw it swimming around away just six foot from me." Earlier, the bird is said to have been seen waddling around the harbour to the surprise of onlookers. *Orange.com.uk
Flying Foxes
New Farm resident Carolyn Martin is being treated for exposure to the deadly bat disease lyssavirus after being swooped on by flying foxes. Ms Martin, 30, said she was hanging a towel on her clothesline just before 11pm last Tuesday night when she believes she "startled" a group of three flying foxes. "I wouldn't describe it as an attack," Ms Martin said. "Three flying foxes sort of flew on to my balcony and had a collision and I happened to be in the middle of it. "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Ms Martin now faces a gruelling four-week round of injections to protect her against the potentially deadly bat-borne virus. The 30-year-old received nine "excruciating" injections the day after the bats scratched her left foot and spat on her face. She was now facing a series of five further injections. Queensland Health acting chief officer Professor Michael Clearly said the lyssavirus was related to rabies and caused serious illness in humans that was usually fatal. He said there had been 89 notifications of bites or scratches involving bats in Queensland this year, including 16 in Brisbane. "Anyone who has been potentially exposed to Australian bat lyssavirus, and has never received pre-exposure vaccination, will require an injection of rabies immunoglobulin and a series of five rabies vaccine injections over one month," Prof Clearly said. Queensland's chief veterinary officer, Rick Symons, said it was extremely rare for healthy bats to approach or attack humans and that aggression could be a sign a flying fox was infected. "Lyssavirus is within the bat population and, unlike Hendra virus, it affects the bats," Dr Symons said. "It does make them sick and it can kill them. Sometimes they can get aggressive. "If you can touch or go near a bat, it's likely they have lyssavirus." *Coureur Mail
Ed Comment; The headline read.... "New Farm resident Carolyn Martin attacked by three bats now faces injections over four weeks to protect from lyssavirus.." Bat attack indeed, the media have a lot to answer for.
Fruit grower Brian Terrey describes the swarm of flying foxes that descends on his orchard each year as ''lethal vermin''. With the commercial fruit picking season set to begin, Mr Terrey wants to keep his right to shoot the protected animals that feed on his 12,000 nectarine and peach trees at Grose Vale, on the north-west fringe. He is angry the NSW government is phasing out a licensing scheme that allows fruit growers to kill limited numbers of grey-headed flying foxes, even though they are listed as vulnerable to extinction. Instead, it is rolling out a $5 million subsidised netting program to protect fruit trees in the Sydney basin and the central coast. Growers in other areas cannot apply for the netting grants. And as picking season looms, deep divisions are emerging in the growing industry.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/pests-drive-farmers-batty-20111001-1l2lo.html#ixzz1ZnC8CgHp
Koalas
Koala numbers on Kangaroo Island have dropped to 13,000 from a peak of 27,000 in the past decade. Picture: Megan Slade. Source: Up to 40 per cent of Kangaroo Island's koalas have an AIDS-like virus that could devastate the population. It has the potential to impact on koalas in a similar way to the mouth cancer which is wiping out Tasmanian devils, experts say. The Environment Department revealed yesterday that koala numbers on the island had dropped from a peak of 27,000 to 13,000 over the past decade. Kangaroo Island was thought to be the only koala population without the retrovirus, but it has been detected in recent years, believed to be carried by insects, possibly mosquitos. The retrovirus is linked to koala cancers including lymphoma and leukemia. Last year, the first case of lymphoma in a Kangaroo Island koala was detected. A Senate inquiry examining the health of Australia's koala population has heard the retrovirus can lead to an AIDS-like disease destroying the immune system, and making the animals vulnerable to cancers and other diseases.
The virus is thought to be transmitted genetically from parent to offspring. Kangaroo Island's koala population has previously been robust and bred prolifically, prompting concerns they were demolishing the native habitat with their voracious appetites. The State Government introduced a sterilisation program to contain them in 1997. Almost 10,000 koalas were sterilised and 3800 moved off the island to the state's South-East. Now it is feared that the retrovirus will affect the island's koala population, as the disease spreads and new cancers emerge. Koala expert Dr Jon Hanger warned the inquiry that more money was needed for research to determine the impact of the virus. "The retrovirus has the potential to be one of the most significant factors in the severity and prevalence of serious disease in koalas and yet the funding allocated to better understanding it has been pitiful," he said. "It is our opinion that this virus may be as devastating to koalas as the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease is to devils. In Environment Department spokesman said research was continuing to understand the prevalence of the disease on the island. "There is no evidence to suggest that the koala population on Kangaroo Island will become extinct from the retrovirus," he said. *News.com
Fraser Island
Which would you prefer - a fenced-off beach or an untouched, white sandy playground that was Fraser Island's Lake McKenzie before rangers began their foreshore rehabilitation? Conservationist John Sinclair says the beach has been ruined and turned into a garden. "I am absolutely rabid about this," Mr Sinclair said. "You have one of the best known beaches, with its stunning white sand used in promotional photos and the department tries to cover it up. "It's not just tree planting either. They've covered the sand with mesh and fenced it off. This is an abomination." Mr Sinclair, the Fraser Island Defenders Organisation spokesman, said he had written to the Environment Department about the issue and had not received a reply. "They can't admit they've made a mistake," he said. "I asked for a statement of reason under the Judicial Review Act and they won't even acknowledge my letter." The work was defended by Great Sandy regional manager Ross Belcher, who said it was done to protect the beach from high visitor numbers. "This work is no garden," he said. "The lake's been getting a hammering from growing tourist numbers. We get upwards of 300,000 a year to the island and I reckon most of them visit McKenzie. It's a first-rate job."
Mr Sinclair said the development, which included fences, retaining walls and plantings of local species, had to go. Mr Belcher said considerable damage had been done in past years and the revegetation would not be removed. "I appreciate John's point of view but this is to protect foreshore vegetation and make sure damage is not occurring," he said. "We want also to improve the visual amenity. It provides swimming areas that are screened from other parts of the beach." Mr Sinclair said there was no excuse for Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service staff to interfere with nature in the middle of the state's most prominent national park. In 1993, Mr Sinclair, a former Australian of the Year, removed 113 casuarina trees planted by the Beach Protection Authority to stabilise a sand blow - a hill of naturally moving sand. Yesterday, he said he would consider dismantling the McKenzie structure. "I'd have to think about it though, it's such a substantial fence I'd probably get a hernia." *Courier Mail
DERM Firebugs Burn Fraser Island
Guests at Fraser Island's Kingfisher Bay Resort have been moved to alternative rooms, as a large bushfire continues to burn just 800m away. The fire broke out about 6.40pm last night, with some ash and smoke from the fire affecting the resort. An evacuation plan has been put in place for guests and staff at the Kingfisher Bay Resort on Kingfisher Bay Drive, but has not yet been activated, a Department of Community Safety spokeswoman said. It is understood 50 of the 500 people staying at the resort have been relocated to different rooms as a precaution. A spokeswoman for the Kingfisher Bay Resort said the resort was not experiencing any difficulties due to the fire. She said the 50 people relocated had been staying in both the staff and backpackers accommodation and had been relocated to the main part of the resort. She said some tours had been redirected but that the resort was otherwise operating as normal. She confirmed one resort guest was treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics. A resort staff member said they did not believe the resort was under threat.
Kingfisher Bay Resort group general manager David Hay said the fire was not visible from the resort because it was over a ridge. "We had a fire burning to the south of us for about a week that was a national parks burn-off and some very windy south-westerly winds in the last few days," he said. "That changed the fire into a much bigger fire, it jumped a few breaks and a few roads and got the point where it was within a kilometre of the resort. "As a precaution, we moved some people from one part of the resort, which is more tree-covered and closer to the boundary, down to the main complex just for safety but we've had no incursions from the fire into the resort grounds. " The Department of Community Safety said water-bombing of the fire, burning near Kingfisher Bay Drive and Corn Wells Break Road, had ceased. Eighteen firefighters on the ground were this afternoon conducting backburning in the hopes of extinguishing the fire in the next few hours. A dozer is being used to strengthen containment lines around the Kingfisher Bay Resort. *Courier Mail
Kangaroos
The death of a road-user will be the only way marsupial problems around Tower Hill will be fixed, Moyne mayor Jim Doukas said. However, the government department responsible for the wildlife has ruled out relocating or culling kangaroos. The warning followed another accident between a car and kangaroos this week. DSE regional director Laurie Dwyer Dwyer said the DSE had received a letter from Killarney farmer Brian Mugavin on Thursday and was still in the process of working through issues raised. Mr Mugavin raised the issue with the Moyne Shire Council and the government this week after his son's ute was damaged by kangaroos. Mr Mugavin also claims someone will be killed before something is done about the Tower Hill Game Reserve's roos and wallabies. His 18-year-old son Leigh was involved in a collision on Wednesday night with a kangaroo that damaged the driver's side panels . Brian's wife Sally collided with a kangaroo a couple of months ago , result ing in a $7000 damage bill. That incurred a $500 insurance excess and the latest prang is likely to attract an insurance excess of more than $1200.
Leigh hit two kangaroos while trying to swerve to miss a mob along Lakeview Road. He said he saw one kangaroo, swerved and slowed down to about 50km/h when two more jumped into the side of his ute. "I just heard two bangs ," he said. " Someone could swerve into Tower Hill or hit another car head-on." Brian said he was angry and he had heard about a number of recent accidents. He has contacted the Warrnambool Parks Victoria office, spoken to a regional manager, the VicRoads office, Moyne mayor Jim Doukas, a number of local residents, member for South West Coast Denis Napthine, Wildlife Victoria, the Moyne Shire Council ranger and police . "Everyone is sorry but no one can do anything," he said. "If I had a cow out on the road which caused this sort of damage I would be in awful trouble," he said. Mr Dwyer said most wildlife incidents involving cars on roads were the responsibility of VicRoads or councils. "On rare occasions there is a processes we can go through of relocation or culling but we do not think that is an option here at the moment," he said.
Brian said he was contacted by a Parks Victoria officer on Thursday night but compensation was ruled out. Cr Doukas said the issue refused to go away and Parks Victoria and DSE either had to relocate kangaroos, cull them or put in place effective fencing. "They thought they had fixed this issue by closing a gate," Cr Doukas said. "It had quietened down but now it's back bigger than ever. "There are sometimes hundreds of kangaroos in paddocks around Tower Hill . "It's been going for 12 months and there's been dozens and dozens of accidents. "It seems that someone is going to have to be seriously injured or killed before something is done ." *Warnambool Standard
Gladsone Harbor Dredging
Controversial dredging operations in Gladstone Harbour resumed yesterday after being suspended last week to allow murky water conditions to improve. But Greens environment spokeswoman Larissa Waters said the suspension should stand until tests revealed what was behind diseases and deaths of marine species in the harbour area. The Gladstone Ports Corporation voluntarily stopped dredging in part of the harbour last Thursday because extremely low tides and high winds had increased turbidity levels. A newly-created bund wall, aimed at containing dredge spoil, also was leaking although authorities expected it to seal. "The leaking, new bund wall is worsening high turbidity in Gladstone Harbour, and we know that red spot in fish is linked to poor water quality and high levels of sediment," Ms Waters said. "Why should dredging be allowed to continue when the entire fishing industry of Gladstone is left in limbo? "Dredging operations simply must be stopped until authorities get to the bottom of this. "I urge Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke and Queensland Environment Minister Vicky Darling to suspend all Gladstone dredging operations immediately."
Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace said last week dredging would not stop because Health Department and independent tests showed no link between port work and diseased fish. Two weeks ago, the Government banned fishing in an area of about 500sq km - centred on Gladstone's harbour - while scientists try to resolve issues that have shut down part of the region's $40 million commercial fishing industry. Tests have found fish are infected with red spot disease, and a parasite that causes milky eye in barramundi. Red spot also broke out in Moreton Bay after the Brisbane floods in January. Gladstone has also recorded more than 100 turtle and dugong deaths this year - raising concerns of links between dredging and stressed animals. The Queensland Seafood Industry Association also has called for a halt to dredging. "If leaking through the bund wall in the reclamation area at Fisherman's Landing is causing unacceptable levels of turbidity, then what is the dumping of the same dredge spoil material off the front of Facing Island doing?" QSIA president Michael Gardner said. "Surely, that will be causing serious turbidity problems also." The QSIA has written to Ms Darling asking that no further dredge spoil be dumped at the Fisherman's Landing site until the bund wall was sealed. *Courier Mail
Queensland Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace has denied claims he was aware of a health scare at Gladstone months before he took action. A fishing ban was imposed at Gladstone harbour on September 16 after sick fish were found with sores and cloudy eyes. The government has appointed a scientific panel to investigate the cause, with initial tests identifying two conditions, red-spot disease and a parasite. Further tests are under way. Fishing groups say it's a human health risk, with several commercial fishermen developing rashes and nausea after handling the sick fish. Opposition fisheries spokesman Mark Robinson accuses Mr Wallace of not responding to the health scare immediately. "Gladstone fishermen claim the government received reports of sick fish at least three months ago, so the minister has some explaining to do," Dr Robinson said.
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-government-sat-on-sick-fish-report-opposition-20111004-1l6f2.html#ixzz1ZnDHTnpH
Queensland fishermen have been taken to hospital with recurring weeping sores resembling spider bites after handling sick fish and working in water at Gladstone's harbour. A fishing ban was imposed at Gladstone harbour on September 16 after sick fish were found with sores and cloudy eyes. Up to 20 fishermen have issued statements to Queensland Health detailing painful boils that cover their legs and arms, medical doctor and Queensland Seafood Industry Association president Michael Gardner said yesterday. The cardio surgeon says he had examined and taken photos of several fishermen with the sores. "I'm seeing a cluster of people working in the harbour who have been exposed to the water or have handled the fish, breaking out in multiple lesions on their limbs," Dr Gardner said. "I'm a medical practitioner and I can say this is more than a coincidence and it's not an isolated event." Dr Gardner said at least four people had to be admitted to hospital. "They are very painful sores," he said. "Some of (the fishermen) couldn't work for several weeks. Some of them developed septicemia and had to be hospitalised."
Gladstone Fish Market owner Ted Whittingham said he knows that one fisherman was taken to hospital for five days and had to be put on an intravenous drip and pumped with antibiotics. "There have been numerous fishermen contracting this and it seems to be from handling fish and using the harbour water," Mr Whittingham said. "A lot of the reef fishermen who use the water to wash their boats, and where they've got a cut or scratch, burst out in these lesions. "They're like big spider bites and they come up within 24 hours." Queensland Health says its officers had interviewed several fishermen but found no health cluster to be concerned about. "(The fishermen) have described a range of conditions, including infected fish spike injuries and wounds and other skin problems," a statement from the department yesterday said. "All the conditions described have multiple causes."
Dr Gardner is calling for the department to investigate it further. "There is a relationship. The symptoms are the same, but just what it is I don't know," he said. "The story is the same. The sores appeared after people handled fish or came into contact with the water." Dr Gardner said it's unusual for a small fishing community to have at least 20 people infected with the same illness. A state government report into the water quality at Gladstone Port, however, did not find any problems, the Department of Environment and Resource Management's director of water quality Dr Julia Playford told the Nine Network. "It (the report) takes into account the time before the fish became diseased and after the fish became diseased and it shows no significant change," she said. * AAP
Ed Comment; Gladstone Harbor has long been a cesspit, 20 years ago we were shown fish caught in the Harbor with huge sores on their bodies. The government did nothing about it then....except allow the building of more chemical factories to service the coal mining Industry. It's not likely to do anything about the pollution now. Gladsone Harbor also host large numbers of foreign shellfish and exotic sea creatures bought in on the hulls and ballast water of the huge coal ships. Nowdays they offload the ballst water offshore....but its too late...the exotics are there already. I was in Gladstone last week, and its very busy, dirty place, with mining and CSG vehicles everywhere. It is also reputed to have the highest incidents of asthma and similar breathing illnesses of any town in Australia.*
Whaling...Japan gives $27.7 to support whalers!
Radical anti-whaling operation Sea Shepherd is promising dramatic attacks against Japanese whalers in coming months, with volunteers warning they are prepared to die for the cause. The group has announced "Operation Divine Wind" against the Japanese whalers, who plan to begin their annual hunt in the Southern Ocean in December. The name translates to the Japanese word kamikaze, the name given to World War II pilots sent on suicide missions. In launching the mission at the weekend, Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson promised on the group's Facebook page a "very dramatic and adventurous three months beginning in December". "I am confident that we will be able to stop them once again," he wrote in a statement "liked" by more than 2000 Sea Shepherd Facebook fans. The Sea Shepherd has become increasingly successful in recent years at disrupting the Japanese fleet, last year taking it further when New Zealand activist Peter Bethune illegally boarded a whaling ship and was briefly jailed.
Angered by the campaign, which reduced the catch, the Japanese government has injected $27.7 million into the program to improve the safety for its crew. Undeterred, Sea Shepherd announced it would send 100 volunteers to the Southern Ocean and was prepared to lose lives if necessary. "They will have to kill us to prevent us from intervening once again," Mr Watson said. "Are the Japanese people ready to take human lives in defence of this horrifically cruel and illegal slaughter of endangered and protected species of whales? "If so, my answer to the Japanese government is hoka hey - it's a good day to die." He also accused Japan of continuing its whale program solely to save face against activist opposition. "It now seems they are simply obsessed with killing whales not for need, and not for profit, but because they believe they have the right to do what they wish and kill whatever they wish in an established international whale sanctuary, just for the sake of defending their misplaced honour." He claimed the program was a "smack in the face" to foreign nations that donated funds in the wake of Japan's killer tsunami. Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research has yet to comment on the claims. *AAP
Ed Comment; Meanwhile the federal government has condemned a decision by Japan to continue hunting whales in the Southern Ocean, saying Australia remains opposed to the so-called scientific whaling program. At the same time, the government doesnt seem to have done much to stop it.
New Shark Sanctuary
The Marshall Islands government has created the world's largest shark sanctuary, covering nearly two million sq km (750,000 sq miles) of ocean. The Pacific republic will ban trade in shark products and commercial shark fishing throughout its waters. Tourism, including diving, is a staple of the Marshall Islands archipelago, which is home to just 68,000 people. Sharks and their near relatives such as rays are seriously threatened by issues such as habitat loss and fishing. About a third of ocean-going sharks are on the internationally-recognised Red List of Threatened Species. "In passing this [shark protection] bill, there is no greater statement we can make about the importance of sharks to our culture, environment and economy," said Senator Tony deBrum, who co-sponsored the bill through the Marshallese parliament. "Ours may be a small island nation, but our waters are now the biggest place sharks are protected."
To put the sanctuary in context, it covers roughly the same area as Indonesia, Mexico or Saudi Arabia, and is about eight times bigger than the UK. The move will extend the area of ocean in which sharks are protected from about 2.7 million sq km to 4.6 million sq km (1.0 to 1.8 million sq miles). The Marshall Islands government has created the world's largest shark sanctuary, covering nearly two million sq km (750,000 sq miles) of ocean. The Pacific republic will ban trade in shark products and commercial shark fishing throughout its waters. Tourism, including diving, is a staple of the Marshall Islands archipelago, which is home to just 68,000 people. Sharks and their near relatives such as rays are seriously threatened by issues such as habitat loss and fishing. *BBC
Wildlife groups are now campaigning to have appropriate labelling on pet food that contains kangaroo meat. For readers who have time to lobby their appropriate government department, a suggested letter content is below. The more letters the departments and the politicians get the better.
I object to the fact that kangaroo meat is not labeled on pet foods. I object to buying pet food with kangaroo meat as I am morally and ethically opposed to the mass utilization of our wildlife, the harassment and cruelty involved. Up to one million young and baby kangaroo are simply bashed to death or die slowly from this ugly trade. I do not want to support it in any way. However, currently it is not necessary to label the products as having this meat. I know that Purina are using it, and Nature's Best. I would like to see proper labeling on ALL pet meat so wildlife supporters can avoid these products. Thank you, *
White Whale Calf Sited
An all-white humpback whale calf has been spotted frolicking in the waters around the Whitsundays. The Townsville Bulletin reported that Wayne Fewings captured the white calf on camera while diving near the entrance to Cid Harbour last week. Mr Fewings saw the whale, believed to be about 4m in length and similar to the famous Migaloo, along with two predominantly black adult humpback whales while with his son's family in a 4.5m runabout boat. The calf raised its head out of the water and then dived before coming within four or five metres of the runabout. The last official sighting of Migaloo was by a cargo ship crew on August 10 about 10km north of Pipon Island in Far North Queensland, according to the White Whale Research Centre. *Courier Mail
Wildife Burning
Roos, birds and lizards have been left without food or homes as the fires ripped through the desert and mountains in the past six weeks - some of the blazes deliberately lit. Even captive animals are struggling to survive.
Wildcare carer Cynthia Lynch has been the go-to woman for people around Alice Springs whose pets have flu-like symptoms. The retired nurse has about five joeys on antibiotics for smoke-induced pneumonia. Ms Lynch said that, in 35 years, she had never seen the smoke so bad. "It is so thick it's infiltrating our houses," she said. "I've seen orphan joeys get pneumonia when they're left out in the cold but these ones are about eight months old. I keep the weaker ones inside at night." Ms Lynch started looking after joeys while she was still nursing. Her granddaughter, Honey, 5, is fond of helping her nurse the little roos. The Alice Springs Counter Disaster Committee was continuing to monitor several fires yesterday. Some were contained around Luritja Rd but the main threat was in the Henbury area. *NT News
Wasps
As the days grow warmer and spring gets into full swing, it's time for Australian paper wasps to go hunting. When you say 'wasp' many people might think of the aggressive introduced European wasp (Vespula germanica), which has spoilt many a Sunday picnic. Yet most of the wasps we see in Australian backyards are native wasps. Despite their jerky movements and ominous looking stingers, native paper wasps have little interest in people unless their nest is directly threatened. What they're really after are the fat juicy caterpillars that turn up in spring to graze happily on your garden. Caterpillars are ideal food for hungry baby wasps. Watch what a wasp does and you'll see it carefully inspecting each leaf for caterpillars, before grabbing its prize and flying off with it. *ABC
Read more .... http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/10/04/3327168.htm
New Marine Plants Found
WA scientists have discovered almost three-dozen new marine plant species in the South West of WA. Marine scientists from the WA Herbarium, responsible for the documentation of botanical species, and the Department of Environment and Conservation, made the series of discoveries in the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park. The survey unearthed a new green algae and the first records of red algae species' in Australia Environment minister Bill Marmion said the findings added to our knowledge of the inlet's biodiversity and complex food webs. "By understanding the life-cycles of these new species, scientists and marine managers can more readily recognise 'invaders' that could become major pests," Mr Marmion said. "The survey helps to provide insight into how certain marine species are distributed and significantly builds on the existing knowledge of marine plants in the inlets." A total of 49 species were recorded during the survey, a significant jump from the 14 previously recorded. WA News
Climate Change
A new plan to curb global warming risks becoming a battleground between rich and poor nations and could struggle to get off the ground as negotiators battle over the fate of the ailing Kyoto climate pact. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol covers only emissions from rich nations that produce less than a third of mankind's carbon pollution and its first phase is due to expire end-2012. Poorer nations want it extended, while many rich countries say a broader pact is needed to include all big polluters. Australia and Norway have proposed negotiations on a new agreement, but say it is unrealistic to expect that to be ready by 2013. They have set a target date two years later, in 2015. "This is the only way ahead. There is no other way than failure," said a senior climate negotiator from a developed country on the Australia-Norway proposal, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the talks. Rueters Read more ... http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/10/02/idINIndia-59659120111002
Tasmanian Animal Welfare Review Possible
Liberal leader Will Hodgman has backed a call to review Tasmania's animal welfare laws. Mr Hodgman said yesterday he was happy to be part of an animal welfare round table. The Tasmanian Greens have flagged a round table to formulate possible amendments to Tasmania's Animal Welfare Act. Speaking at the start of RSPCA Awareness Week yesterday, Mr Hodgman said the work the RSPCA did was critical. He said it was important to examine the level of State Government support for the organisation and to ensure animal welfare law was strong. "The last thing we can tolerate is the abuse of something as victimless and defenceless as an animal," the state Opposition Leader said. "It is inconceivable some of the things people will do to defenceless animals - it is a terrible indictment on our society." *Mercury
Cheetahs
Cheetahs went extinct in India in 1950's - India wants to reintroduce them. An Indian government minister has stated that cheetahs may be imported to India in an attempt to repopulate the country with the only animal that has been declared extinct in India in the last 1,000 years. "We will have to get them from abroad to repopulate the species," said Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh when responding to a question. "We soon hope to do so," he added. The statement sparked a lively 70-minute debate in the Indian government with Ramesh detailing the steps being taken to conserve the tiger in 37 reserves across the country, 16 of which are in dire straights. "Our analysis shows that the situation in 16 reserves is truly alarming and they stand to lose all their tigers if the appropriate action is not undertaken to improve the situation," the minister said. "These 16 reserves are in the danger zone from where tigers have vanished or are on the brink of vanishing. Twelve reserves are in good condition, while the situation in the remaining nine is satisfactory but needs to improve," he added. "The main reasons for tiger decline include poaching, degradation of forest status outside tiger reserves and protected areas due to human pressure, livestock pressure and ecologically unsustainable land-use," Ramesh said. * Wildlife Extra
Fishing
Cod stocks in the Irish Sea and the west coast of Scotland have collapsed because of overfishing and politicians' refusal to fix low enough catch quotas, according to a leading fisheries scientist who advises the European commission on fish quotas. Dr Paul Connolly's comments followed the European commission's decision on Wednesday to recommend for the first time that all fishing cod in the two sea areas is stopped. The commission has previously stopped short of pushing for such draconian measures in such a wide area of sea because of the political difficulty of placing a ban on fishing such a key species. Connolly, who is the director of Fisheries Science Services at the Marine Institute in Galway, advises the commission on "total allowable catches" and in 2013 is due to take over as president of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), the oldest marine scientific body. He said: "Continuous over-fishing has led to a collapse in cod in both these areas. The signs have been there for years and scientists have repeatedly warned quotas must be cut but fisheries ministers have time and time again ignored us. We do not know now whether the stocks will recover." *Guardian
Read more ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/sep/30/uk-cod-collapse-overfishing?intcmp=122
Murray River Rescue....or Not?
The national bid to save the River Murray appears to be in jeopardy with both green groups and irrigators attacking the revised plan. Ten environmental groups yesterday emerged from a briefing to condemn the plan, saying it would not restore enough water to save the system. That came as the South Australian Murray Irrigators group also attacked the revised plan, saying it had "barely changed from the original draft". The original draft guide to the plan, which proposed restoring up to 4000 gigalitres to the Murray-Darling, was released 12 months ago and them immediately withdrawn, after a backlash from irrigators fearful of losing water allocations. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has since redrafted the plan, and is proposing to restore about 2800GL. The authority is currently briefing affected groups across the basin. "The most recent comprehensive science review conducted by CSIRO showed anything less than 4000GL will fail the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth," Professor Diane Bell of the River, Lakes and Coorong Action Group said yesterday. The 10 groups said it would be impossible for them to support the current approach of the authority. The authority would not comment yesterday. *Adelaide Now
Lost Penguin
Day-trippers enjoying the heatwave on a Hampshire beach (UK) were stunned to spot a lost penguin frolicking in the waves. It's believed it was a jackass penguin which normally makes its home in South Africa, 6,000 miles away, reports The Sun. Visitors to Southsea beach, near Portsmouth, filmed the penguin diving in and out of the waves. Joanne Gordon, 35, of Aldershot, said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw it swimming around away just six foot from me." Earlier, the bird is said to have been seen waddling around the harbour to the surprise of onlookers. *Orange.com.uk
Flying Foxes
New Farm resident Carolyn Martin is being treated for exposure to the deadly bat disease lyssavirus after being swooped on by flying foxes. Ms Martin, 30, said she was hanging a towel on her clothesline just before 11pm last Tuesday night when she believes she "startled" a group of three flying foxes. "I wouldn't describe it as an attack," Ms Martin said. "Three flying foxes sort of flew on to my balcony and had a collision and I happened to be in the middle of it. "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Ms Martin now faces a gruelling four-week round of injections to protect her against the potentially deadly bat-borne virus. The 30-year-old received nine "excruciating" injections the day after the bats scratched her left foot and spat on her face. She was now facing a series of five further injections. Queensland Health acting chief officer Professor Michael Clearly said the lyssavirus was related to rabies and caused serious illness in humans that was usually fatal. He said there had been 89 notifications of bites or scratches involving bats in Queensland this year, including 16 in Brisbane. "Anyone who has been potentially exposed to Australian bat lyssavirus, and has never received pre-exposure vaccination, will require an injection of rabies immunoglobulin and a series of five rabies vaccine injections over one month," Prof Clearly said. Queensland's chief veterinary officer, Rick Symons, said it was extremely rare for healthy bats to approach or attack humans and that aggression could be a sign a flying fox was infected. "Lyssavirus is within the bat population and, unlike Hendra virus, it affects the bats," Dr Symons said. "It does make them sick and it can kill them. Sometimes they can get aggressive. "If you can touch or go near a bat, it's likely they have lyssavirus." *Coureur Mail
Ed Comment; The headline read.... "New Farm resident Carolyn Martin attacked by three bats now faces injections over four weeks to protect from lyssavirus.." Bat attack indeed, the media have a lot to answer for.
Fruit grower Brian Terrey describes the swarm of flying foxes that descends on his orchard each year as ''lethal vermin''. With the commercial fruit picking season set to begin, Mr Terrey wants to keep his right to shoot the protected animals that feed on his 12,000 nectarine and peach trees at Grose Vale, on the north-west fringe. He is angry the NSW government is phasing out a licensing scheme that allows fruit growers to kill limited numbers of grey-headed flying foxes, even though they are listed as vulnerable to extinction. Instead, it is rolling out a $5 million subsidised netting program to protect fruit trees in the Sydney basin and the central coast. Growers in other areas cannot apply for the netting grants. And as picking season looms, deep divisions are emerging in the growing industry.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/pests-drive-farmers-batty-20111001-1l2lo.html#ixzz1ZnC8CgHp
Koalas
Koala numbers on Kangaroo Island have dropped to 13,000 from a peak of 27,000 in the past decade. Picture: Megan Slade. Source: Up to 40 per cent of Kangaroo Island's koalas have an AIDS-like virus that could devastate the population. It has the potential to impact on koalas in a similar way to the mouth cancer which is wiping out Tasmanian devils, experts say. The Environment Department revealed yesterday that koala numbers on the island had dropped from a peak of 27,000 to 13,000 over the past decade. Kangaroo Island was thought to be the only koala population without the retrovirus, but it has been detected in recent years, believed to be carried by insects, possibly mosquitos. The retrovirus is linked to koala cancers including lymphoma and leukemia. Last year, the first case of lymphoma in a Kangaroo Island koala was detected. A Senate inquiry examining the health of Australia's koala population has heard the retrovirus can lead to an AIDS-like disease destroying the immune system, and making the animals vulnerable to cancers and other diseases.
The virus is thought to be transmitted genetically from parent to offspring. Kangaroo Island's koala population has previously been robust and bred prolifically, prompting concerns they were demolishing the native habitat with their voracious appetites. The State Government introduced a sterilisation program to contain them in 1997. Almost 10,000 koalas were sterilised and 3800 moved off the island to the state's South-East. Now it is feared that the retrovirus will affect the island's koala population, as the disease spreads and new cancers emerge. Koala expert Dr Jon Hanger warned the inquiry that more money was needed for research to determine the impact of the virus. "The retrovirus has the potential to be one of the most significant factors in the severity and prevalence of serious disease in koalas and yet the funding allocated to better understanding it has been pitiful," he said. "It is our opinion that this virus may be as devastating to koalas as the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease is to devils. In Environment Department spokesman said research was continuing to understand the prevalence of the disease on the island. "There is no evidence to suggest that the koala population on Kangaroo Island will become extinct from the retrovirus," he said. *News.com
Fraser Island
Which would you prefer - a fenced-off beach or an untouched, white sandy playground that was Fraser Island's Lake McKenzie before rangers began their foreshore rehabilitation? Conservationist John Sinclair says the beach has been ruined and turned into a garden. "I am absolutely rabid about this," Mr Sinclair said. "You have one of the best known beaches, with its stunning white sand used in promotional photos and the department tries to cover it up. "It's not just tree planting either. They've covered the sand with mesh and fenced it off. This is an abomination." Mr Sinclair, the Fraser Island Defenders Organisation spokesman, said he had written to the Environment Department about the issue and had not received a reply. "They can't admit they've made a mistake," he said. "I asked for a statement of reason under the Judicial Review Act and they won't even acknowledge my letter." The work was defended by Great Sandy regional manager Ross Belcher, who said it was done to protect the beach from high visitor numbers. "This work is no garden," he said. "The lake's been getting a hammering from growing tourist numbers. We get upwards of 300,000 a year to the island and I reckon most of them visit McKenzie. It's a first-rate job."
Mr Sinclair said the development, which included fences, retaining walls and plantings of local species, had to go. Mr Belcher said considerable damage had been done in past years and the revegetation would not be removed. "I appreciate John's point of view but this is to protect foreshore vegetation and make sure damage is not occurring," he said. "We want also to improve the visual amenity. It provides swimming areas that are screened from other parts of the beach." Mr Sinclair said there was no excuse for Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service staff to interfere with nature in the middle of the state's most prominent national park. In 1993, Mr Sinclair, a former Australian of the Year, removed 113 casuarina trees planted by the Beach Protection Authority to stabilise a sand blow - a hill of naturally moving sand. Yesterday, he said he would consider dismantling the McKenzie structure. "I'd have to think about it though, it's such a substantial fence I'd probably get a hernia." *Courier Mail
DERM Firebugs Burn Fraser Island
Guests at Fraser Island's Kingfisher Bay Resort have been moved to alternative rooms, as a large bushfire continues to burn just 800m away. The fire broke out about 6.40pm last night, with some ash and smoke from the fire affecting the resort. An evacuation plan has been put in place for guests and staff at the Kingfisher Bay Resort on Kingfisher Bay Drive, but has not yet been activated, a Department of Community Safety spokeswoman said. It is understood 50 of the 500 people staying at the resort have been relocated to different rooms as a precaution. A spokeswoman for the Kingfisher Bay Resort said the resort was not experiencing any difficulties due to the fire. She said the 50 people relocated had been staying in both the staff and backpackers accommodation and had been relocated to the main part of the resort. She said some tours had been redirected but that the resort was otherwise operating as normal. She confirmed one resort guest was treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics. A resort staff member said they did not believe the resort was under threat.
Kingfisher Bay Resort group general manager David Hay said the fire was not visible from the resort because it was over a ridge. "We had a fire burning to the south of us for about a week that was a national parks burn-off and some very windy south-westerly winds in the last few days," he said. "That changed the fire into a much bigger fire, it jumped a few breaks and a few roads and got the point where it was within a kilometre of the resort. "As a precaution, we moved some people from one part of the resort, which is more tree-covered and closer to the boundary, down to the main complex just for safety but we've had no incursions from the fire into the resort grounds. " The Department of Community Safety said water-bombing of the fire, burning near Kingfisher Bay Drive and Corn Wells Break Road, had ceased. Eighteen firefighters on the ground were this afternoon conducting backburning in the hopes of extinguishing the fire in the next few hours. A dozer is being used to strengthen containment lines around the Kingfisher Bay Resort. *Courier Mail
Kangaroos
The death of a road-user will be the only way marsupial problems around Tower Hill will be fixed, Moyne mayor Jim Doukas said. However, the government department responsible for the wildlife has ruled out relocating or culling kangaroos. The warning followed another accident between a car and kangaroos this week. DSE regional director Laurie Dwyer Dwyer said the DSE had received a letter from Killarney farmer Brian Mugavin on Thursday and was still in the process of working through issues raised. Mr Mugavin raised the issue with the Moyne Shire Council and the government this week after his son's ute was damaged by kangaroos. Mr Mugavin also claims someone will be killed before something is done about the Tower Hill Game Reserve's roos and wallabies. His 18-year-old son Leigh was involved in a collision on Wednesday night with a kangaroo that damaged the driver's side panels . Brian's wife Sally collided with a kangaroo a couple of months ago , result ing in a $7000 damage bill. That incurred a $500 insurance excess and the latest prang is likely to attract an insurance excess of more than $1200.
Leigh hit two kangaroos while trying to swerve to miss a mob along Lakeview Road. He said he saw one kangaroo, swerved and slowed down to about 50km/h when two more jumped into the side of his ute. "I just heard two bangs ," he said. " Someone could swerve into Tower Hill or hit another car head-on." Brian said he was angry and he had heard about a number of recent accidents. He has contacted the Warrnambool Parks Victoria office, spoken to a regional manager, the VicRoads office, Moyne mayor Jim Doukas, a number of local residents, member for South West Coast Denis Napthine, Wildlife Victoria, the Moyne Shire Council ranger and police . "Everyone is sorry but no one can do anything," he said. "If I had a cow out on the road which caused this sort of damage I would be in awful trouble," he said. Mr Dwyer said most wildlife incidents involving cars on roads were the responsibility of VicRoads or councils. "On rare occasions there is a processes we can go through of relocation or culling but we do not think that is an option here at the moment," he said.
Brian said he was contacted by a Parks Victoria officer on Thursday night but compensation was ruled out. Cr Doukas said the issue refused to go away and Parks Victoria and DSE either had to relocate kangaroos, cull them or put in place effective fencing. "They thought they had fixed this issue by closing a gate," Cr Doukas said. "It had quietened down but now it's back bigger than ever. "There are sometimes hundreds of kangaroos in paddocks around Tower Hill . "It's been going for 12 months and there's been dozens and dozens of accidents. "It seems that someone is going to have to be seriously injured or killed before something is done ." *Warnambool Standard
Gladsone Harbor Dredging
Controversial dredging operations in Gladstone Harbour resumed yesterday after being suspended last week to allow murky water conditions to improve. But Greens environment spokeswoman Larissa Waters said the suspension should stand until tests revealed what was behind diseases and deaths of marine species in the harbour area. The Gladstone Ports Corporation voluntarily stopped dredging in part of the harbour last Thursday because extremely low tides and high winds had increased turbidity levels. A newly-created bund wall, aimed at containing dredge spoil, also was leaking although authorities expected it to seal. "The leaking, new bund wall is worsening high turbidity in Gladstone Harbour, and we know that red spot in fish is linked to poor water quality and high levels of sediment," Ms Waters said. "Why should dredging be allowed to continue when the entire fishing industry of Gladstone is left in limbo? "Dredging operations simply must be stopped until authorities get to the bottom of this. "I urge Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke and Queensland Environment Minister Vicky Darling to suspend all Gladstone dredging operations immediately."
Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace said last week dredging would not stop because Health Department and independent tests showed no link between port work and diseased fish. Two weeks ago, the Government banned fishing in an area of about 500sq km - centred on Gladstone's harbour - while scientists try to resolve issues that have shut down part of the region's $40 million commercial fishing industry. Tests have found fish are infected with red spot disease, and a parasite that causes milky eye in barramundi. Red spot also broke out in Moreton Bay after the Brisbane floods in January. Gladstone has also recorded more than 100 turtle and dugong deaths this year - raising concerns of links between dredging and stressed animals. The Queensland Seafood Industry Association also has called for a halt to dredging. "If leaking through the bund wall in the reclamation area at Fisherman's Landing is causing unacceptable levels of turbidity, then what is the dumping of the same dredge spoil material off the front of Facing Island doing?" QSIA president Michael Gardner said. "Surely, that will be causing serious turbidity problems also." The QSIA has written to Ms Darling asking that no further dredge spoil be dumped at the Fisherman's Landing site until the bund wall was sealed. *Courier Mail
Queensland Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace has denied claims he was aware of a health scare at Gladstone months before he took action. A fishing ban was imposed at Gladstone harbour on September 16 after sick fish were found with sores and cloudy eyes. The government has appointed a scientific panel to investigate the cause, with initial tests identifying two conditions, red-spot disease and a parasite. Further tests are under way. Fishing groups say it's a human health risk, with several commercial fishermen developing rashes and nausea after handling the sick fish. Opposition fisheries spokesman Mark Robinson accuses Mr Wallace of not responding to the health scare immediately. "Gladstone fishermen claim the government received reports of sick fish at least three months ago, so the minister has some explaining to do," Dr Robinson said.
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-government-sat-on-sick-fish-report-opposition-20111004-1l6f2.html#ixzz1ZnDHTnpH
Queensland fishermen have been taken to hospital with recurring weeping sores resembling spider bites after handling sick fish and working in water at Gladstone's harbour. A fishing ban was imposed at Gladstone harbour on September 16 after sick fish were found with sores and cloudy eyes. Up to 20 fishermen have issued statements to Queensland Health detailing painful boils that cover their legs and arms, medical doctor and Queensland Seafood Industry Association president Michael Gardner said yesterday. The cardio surgeon says he had examined and taken photos of several fishermen with the sores. "I'm seeing a cluster of people working in the harbour who have been exposed to the water or have handled the fish, breaking out in multiple lesions on their limbs," Dr Gardner said. "I'm a medical practitioner and I can say this is more than a coincidence and it's not an isolated event." Dr Gardner said at least four people had to be admitted to hospital. "They are very painful sores," he said. "Some of (the fishermen) couldn't work for several weeks. Some of them developed septicemia and had to be hospitalised."
Gladstone Fish Market owner Ted Whittingham said he knows that one fisherman was taken to hospital for five days and had to be put on an intravenous drip and pumped with antibiotics. "There have been numerous fishermen contracting this and it seems to be from handling fish and using the harbour water," Mr Whittingham said. "A lot of the reef fishermen who use the water to wash their boats, and where they've got a cut or scratch, burst out in these lesions. "They're like big spider bites and they come up within 24 hours." Queensland Health says its officers had interviewed several fishermen but found no health cluster to be concerned about. "(The fishermen) have described a range of conditions, including infected fish spike injuries and wounds and other skin problems," a statement from the department yesterday said. "All the conditions described have multiple causes."
Dr Gardner is calling for the department to investigate it further. "There is a relationship. The symptoms are the same, but just what it is I don't know," he said. "The story is the same. The sores appeared after people handled fish or came into contact with the water." Dr Gardner said it's unusual for a small fishing community to have at least 20 people infected with the same illness. A state government report into the water quality at Gladstone Port, however, did not find any problems, the Department of Environment and Resource Management's director of water quality Dr Julia Playford told the Nine Network. "It (the report) takes into account the time before the fish became diseased and after the fish became diseased and it shows no significant change," she said. * AAP
Ed Comment; Gladstone Harbor has long been a cesspit, 20 years ago we were shown fish caught in the Harbor with huge sores on their bodies. The government did nothing about it then....except allow the building of more chemical factories to service the coal mining Industry. It's not likely to do anything about the pollution now. Gladsone Harbor also host large numbers of foreign shellfish and exotic sea creatures bought in on the hulls and ballast water of the huge coal ships. Nowdays they offload the ballst water offshore....but its too late...the exotics are there already. I was in Gladstone last week, and its very busy, dirty place, with mining and CSG vehicles everywhere. It is also reputed to have the highest incidents of asthma and similar breathing illnesses of any town in Australia.*
Whaling...Japan gives $27.7 to support whalers!
Radical anti-whaling operation Sea Shepherd is promising dramatic attacks against Japanese whalers in coming months, with volunteers warning they are prepared to die for the cause. The group has announced "Operation Divine Wind" against the Japanese whalers, who plan to begin their annual hunt in the Southern Ocean in December. The name translates to the Japanese word kamikaze, the name given to World War II pilots sent on suicide missions. In launching the mission at the weekend, Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson promised on the group's Facebook page a "very dramatic and adventurous three months beginning in December". "I am confident that we will be able to stop them once again," he wrote in a statement "liked" by more than 2000 Sea Shepherd Facebook fans. The Sea Shepherd has become increasingly successful in recent years at disrupting the Japanese fleet, last year taking it further when New Zealand activist Peter Bethune illegally boarded a whaling ship and was briefly jailed.
Angered by the campaign, which reduced the catch, the Japanese government has injected $27.7 million into the program to improve the safety for its crew. Undeterred, Sea Shepherd announced it would send 100 volunteers to the Southern Ocean and was prepared to lose lives if necessary. "They will have to kill us to prevent us from intervening once again," Mr Watson said. "Are the Japanese people ready to take human lives in defence of this horrifically cruel and illegal slaughter of endangered and protected species of whales? "If so, my answer to the Japanese government is hoka hey - it's a good day to die." He also accused Japan of continuing its whale program solely to save face against activist opposition. "It now seems they are simply obsessed with killing whales not for need, and not for profit, but because they believe they have the right to do what they wish and kill whatever they wish in an established international whale sanctuary, just for the sake of defending their misplaced honour." He claimed the program was a "smack in the face" to foreign nations that donated funds in the wake of Japan's killer tsunami. Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research has yet to comment on the claims. *AAP
Ed Comment; Meanwhile the federal government has condemned a decision by Japan to continue hunting whales in the Southern Ocean, saying Australia remains opposed to the so-called scientific whaling program. At the same time, the government doesnt seem to have done much to stop it.
New Shark Sanctuary
The Marshall Islands government has created the world's largest shark sanctuary, covering nearly two million sq km (750,000 sq miles) of ocean. The Pacific republic will ban trade in shark products and commercial shark fishing throughout its waters. Tourism, including diving, is a staple of the Marshall Islands archipelago, which is home to just 68,000 people. Sharks and their near relatives such as rays are seriously threatened by issues such as habitat loss and fishing. About a third of ocean-going sharks are on the internationally-recognised Red List of Threatened Species. "In passing this [shark protection] bill, there is no greater statement we can make about the importance of sharks to our culture, environment and economy," said Senator Tony deBrum, who co-sponsored the bill through the Marshallese parliament. "Ours may be a small island nation, but our waters are now the biggest place sharks are protected."
To put the sanctuary in context, it covers roughly the same area as Indonesia, Mexico or Saudi Arabia, and is about eight times bigger than the UK. The move will extend the area of ocean in which sharks are protected from about 2.7 million sq km to 4.6 million sq km (1.0 to 1.8 million sq miles). The Marshall Islands government has created the world's largest shark sanctuary, covering nearly two million sq km (750,000 sq miles) of ocean. The Pacific republic will ban trade in shark products and commercial shark fishing throughout its waters. Tourism, including diving, is a staple of the Marshall Islands archipelago, which is home to just 68,000 people. Sharks and their near relatives such as rays are seriously threatened by issues such as habitat loss and fishing. *BBC
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