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.