Wildlfie Bytes 9/1/12

IMPORTANT RALLY INVITATION, please share widely .

A Wildlife rally for dugongs and sea turtles is to be held in Brisbane, and all native animal/marine groups are invited to the rally. The rally in Brisbane is held under Earthrace Conservation Australia banner .
http://www.earthraceconservation.org/videos/earthrace-and-us-campaign-protect-australias-dugongs-and-sea-turtlesmp4

It is one of three Earthrace Rallys being held in 2012. One in London January 19th, One in new Zealand 20th January, And one in Brisbane Feb 14th . The Rallys are designed to embarrass our governments on dugong and turtle hunting, and also to highlight what the existing government or the incoming government needs to do to help our wildlife causes. Earthrace have invited a lot of animal groups, including Fraser Island dingoes, Koala groups, Wildlife Protection Association of Australia Inc., and Opposition members of the LNP will speak at the rally at our invitation. Bob Irwin will be there in person.

Fruit bats, cassowaries, koalas, kangaroos, wombats, marine conservation, etc. will be represented. The speakers have a strict 5 minute grab to say what they want on their own issue. Only one from each group will be able to speak. So one flying fox group speaker, one cassowary group speaker, and so on, but if time permits they will extend it. No one will be able to bring an animal. It will be Tuesday February 14th, during the parliamentary lunch break 1 PM to 2.30 PM on Speakers Corner outside the Old Parliament. Media has been arranged including the discovery channel, but feel free to do your own. If interested let me know as ONLY ONE PERSON FROM EACH ANIMAL GROUP WILL GET TO SPEAK. To participate you must contact either of the persons below
Contact is to director of operations Alan Winstanley alan@earthrace.net or ColinwhoCares at dugongman@gmail.com 0427632208

Kangaroo Shooting

A police officer responsible for the mass shooting of kangaroos on a Booral property could be hit with a $200,000 fine. Yesterday, the Chronicle received information that the Gympie officer, who opened fire on more than 20 kangaroos on land backing onto Wheeley Rd, did not have the required permits. Fines of up to $10,000 for each dead kangaroo could apply. A Department of Environment spokesman said the investigation was in the hands of Queensland Police. While little more than the line "investigations are continuing" has come from police headquarters, the Chronicle has not received a phone call from anyone in senior ranks defending the officer's behaviour. The Chronicle is still awaiting a response to a number of concerns raised by witnesses at the scene, involving the firearm used and the shooter's behaviour towards residents and other officers. A police spokeswoman said she could not comment on specifics while the investigation was still under way.
Roo Rules.....Both recreational and commercial shooters require a DERM permit. New applicants must complete a TAFE course and firearms competency test. A $10,000 fine can apply for every kangaroo killed without a permit. *Fraser Coast Chronicle


Meanwhile the Age reports that the Queensland senior constable could face disciplinary action after being served with an infringement notice over the killing of more than 20 kangaroos on a south-east Queensland property. Horse riders stumbled on the carcasses on a property at Booral, near Hervey Bay, last month. Some joeys were shot at point-blank range, and only one of the three young that survived the shooting could be saved. Kangaroos are protected animals. It is an offence to kill one without a permit, and carries fines of up to $10,000 per kangaroo. The 42-year-old man has been issued with an infringement notice for contravening the Nature Conservation Act, police say. A 16-year-old boy charged with the same offence is being dealt with under the Youth Justice Act. *AAP


A western Queensland kangaroo harvester says roo shooters have stopped working because they cannot sell their product. Amby-based Tom Garrett says he has been notified by a major company they will not be buying any more kangaroos until further notice due to an oversupply. Mr Garrett says no-one is too sure what has caused the oversupply or how long it will take to clear product. Russia banned roo exports in 2009 and the industry has been struggling since. Mr Garrett says the latest setback is a concern. "We still have no large market for export kangaroo for manufacturing meat," he said. "Two-thirds of manufacturing meat or more went to Russia. "Processors just can't afford to store that amount of meat if they can't find markets for it, then their profits lessens and so their only alternative I suppose is to cut back on production until they can find other markets." Mr Garrett says no-one is sure when harvesting will resume. "At least one of the companies, and the company that I deal with has told us that they have an oversupply of kangaroos at the moment and to stop purchasing animals from the paddock," he said. "In other words, shooters will stop shooting animals and the box operators will stop buying from shooters. "Then we received another message from them saying no more purchases until further notice." He says rural families who depend on the industry will struggle until harvesting resumes. "The ones I've heard from are very nervous about it," he said. "I wouldn't have thought this year that there would have been as many people renew their licences, but all indications are that licences have been renewed as normal, tags have been bought as normal, and everyone is ready to go out and harvest. "But of course they can't because they can't get rid of their product." The company, Game Meat Processors, has declined to comment. *ABC


The number of kangaroos available for harvesting in Queensland has risen by 63 per cent on last year's figures. Permits for the killing of more than 3 million kangaroos will be available in 2012. John Kelly, the executive officer of the Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia, says recent weather conditions have meant the population of kangaroos across Australia have swelled to about 35 million. "The industry isn't in the best position it's been in, but there's fairly good prospects coming for this year," he said. Mr Kelly also says he expects the Russian and Chinese markets to open up this year, giving a much needed boost to the industry. "I'd expect to see us back into the Russian market during the first half of this year, and I'm also quite confident that at some stage this year we'll get into the Chinese market." Russia banned imports of kangaroo meat in 2009. Mr Kelly's confidence comes amid concerns out of western Queensland that the industry is struggling, with some shooters claiming there's no market for their product. "I don't think they have any reason to be nervous; this is an industry with an extremely bright future," he said. "I expect the next five to 10 years to be a very exciting time in the kangaroo industry." *ABC
Ed Comment; Not such a very exciting time if you are a kangaroo........

Bushmeat of the Sea

They may be man's best underwater friend but more dolphins are being killed for food than ever before. The eating of sea mammals - including seals, sea lions and walruses - is becoming increasingly popular in poor nations across the world. Fishermen struggling to make ends meet, because of a fall in coastal fish catches, are being forced to turn to the more meaty alternatives. Martin Robards, of Alaska's Wildlife Conservation Society, conducted the study of 900 sources after only hearing anecdotal stories about the phenomenon.
He said: 'This is essentially a bushmeat problem. It is now clear that human consumption of marine mammals is geographically widespread, taxonomically diverse, and often of uncertain sustainability.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2082195/Dolphin-sandwich-Eating-sea-mammals-rise-fall-fish-sees-fishermen-struggling-make-ends-meet.html#ixzz1iuO0aaUY

Flying Foxes

A western Queensland mayor says the State Government is ignoring the will of residents in his shire who support culling flying foxes. Mount Isa Mayor John Molony has asked the State Government to make the city exempt from current legislation aimed at protecting flying foxes. He says the bats need to be culled because there is nowhere to move them. Environment Minister Vicky Darling has described that solution as "cruel". Councillor Molony says she is out of touch with residents who recently held a rally in support of a cull. "If I am so bloody wicked, why were the other people - the 100-odd people in Banks Crescent - singing from the same page as I was the other day?" he said. Councillor Molony says flying fox numbers have reached "plague proportions" in the city, but Ms Darling disputes that claim. *ABC

Dingoes

Australian health authorities are watching with alarm the spread of rabies through nearby Indonesia, fearful that the lethal virus could be brought into remote northern Australia by illegal fishing boats. Rabies appeared in Bali in 2008, where it has since killed more than 130 people, and has spread through 24 of Indonesia's 33 provinces. It has now appeared on the island of Pulau Larat, 600km north of Darwin, causing 19 deaths in 2010. Worldwide, it kills about 55,000 people a year. The federal Quarantine Inspection Service said the virus was endemic throughout much of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. "Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Pacific Island nations are free of endemic rabies, but it must be remembered that this can change at any time," the department said. *NZ Herald
Read more ... http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10776794

Bugs and Creepy Crawlies

One of the best small insect websites we have seen can be found here ... http://lifeunseen.com/index1.php The webmaster is an amateur photographer who has filed over 5000 of his photos of small insects on the website. Most of them are named, and there is some very good information provided about them. As he points out, without the humble ant, wasp, bug or spider, the world as we know it can not exist. *WPAA

Kookaburras

A young kookaburra was taken into the RSCPA Wacol office on Thursday after he was found with severe damage to his wings and tail feathers. Wildlife nurse Jess Vincent says it looked like someone may have tried to keep Chopper as a pet and "severely mutilated" his primary and secondary feathers to stop him from flying. She said it was a common occurrence for people to take wild animals that were injured or lost, thinking they were helping them. "It's done with good intentions but they are actually not helping at all," she said. "They're wild animals, they should not be turned into pets. We'd like people to know that. If you find an injured animal or a young bird, bring them to us or return them to their nests." She said while he had not been doing any "kookaburra laugh" calls, he was reportedly chirpy and bright despite the injuries. Chopper went into foster care yesterday afternoon and will have to undergo about six months of rehabilitation. *Courier mail

Genetically Altered Monkeys

US researchers say they have created the world's first genetically modified monkeys by fusing cells from up to six different embryos, in what could be a big advance for medical research. Until now, rodents have been the primary creatures used to make chimeras, a lab animal produced by combining two or more fertilised eggs or early embryos together. Scientists have long been able to create "knock-out" mice with certain genes deleted in order to study a host of ailments and remedies, including obesity, heart disease, anxiety, diabetes and Parkinson's disease. Attempts to do the same with more complicated primates have failed in the past, but scientists in the western state of Oregon succeeded by altering the method used to make mice. *Age
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/animals/worlds-first-genetically-modified-monkeys-created-20120106-1pncx.html#ixzz1icjx27ML
Ed Comment; How disgusting is that?

Mystery Kangaroo

Motorists cruising along Boat Harbour Drive in Hervey Bay were startled yesterday by the sight of an adult kangaroo dead on the side of the road. The animal showed no signs of trauma, which only added to the mystery. A spokewoman for an animal welfare group blamed ongoing residential development for forcing the animal into an urban centre, where it would have become confused and terrified. "The problem is that their habitat is being taken over by development," Fraser Coast treasurer of the Wildlife Preservation Society Carol Bussey said. "It is becomeing more of a problem in our area especially with development in Eli Waters and Point Vernon and in the neighbourhood of the Hervey Bay Hospital. "These developments are pushing the kangaroos out. Static roo populations are found on the Hervey Bay golf course and on the fringes of the city, but there have been recent sightings in Main St and residents on Torquay Rd have also reported kangaroos infiltrating their back gardens. * Fraser Coast Chronicle

Honey Bees

Northern California scientists say they have found a possible explanation for the honey bee die-off: a parasitic fly that hijacks the bees' bodies and causes them to abandon hives. The symptoms mirror colony collapse disorder, in which all the adult honey bees in a colony suddenly disappear. The disorder continues to decimate hives in the US and overseas. The disease is of great concern, because bees pollinate about a third of the United States' food supply. Its presence is especially alarming in California, the nation's top producer of fruits and vegetables, where bees play an essential role in the $US2 billion ($1.9 billion) almond industry and other crops. * Age
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/parasitic-fly-may-explain-bee-deaths-20120105-1pmgv.html#ixzz1iciViCfP

AZWH First Patient of the Week 2012, Ball the Channel-billed Cuckoo

An adult female Channel-billed Cuckoo was found being attacked by crows at Meridan Plains about 7.30pm, likely because she was close to their nest. She was transported to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital by the concerned resident who rescued and named her Ball. Dr Amber found some bruising on Ball’s legs, but no other wounds or obvious fractures. X-rays revealed quite a surprise - a fully developed egg ready to pop out! Dr Amber administered Ball injectable calcium, pain relief and fluids, and kept her nice and warm in the Birds ICU for observation overnight. Ball was released back to where she was found the following day, with high hopes she will find a safe spot to lay her egg. AZWH Statistic: The AZWH has treated 17 channel-billed cuckoos over the past 8 years, a small number due largely to the species’ migratory patterns over the northern parts of Australia. The species naturally lay their eggs in other birds’ nests. *

Boyne River Fish Kill

The Queensland Greens say another fish kill in central Queensland could have been caused by dredging, despite the State Government all but ruling it out. The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) is at a loss to explain what killed seven decomposing barramundi examined by its officers in the Boyne River on Tuesday. Departmental officers travelled there to investigate commercial fisherman Chris Sipp's report of about 15 dead barramundi in the river. DERM director-general Jim Reeves said the fish bodies were decomposed and had probably been there for at least three days. One showed signs of a skin lesion. Because of their decomposed state it wasn't possible to take samples of the fish to find out what killed them, Mr Reeves said. Water samples of the Boyne River taken by DERM on the day found nothing out of the ordinary. *Courier Mail
Read more .. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/dredging-blamed-by-greens-for-another-fish-kill-in-boyne-river/story-e6freon6-1226236801968

Fireworks

Thousands of dead blackbirds rained down on a town in Louisiana last New Year's Eve after revellers set off fireworks that spooked them from their roost. And US officials reported a similar occurrence in Arkansas on Saturday as 2012 approached. Police said dozens of blackbirds had fallen dead, prompting officers to ban residents from shooting fireworks on Saturday night. It wasn't immediately clear if fireworks were again to blame, but authorities weren't taking a chance. Meanwhile in Australia millions of dollars were wasted in every State as the Government's addiction to fireworks displays continued. We've heard that the Sydney fireworks alone cost $6 million! One man was killed by an exploding firecracker, and several injured. Pet animals cower in terror, wildlife panicks, and our essential services like health, police, education remain stretched for money. Just getting a bed in a public hospital requires that one must be dead, or nearly dead. Time to stop the stupid fireworks displays and put the money where it is needed. *WPAA

Roadkill

A roadside memorial for millions of native animals that have died on Tasmania's roads has been given a thumbs-up from animal welfare supporters. Tasmanian wildlife advocates yesterday said they would favour one or two monuments that drew attention to wildlife road trauma. Bonorong Wildlife Park director Greg Irons said a memorial could be a way of jolting Tasmanians' awareness to the horrors suffered by hundreds of thousands of animals injured and left to die on roads. Claire Fryer, Asia Pacific campaign co-ordinator for Animal Rights organisation PETA, suggested a mural depicting the type and number of animals killed. Mr Irons said Tasmanians were becoming desensitised. His business supports a volunteer network of animal rescuers and animal carers in southern Tasmania. Mr Irons said motorists could help to mitigate it by driving at 80km/h instead of 100km/h on main roads after dark.
"It is a massive welfare issue. People think they are powerless to do anything, but slowing down helps," he said. Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania co-ordinator Chris Simcox said resources were needed for public education. He said the State Government could help by adding wildlife safety to the licence test process. And road-kill estimates of 293,000 animals a year, by the science-based website roadkilltas.com, appeared low. The Bonorong-Friends of Carers hotline for a wildlife emergency is 6268 1184. *Mercury

Become a Wildlife Warrior

By making a one-off donation or joining our monthly giving program you can become part of a global wildlife force that is working hard to preserve our natural environment. Monthly Giving Program; Sign up to become a regular giver for wildlife conservation! Donations start from as little as $2.50 a week and can go to helping our native wildlife at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Nearly 100 wildlife emergency calls are received every day at the Hospital, Up to 30 different species are admitted to the hospital every day, Currently around 80 koalas undergoing treatment, Approximately 70% of patients are victims of car accidents or domestic pet attacks, The cost to treat one animal ranges from $100 to thousands of dollars To sign up or find out more please visit http://www.wildlifewarriors.org.au *

Wild Pigs

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Pest Management Officer, Lisa Wellman said feral pigs caused considerable environmental damage and the service considered their control to be a high priority. "Feral pigs are a declared pest and have been recognised as a key threatening process to biodiversity at a national and state level because of the impact they cause from predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission," Ms Wellman said. "Feral pigs degrade habitat through selective feeding, trampling and rooting for underground parts of plants and invertebrates. "They are particularly damaging along drainage lines, moist gullies and around swamps and lagoons or after rain, when the ground is softer," she said. Ms Wellman said a range of techniques are used to control feral pigs including baiting, trapping and aerial culling. "Feral pig control requires a co-ordinated approach. A number of stakeholders including landowners, the Livestock Health and Pest Authority, local councils, National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Catchment Management Authority have contributed to the movie," she said. Five minute version of the film is here .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i33xK70Tmfg

Ed Comment; there is not doubt wild pigs do huge amount of environmental damage, but in our view the control methods used are only a bandaid. They've been using baiting, ( including aerial baiting which impacts on other native animals), trapping and aerial shooting for decades and the wild pig problem is growing, not reducing. Seems to us they need to get serious about the problem, and the funding used on the bandaid methods put to finding a permanent, longterm solution.

Petition

If you havnt yet signed the Petition to stop kangaroo meat imports into the European Union, the link is here ......
http://www.change.org/petitions/call-for-support-to-ban-kangaroo-products-in-eu?organization=awpc

Gladstone Harbor

The Greens say the Gladstone Ports Corporation is trying to remove its harbour from the World Heritage List so it can avoid international scrutiny about its dredging operations. The World Heritage Committee is sending a team to Australia to investigate the $16 billion LNG site at Gladstone and a massive port expansion along the east coast. The Gladstone Ports Corporation has sent a letter to state and federal MPs asking them to support moves to remove the harbour from the conservation list. Greens Senator Larissa Waters says it is the latest dirty tactic being used to justify dredging which is suspected of killing marine life in the region. "This latest letter by the Gladstone Ports Corporation asking for the Harbour to be removed from World Heritage listing is frankly just an admission that this dredging is an environmental disaster," she said. "It is very interesting that we hear that the Ports Corporation wrote to state and federal MPs a month ago. They didn't write to me, and I've been one of the most vocal critics." "The Ports Corporation have got Buckley's chance of getting this harbour delisted," she added. "It is on the World Heritage list for a reason and it needs to stay there and be treated properly. "[It needs] to not just be treated like an underwater open-cut mine. "We had 75,000 people sign a letter after that Four Corners expose calling on the Federal Minister to stop the dredging." *ABC

Temporary Australians

A Northern Territory "thrill-seeker" who has wakeboarded croc-infested waters more than 30 times said the fun outweighed the danger. The 29-year-old man, who wished not to be named, said: "I'm the only one who ever gets out on the water." He said even his friends thought he was "crazy" and refused to wakeboard Adelaide River and Corroboree Billabong - which are home to some of the world's biggest saltwater crocodiles. "They think they're going to die," he said. "It's just a bit of fun." The McArthur River miner said he would go wakeboarding on Territory waterways every two months and had been doing it for five years. But he said the key to keeping safe on the water was to go around the crocodiles - not over them - and make sure the driver of the boat could quickly turn around if he fell off. He said some people would jump out of planes for their adrenaline but he would wakeboard the Top End. "I've never had an incident on the water," he said. But he said he would often tell himself: "Don't freak out. It's only dangerous if you fall off," he said. The online video was taken on Adelaide River in late October. The miner said he knew the video would "cause quite a stir" after his friends appeared on the front page of the NT News for the same stunt in August. East Darwin hockey player Dean Holt told the NT News in September that his mate - who was photographed wakeboarding the billabong - took to the water as a one off. But the miner said he was "a bit of a thrill seeker". *NT news

Dingoes

If a sickly young dingo pup proves to be a purebred Fraser Island Dingo, the culprits could face a $300,000 fine or up to two years in prison for taking him out of a national park. The malnourished male pup, which appears to be purebred, was caught in the early hours of Thursday morning near Maryborough and delivered to the TESS Wildlife Sanctuary. The Department of Environment and Resource Management is now investigating the incident amid claims both adult and juvenile dingoes have been taken off the island in increased numbers over the past two years. DERM regional manager, Great Sandy region, Peter Wright said there had not previously been any confirmation of dingoes being unlawfully taken from the island, but there had been reports. "The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service in the Great Sandy region occasionally receives reports of dingoes being taken from Fraser Island and each one is investigated by the department," Mr Wright said.

TESS Wildlife Sanctuary curator Ray Revill said DERM might have to return to random vehicle inspections on Fraser Island, which had a dingo population estimated to be 100-200. He said unconfirmed reports of dingoes being taken from Fraser Island had become especially prevalent in the past year. Cheryl Bryant, publicity officer for conservation group Save Fraser Island Dingoes, said the group received reports that dingoes with ear tags had been spotted on the mainland, but had been unable to confirm it. The captured young dingo will spend the next four weeks receiving treatment and special care. Mr Revill said if the pup was confirmed as a Fraser Island dingo, it was not likely to be returned to the island and might stay at the sanctuary. He said staff would call on the public to give the youngster a name after it had made a full recovery. It would take at least a month of special feeding and vet care before the animal returned to full health. *Fraser Coast Chronicle

Koalas

Fleet the koala, who was found shot seven times by a slug gun in October last year, has succumbed to his injuries. Fleet was brought to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital at Beerwah, Queensland, last October with seven pellets lodged in his body, including one in each limb. Veterinarians treating Fleet said three pellets found close to the surface initially were removed, but others in Fleet's skull and body were deemed too dangerous to take out and were left untouched. Unfortunately, a pellet lodged in Fleet's nasal cavity later became infected.
Vets treating the animal said despite strong antibiotic therapy and attempted removal he was unable to beat the infection. Surgery was performed yesterday to remove the pellet, but Fleet did not survive the operation. Vet Amber Gillett said staff at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital had worked tirelessly to save the famous little animal. "From the start the biggest risk to Fleet's survival was infection," she said. "We got it under control in his foot after weeks of antibiotics and debridement on his foot, but his nasal infection did not respond, hence why the decision was made to remove the pellet to eliminate this source of infection.

"Surgery to remove deeply embedded pellets is risky and is generally not necessary if they don't pose a direct risk to survival of the patient, hence why these were left where they were to begin with. "Once infection sets in however, removal of these pellets can become part of the treatment to help clear up the infection." Dr Gillett said the Zoo was committed to saving every single animal and it was upsetting to lose one of their patients. "Every animal we treat gets a little piece of us and we often feel a personal attachment to them, making losing them all the harder," she said. "It angers me beyond belief that someone could heartlessly shoot and leave for dead one of our protected species, and our national icon. Our koalas are at serious risk of extinction in south east QLD and it is devastating to lose one to such a cowardly act of cruelty. "In particular though, we are devastated to lose Fleet. He was a fighter and our greatest wish was to return him as a healthy koala into the wild. "We still have not caught Fleet's shooter and his death should send a strong message about the severity of animal cruelty and malicious intent on our native protected wildlife," Dr Gillett said. * News.com.au.
To donate to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, go to http://www.everydayhero.com.au/event/koala

Pet Wildlife Stolen

What could be Britain's most daring thieves were last night on the run from police after around 100 exotic animals - including a 5ft crocodile - were swiped in a pet shop raid. The dwarf caiman crocodile was part of a haul including dozens of snakes and lizards snatched from Stockport Pet Warehouse in Heaviley, Greater Manchester. Officers are now hunting the missing menagerie and have warned the thieves they could be risking life and limb trying to handle the stolen predator. The owners of the shop, Jon Bibby, 40, and Paul Williamson, 45, are also concerned about the stolen animals who, they fear, may not survive if not cared for properly. Mr Williamson said: 'There have been about 100 animals taken, the most dangerous being the crocodile, but also about 50 snakes, some of which are five to six foot.' Around 40 lizards, including geckos and bearded dragons, were also stolen, he added.'We can obviously replace these, but they also took two birds, a cockatoo and a parakeet, which we were caring for while customers were on holiday,' Mr Williamson said. 'They had taught the cockatoo to talk and that is not something that can be replaced. It will be devastating for them.' *MailonLine.co.uk

The Cuvier's dwarf caiman (above) is the smallest known species of crocodilian reptile, with a total length of up to 5.2ft in males and typically up to 4ft in females. Hailing from northern and central South America, the nocturnal dwarf caimans live near fast stretches of stream, using burrows as shelter during the day. While young, they mainly eat invertebrates like tropical insects and freshwater molluscs, broadening their diet to include fish as they mature. However, like all crocodiles, they still have fiercely powerful jaws and sharp teeth, capable of cracking the shells of their prey and ripping flesh and bone.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2082072/A-crocodile-50-snakes-bearded-dragons-snatched-tenacious-raid-pet-shop.html#ixzz1iW6wvnfu

Whaling

The conservation group Sea Shepherd has received what it describes as a reprimand from the Australian government for its use of aerial drones to track the Japanese whaling fleet. The Australian Antarctic Division told it the drones must undergo an urgent environmental impact assessment (EIA) if they are to be used in waters covered by the Antarctic Treaty.The drones were used by the group last month to find the factory ship Nisshin Maru before it reached Antarctic waters. The federal government requires anyone going to the far south from an Australian port to fill in an EIA and seek approval under the Antarctic Treaty. The group completed EIAs before departing from Hobart and Fremantle last month but an AAD manager, Gillian Slocum, emailed the group after the drones' existence became public. ''I do not recall drones being included in your EIA,'' Ms Slocum said. ''If you do intend to use them in the Antarctic Treaty area then this activity must be subject to the same assessment as the rest of your season activities have been.''

Sea Shepherd's leader, Paul Watson, said the demand was at odds with the treatment of the whalers in the Antarctic. "I find it interesting that they can tell us we can't use drones in the Southern Ocean but Japan can kill whales in the same waters," Mr Watson said. "I think Tokyo has made another complaint to Australia." The group's damaged ship Brigitte Bardot and its escort the Steve Irwin are returning to Fremantle, but a drone is believed to be in use on a third ship, Bob Barker. Mr Watson said yesterday Sea Shepherd knew the Nisshin Maru's location, and it was yet to conduct any whaling. The Brigitte Bardot, and the Steve Irwin are due to arrive in Fremantle today. Comment was sought from the federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke. *SMH
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/sea-shepherd-drones-provoke-official-rebuke-20120103-1pjj9.html#ixzz1iXQNW7fG



Attorney-General Nicola Roxon has held open all options as a Japanese whaling fleet security ship carrying three Australian environmentalists heads into the Southern Ocean today.
Ms Roxon has refused to rule out sending an Australian Government vessel to meet the Shonan Maru No. 2, following repeated calls from the Coalition and Greens for the patrol ship Ocean Protector to monitor the whaling conflict. "Our top priority is to make sure those three men are being treated properly and will be returned promptly," she told the ABC. West Australian forest activists Glen Pendlebury, Geoffrey Tuxworth and Simon Peterffy boarded the Japanese ship in an attempt to make it abandon its pursuit of the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin. The government is expected to seek confidential diplomatic talks with Japan to resolve the impasse, but Ms Roxon told reporters that the government was not impartial in the matter. "We don't support Japanese scientific whaling," she said. "We don't believe that it's an appropriate practice and we would like it to stop. We are not in the least bit impartial about that. "But that doesn't mean that there is a free open slather if people take the law into their own hands."

The Shonan Maru No. 2 was this morning about 100 nautical miles south of Australia and heading south in pursuit of the Steve Irwin, Sea Shepherd's leader Paul Watson said. The men were in good health on the ship, according to Glenn Inwood, a New Zealand-based spokesman for Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research, which runs the whaling fleet. Mr Inwood said the men had risked being taken to Japan for trial, but there has been no comment yet from the government in Tokyo. Mr Watson criticised the Federal Government's response to the crisis as "the bullshit politics of compromise". "Nicola Roxon has been quick to condemn these three brave men by saying they were detained by the Japanese in international waters and Australia would be powerless to stop them being taken back to Japan," Mr Watson said. "Of course the only reason they boarded the Shonan Maru No. 2 was because her government has refused to make good on their pre-election promise to get tough with the illegal Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary." *Age

Toxoplasmosis in Wildlife

Tasmanian farmers have called for urgent monitoring amid reports the parasitic disease toxoplasmosis is on the increase in native animals and stock. New Tasmanian research shows animals living in areas with high cat numbers are five times more likely to have the toxoplasma parasite. It also reported evidence of feral cat spikes in areas where devils had been wiped out by facial tumour disease. "There is a real issue around toxoplasmosis that needs to be dealt with, as well as other animal diseases like tularemia (from possums)," Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association chief executive Jan Davis said. "We feel this has been put in the too-hard basket but these diseases, as well as a concern on farms, are a risk for humans, too. We want the Government to invest in research and monitoring."

Toxoplasmosis aborts unborn lambs, in particular, and can kill and in humans can affect unborn babies. There have been reports of wallabies and bandicoots dazed and blind. It is fatal to the vulnerable eastern barred bandicoot. Wildlife can be run over or eaten because they lose sight. A paper presented in New Zealand last month states: "Evidence is emerging of feral cat increases in many areas of Tasmania, which may be a consequence of declining devil densities. "The highest toxoplasmosis seroprevalance (positive test) in pademelons occurred in areas where cat density was the highest, being almost five times higher than in regions with the lowest cat densities." The research was conducted by Tracey Hollings and Menna Jones, of the University of Tasmania, Hamish McCallum, of Griffith University, and Nick Mooney from the Department of Primary Industries. The highest numbers of positive tests were in eastern quolls.

Last year, Tamar Natural Resource Management trapped dozens of feral cats that were all infected. In September, Tasmanian Country reported on farmers concerned about a drop in wallaby numbers. Reports of diseased wallabies were made from Bothwell to the Tasman Peninsula. Bothwell farmer Neil Monks said "they went blind and just pined away ... you could walk up to them and they were just sitting up looking at the sky". The Department of Primary Industries said illness was often triggered when animals were stressed from hunger, age or the weather. Monitoring from 2005 to 2008 showed a big decline in pademelons in the south, although drops in native species were expected because of drought. Surveys were continuing but the department said there had been no reported increase in animal deaths. Landholders and others can report unusual symptoms or disease in wildlife to 6233 6556 or notifiable diseases to 1800 675 888. *Mercury

Ed Comment; Well, in Tassie they eat a lot of of wallaby and possum meat, so this report may slow down the consumption of wildlife meat. Anyone who eats wildlife meat runs the risk of getting toxoplasmosis.....and other largely untreatable diseases. To read more about toxo in wildlife, and its devastating effects on humans, go to ........ http://www.kangaroo-protection-coalition.com/kangaroos-toxoplasmosis.html

Kangaroo Attack

A seven-year-old girl who suffered cuts and bruises after being attacked by a kangaroo in Australia has said she thought she was going to die. Makayla McEvoy was playing near a group of the kangaroos at a campsite when one charged at her, pinned her to the ground, and kicked her in the face, arms and back. Describing the attack, the schoolgirl, who is now recovering after being treated for her wounds, said she was "very, very scared". She added: "I thought I was going to die. All I could see was grey, grey, grey". The ordeal happened at Wyangala Dam, a popular picnic and camping area about 186 miles (300km) west of Sydney. "It just jumped on her back and knocked her to the ground and started. It was just jumping up and jumping up on top of her and scratching her," said Makayla's mother, Emma McGovern. Her step-father, Mitch McGovern, ran to save her.

He said: "As I jumped over the top of Makayla to get rid of the kangaroo, all I could see was she was laying, sort of, face down on the ground with her shirt was all ripped, and her back was cut. "There was no noise, I thought the worst." Makayla McEvoy hurt after being attacked by wild kangaroo, west of Sydney, Australia Makayla McEvoy suffered cuts and bruises to her face, arms and back Mrs McGovern added: "Honestly, I thought she was dead. She didn't make any noise. She didn't scream for help." Mr McGovern said he struggled to fight off the kangaroo. "As I went to turn back, it actually came back at me, jumped and kicked me in the back of the leg," he said. Makayla was rushed to hospital where her wounds were treated.

She said the attack has not put her off hoping to be a veterinary surgeon one day. Grey kangaroos can grow as tall as 9ft (2.8 metres), and weigh up to 10st (66kg). The park management said they will put up signs to warn people about kangaroo attacks. The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is found in southern and eastern Australia, with a population of several million. They normally avoid interaction with humans, and there have only been a handful of recorded attacks on people. *Sky News

Fires

Fire authorities will be forced to conduct night fuel-reduction burns over summer, as the Government struggles to deal with a huge backlog of grass fuel left around the ACT. The rare decision comes after a disastrous start to the territory's hazard reduction program this financial year. Just 104ha of a planned 5316ha of fuel-reduction burning has been completed so far, according to Territory and Municipal Services. The backlog has been caused by recent rains, which have made it impossible for Parks, Conservation and Lands fire officers to conduct burns. TAMS fire unit manager Neil Cooper said authorities would now be forced to take the unusual step of conducting night-time burns during summer. Mr Cooper said fire officers would be forced to wait for a cool change, during which they would conduct a large number of burns over a short, concentrated period. He said this would potentially create smoke hazards across the ACT.

The wet weather has also caused ''havoc'' for scheduled maintenance and upgrades to the ACT's fire trails, including work planned for the Mt Franklin Road in Namadgi National Park, according to Mr Cooper. The ACT Government was urged to improve access to the Mt Franklin Road, and a number of other fire trails, by the McLeod Inquiry in the wake of the devastating 2003 Canberra bushfires. Mr Cooper said he was confident that TAMS would achieve its hazard reduction burn target of 5316ha by the end of the financial year. ''With the continuing run of wet weather, it's caused us to adapt and reassess how we do things,'' Mr Cooper said. 'What we've done is looked at those areas and discussed how we can still achieve this fuel management outcome using other means, such as slashing and grazing.'' About 7000ha of fuel was planned to be removed through cattle grazing, while 8000ha has already been slashed once by Parks, Conservation and Lands. The Rural Fire Service has warned that if current warm temperatures continue over the next month, the risk of fast-moving grass fires will be dramatically increased.

Temperatures reached 34 degrees yesterday, 33 degrees on Monday, and 30 degrees on Sunday, while today is forecast to hit 34, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. But storms are forecast for today, and showers are expected to continue later this week. RFS chief officer Andrew Stark said the warmer weather was not a big concern, but said a sustained hot period would create a ''rush of grass'', increasing the risk of dangerous grass fires. "'The real risk with these conditions, and for the ACT this year, is grass fires, rather than forest fires,'' Mr Stark said. ''They're very fast moving, very wind driven, very intense heat, and very tall flames, particularly with all the available grass at the moment.'' 'Grass fires can move up to four times faster than forest fires, so they can develop into dangerous conditions very quickly.'' Mr Stark said he was ''quite confident'' in the fuel management activities scheduled in the ACT's current Bushfire Operations Plan. 'They're always challenging, because the weather that hurts us in summer, hurts us in winter.''

Ed Comment; Over the last few years the ACT Government, arguably the most dysfunctional government in Australia, have deliberately killed thousands of kangaroos in the Parks and Reserves around Canberra, because they were eating the grass. Now they are burning the Parks to keep the grass down!