Wildlife Bytes 29/5/12

Kangaroos and Seals

The slaughter of kangaroos in Australia is going largely unnoticed when compared with Canada's widely condemned annual seal hunt, a prominent Canadian animal rights lawyer says.
Lesli Bisgould is embarking on a 12-stop tour of Australia, hosted by animal protection institute Voiceless, to highlight the plight of Australia's icon. Voiceless says that the annual hunt of Australia's kangaroos is the world's largest commercial slaughter of land-based wildlife, with almost 90 million lawfully killed in the past 20 years. By comparison, Canada's harp seals are hunted in the world's largest commercial slaughter of marine mammals, with almost 4 million killed lawfully in the past two decades. This year, Voiceless will explore legal comparisons between the two hunts and the lessons Australia can learn from its Canadian counterpart in the 2012 Voiceless Animal Law Lecture Series, starting in Sydney on Wednesday. Seals and kangaroos are both slaughtered away from the public eye and many suffer for long periods of time before death, Voiceless says.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/parallels-between-seal-and-kangaroo-slaughter-canadian-lawyer-20120528-1zete.html#ixzz1wBjVSskA

Dunnarts

A tiny mouse-like marsupial is standing in the way of a $25 million investment in central west Queensland.  The Stockman's Hall of Fame has had to halt earthworks for a multi-purpose equestrian centre at the Longreach tourist attraction because the site might be the habitat of the rare Julia Creek dunnart. Hall of Fame CEO Ben Maguire says the Longreach Regional Council can't confirm if the tiny animal does in fact call the proposed site home. However, in the ensuing confusion about what environmental impact studies may be needed, the project has had to be postponed and may be delayed up to two years, he says. Mr Maguire said the expansion would inject millions of dollars into the west Queensland economy. But far from blaming the endangered critters, Mr Maguire said he was frustrated at the red tape surrounding the issue. "It's not the animal we're frustrated with, it's the process," he told AAP. "We want to respect the environment and do the right thing, but I'm more frustrated by the process it takes to get through to finding out what we've actually got to do." Mr Maguire said he was still committed to the project. The Julia Creek dunnart is a nocturnal marsupial that feeds on small insects and is mostly found in a small part of northwest Queensland. *AAP

Dolphins

Up to 100 dolphins are estimated to have drowned in trawl nets off the Pilbara in two years since a Murdoch University study recommended urgent action to reduce the toll. Neil Loneragan from the university's cetacean research unit said recommendations in the study's final report were not implemented, despite promises from the Department of Fisheries and the industry. He said the calls for a six-month trial of top-opening hatches in trawl nets, independent observers on the fishing vessels and the retention of any dead dolphins for study were expected to be in place by late 2010. "We don't know what the loss of between 20 and 50 dolphins a year means to this population of dolphins, therefore we can't be sure about the population's ongoing viability," Professor Loneragan said. The dolphins enter nets to play and harvest the fish but occasionally get trapped and drown. Changes to fishing practices reduced the official toll to about 40 a year by 2007 and to less than 20 a year by 2008. But data from observers indicated the toll was under reported by up to 3.5 times. They found escape hatches in the bottom of nets designed to let creatures out allowed dead dolphins to fall out when nets were hauled up. Department of Fisheries spokesman Shane O'Donoghue said the industry developed a new net after the study and it would be tested from next month. *TheWest.com

Platypus

Environmentalist Ian Kiernan has joined a campaign against a proposed $47 million pipeline that opponents say will threaten native wildlife in central western NSW. Orange City Council (OCC) wants to build the pipeline from the Macquarie River to secure its future water needs. But the Clean Up Australia founder told a meeting of the Orange and Region Water Security Alliance at NSW Parliament House on Thursday that OCC needed to find a plan with a smaller environmental footprint. "To be contemplating pumping out of the Macquarie River is just not on," Mr Kiernan said. Karl Schaerf, a spokesman for local recreational fishers, said the pipeline would an huge risk to the "iconic" native animals living in and around the river, including platypuses. "I am deeply concerned about the impact on other inhabitants of the river, in particular water rats, platypuses, water dragons," he said.
The most influential people in Sport He said endangered trout cod, quoll and black swan populations along the river would also be threatened. NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham, a former Orange City councillor, said the plan to pump 1.665 megalitres annually from the Macquarie River into Burrendong Dam was irresponsible and should not be paid for from NSW coffers. He said he would attempt to bring a motion to parliament ruling the project out. OCC spokesman Nick Redmond told AAP the pipeline would have minimal environmental impact and would help drought-proof the city. "This project will deliver the greatest amount of water security for Orange with the least impact," he said. *Australian

Freshwater Turtles

They can live for more than a century, seem to be able to keep menopause at bay and may hold the key to anti-ageing - if they don't die out first. Researchers believe Australia's freshwater turtles, one of the most threatened groups of animals on the planet, could provide an insight into the biological process of growing old. Freshwater turtle expert Dr Ricky Spencer of the University of Western Sydney says the oldest turtles produce the most eggs. "There's no sign of menopause so they're defying the common-held view that cell death is inevitable," Dr Spencer said. "These guys are either delaying that, or they don't expire like any other vertebrate." But despite their natural longevity, Australia's population is "on the precipice of a major decline", he says. Freshwater turtles, especially along the Murray River, are at greater risk of extinction than ever before. Only 5 per cent of every clutch of eggs makes it to maturity, with introduced species like foxes enjoying an "all-you-can-eat buffet" during nesting season, Dr Spencer says. The Murray River Shortneck is also falling prey to rising salinity levels in the water. "Their only natural defence to salinity is to move along major highways, which follow the river," says Dr Spencer, adding that many are run over, such as the drought-affected Eastern Longneck, which travels great distances from waterhole to waterhole. Freshwater turtles are crucial to river, creek, lake and pond ecosystems, eating pest fish such as the European carp, and vacuuming up algae and dead material. However, while Australia's freshwater turtles are in peril, they haven't faced the same steep decline in numbers as other species around the world, Dr Spencer says. He was commenting ahead of World Turtle Day today, which experts hope will draw attention to the plight of the reptiles.
* AAP

Echidnas

A grazier has found a rare albino echidna near Tambo, south-east of Longreach in western Queensland. Grazier John Jones from south of Tambo came across the white echidna on a property he manages, saying he has never seen anything like it.  He took it to the local school to show children and teachers. "I don't know whether the smaller children realise the significance that they may never seen one ever again," he said. "All its points - its toenails and little face - is pink, the quills are completely white. "It seems to have a white fur on the body covering, under the quills.  "I have not come across anyone yet who has seen one." Mr Jones says he has now released the echidna back into the bush.  Queensland Museum senior curator Dr Steve Van Dyck says he sees more albino echidnas than any other albino animals. "The echnidas don't really have that many predators, so the survival chances ... in a white echnida are much much better than say the survival chances in a white rat," he said. "We probably see more of these things because they are not knocked off naturally in the population." But he says the rate of albinism still makes it a once-in-a-lifetime find.  "It's rare - in animals, in mammals - it is probably one-in-10,000," he said. "To most people, it would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing.  "I'm only in a position of luxury - I am in a position where people would report these things to me.  "Albinos have always been prized in society for their rarity - people have always loved them." *ABC

Hunting

This week in the NSW Upper House I tabled the first 100 signatures in a petition opposing the O'Farrell government's proposal to allow children as young as twelve to hunt on public land without supervision using bows, bowie knives and packs of dogs on public land. Animal welfare groups such as Animal Liberation, Animals Australia and PETA have also joined the campaign and are encouraging their members and supporters to get involved and make submissions. It's not too late to get involved – visit our website to download a petition, a flyer and make a submission directly to the Minster for Primary Industries. Hundreds of other people have made submissions via our website so far. If we are to succeed in stopping this ugly proposal we will need to ensure our voices are louder, more considered and better targeted than the spray coming from some of the hunting fraternity. Working together we can relegate this proposal to where it belongs – the trashcan. *David Shoebridge, NSW Greens MLC.

Go here to send message to Minister..   http://davidshoebridge.org.au/2012/05/09/12-year-olds-allowed-to-hunt-unsupervised-under-government-plan/

Whales

National Whale Day June 2nd, Byron main beach / 3PM, Marine sand castle competition and sunset ceremony. Fundraiser for Sea Shepherd & Migaloo 2. Music by Nathan Kaye, Gina Lakosta & Darpan.

Save the Reef

Here's a three minute video by Getup about the Gt, Barrierr Reeef.     http://www.getup.org.au/savethereef  and hers is another Dugongs and Turtles uTube clip of Colin Riddell explaining the Dugong anf Turtle campaign.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z7l9nkhnKg&feature=youtu.be


Leadbeaters Possums

One of the country's rarest mammals and Victoria's faunal emblem will be the subject of a captive breeding program - the first major breeding and release program for Leadbeater's possums - as scientists intervene to build up the wild population and establish an insurance population in captivity. The precarious state of the endangered possum - numbering less than 2000 in the wild - prompted Zoos Victoria to embark on the project after the Black Saturday bushfires destroyed 45 per cent of its habitat and roughly halved the wild population. Last week Healesville Sanctuary's threatened species biologist, Dan Harley, identified the ''male founder'' of the program, which has passed health checks and had a microchip the size of a grain of rice inserted between his shoulder blades.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/saving-the-species-this-tiny-twoyearold-is-the-right-possum-for-the-job-20120521-1z1d1.html#ixzz1vj4xitvJ

Wombats

Scientists monitoring critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombats at a new colony they set up near St George in southwest Queensland have found that a third wombat is pregnant. Of two born last year, one has already done the wombat equivalent of moving into a flat, having set up a bachelor pad in one of his mum's burrows. Acting threatened species manager David Murphy said the births and the fact the animals had settled in well was evidence the long-awaited translocation had worked. In 2009, wombats were returned to their former habitat on a cattle station near St George after being wiped out there about 100 years ago. Man-made burrows were dug to take wombats from central Queensland's Epping Forest National Park, their last stronghold and in one of the world's most important species-saving exercises, 15 animals were translocated. Mr Murphy said five of those had died from issues ranging from suspected snake bite to disease and bullying. The colony now had seven females, three males and three joeys. About 140 remain at Epping and scientists are using infra-red cameras at St George to learn as much as possible about them. Mr Murphy said some of the discoveries about the usually solitary, nocturnal and subterranean animals were surprising. Mothers socialised more than expected and the young tended to play. All showed markedly different characteristics. All the wombats had benefited from two good wet seasons; some look portly and there are no plans for supplementary feeding. "This is a big stepping stone for the entire species," Mr Murphy said. *Courier Mail

Crocodiles

The Mary River's celebrity crocodile has won a stand-off with rangers who will abandon attempts to trap it.  The 3.5m toothy tourist, spotted some 400km south of its comfort zone, has shown no interest in baits set up as part of three traps near Maryborough. It has been seen sunning itself on river banks as the weather cools, but seems far from hungry. Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) wildlife rangers said they would suspend attempts to catch the Mary River crocodile until warm weather returned. "'We've had the traps progressively in place since the beginning of May and have baited each with what would normally be very tempting croc food, but the animal has not been interested," EHP Wildlife Director Dr Ashley Bunce said. ""This is not really surprising, as winter approaches cold-blooded animals like crocodiles lose much of their appetite as their metabolism slows," he said "Importantly, rangers' observations of the crocodile since trapping began are that it has displayed no aggressive behaviour and is very wary of people and vessels. ""The department considers the crocodile represents a low risk to human safety at this time, given its behavioural history and the influence the cold weather is having on the animal's activity level." Dr Bunce said rangers would monitor and maintain the traps until Friday this week and, if the crocodile was not caught by then, would close them down until warmer weather returns. Members of the public should are advised to remain vigilant in the area. *Courier Mail


A monster croc has been caught in a creek near a popular Territory swimming spot. NT Parks and Wildlife rangers removed the 4.2m saltwater crocodile from Berry Creek last night - just 1.5km from Berry Springs, where tourists and locals alike go to cool off from the Top End heat. Senior Park Ranger Louise Kean said the male reptile was caught in one of three permanent traps which are set to prevent the potential killers from moving into the popular swimming spot. The traps are monitored and baited daily to minimise the risk of crocs going into swimming areas. She said the saltie had already been taken to a crocodile farm. Berry Springs Nature Park was reopened for swimming last week after five consecutive nights of crocodile survey work. Two small freshwater crocodiles were removed and the park was deemed safe for swimming last Tuesday. "This is another reminder to the public to be extremely cautious about any waterways in the Top End, as estuarine crocodiles can and do move around throughout the year," Ms Kean said. To report saltwater crocodiles in the Darwin region phone 0419 822 859 or in the Katherine region phone 0407 958 405. *NT News
Ed Comment; Anyone who goes swimming in a creek or river in the NT is hosting a death wish.

Bio-medical Wildlife Research

Please dont forget to comment on the Draft guide to the use of Australian native mammals in biomedical research, Public Consultation Draft, March 2012 which can be found here .. 

http://consultations.nhmrc.gov.au/files/consultations/drafts/reviseddraftausnativemammals120309.pdf


Quolls

It wasn't gold this quoll was after when he lost his tail at Mount Perry, west of Childers.  The endangered marsupial was rummaging for food at the town's gold mine when, vets suspect, the lid of an industrial bin fell on his tail. Since named Perry, he was taken to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital at Beerwah where his sparsely furred tail got the chop. Vet Amber Gillett said Perry was the first quoll to be treated at the hospital. "It's a big novelty. Everyone likes to come and see him every time we get him out," she said. "When he first came to us he still had his tail attached but there was quite a distinct cut through the top where something had come down and cut through the spine. "We ascertained that losing that part of the tail would not affect his survival in the wild and he should be fine to live a normal life (upon release)." In the meantime, he'll spend a few weeks recovering in hospital where he spends most of the day sleeping. "Perry is a fairly typical quoll. They're pretty cranky little things and very defensive. "He has some pretty sharp teeth which luckily haven't grabbed anybody yet but certainly could inflict a nasty bite." Once his tail has healed, Perry will be released back into the wild where he was found. "They're a fairly isolated little population where he's from so his genetics make it important he go back," Dr Gillett said. *Courier Mail

Wildlife Event

Talking Wildlife: 50 years with Wildlife Queensland takes place Friday 7 and Saturday 8 September in Brisbane and registration fees have been kept low to ensure maximum participation of wildlife workers, volunteers and researchers. More information is available online at http://www.wildlife.org.au/talkingwildlife or by contacting Event Managers, Wombat Creative on 0421 709 519. They have some good speakers lined up for  this event, unfortunately they haven't got anyone talking about the kangaroo or koala issues. *

Seals

Sea-lion breeding colonies on the state's far west coast have been excluded from the latest plan for marine sanctuary zones, alarming a conservation group. The area is not represented among sanctuary or "no take" zones that have been proposed to protect a range of marine animals within SA's 19 marine parks. The Friends of Sceale Bay want to protect Australian Sea Lions in coastal waters around Jones Island and Nicholas Baudin Island, as well as Sceale Bay and Cape Blanche. Group convener David Letch said 12 per cent of all Australian sea lion pups were born in the area known as the Chain of Bays, yet none were protected.  A spokesman for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said the maps, were a "starting point". "The draft map recently released by the Government takes into account input from the local advisory groups and key stakeholders," he said. "Australian Sea Lion breeding colonies will be protected under the proposed sanctuary zones throughout the west coast, including at the Isles of St Francis, Nuyts Reef, Lound Island, Pearson Island Group and one of the state's largest Australian Sea Lion breeding colonies at Dangerous Reef." Environment Minister Paul Caica said public consultation on the draft management plans for each of the 19 marine parks would start in the coming months and encouraged The Friends of Sceale Bay to make a formal submission. *Adelaide Now

Flying Foxes

Katter's Australian Party will introduce legislation to Parliament in the next week allowing councils and residents to kill flying foxes by "whatever means possible". Dalrymple MP Shane Knuth, the party's state parliamentary leader, will introduce the bill which will include removing all penalties for harming or killing flying foxes.  The bill will also support the Newman Government's plans to overhaul the overhaul the damage mitigation permit (DMP) system, as well as include an amendment to the Nature Conservation Act allowing councils to remove bats by whatever means possible to ensure the health and safety of the community. Mr Knuth said the State Government's ruling out of culling in residential areas didn't go far enough in addressing bat colonies in places such as Charters Towers. "This is why we will be putting this bill forward," he said. Mr Knuth said the penalties for harming or killing flying foxes, which can be as much as $100,000 or one year's imprisonment, were absurd. He said he was hoping LNP MPs in regional and rural electorates would support the bill. "I am confident every former National MP will support this," he said. Environment Minister Andrew Powell has previously said Mr Knuth should sit down and talk to the government about ways to fix the problem instead of introducing bills that were destined to fail. "I'm sick of hearing about communication, discussion and planning when they've ruled out a real plan to get rid of bats," Mr Knuth said. Mr Powell yesterday confirmed the LNP would not be supporting the bill. "The LNP have clearly outlined the flying fox management policy, which aims to balance community safety and wildlife protection and would, therefore, not be supportive of Mr Knuth's bill," he said. *Townsville Bulletin

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 *

Canberra Kangaroo Kill

This year's cull of thousands of kangaroos by the ACT government will cost more money to kill fewer animals than in 2011. Government shooters were expected to begin the slaughter of about 2015 kangaroos in nine nature reserves around the capital overnight, with the cull expected to continue for three weeks. But Territory and Municipal Services officials confirmed yesterday that this year's cull would be more expensive than last year's effort, despite up to 1400 fewer animals being killed. Parks and Conservation Service director Daniel Iglesias said the annual cull would cost an estimated $215,000 this year, compared with $183,000 in 2011. Last year's cull of 3400 kangaroos cost about $54 per kangaroo. This year, the government will spend about $107 per kangaroo. Mr Iglesias said the fee covered all planning for the cull, as well as staff, contractors and an assessment at the end. ''Every year is different in relation to how we do the planning,'' he said. TAMS closed nine reserves last evening for the start of this year's cull of ''over-abundant eastern grey kangaroos''. Animal rights activists, including members of the Australian Society for Kangaroos, planned to wait at Mount Painter Nature Reserve last night in the belief it could be one of the first sites targeted. TAMS does not reveal the order in which contractors will do the culling, but does factor possible delays caused by protesters.
SITES CLOSED UNTIL JUNE 12: Callum Brae Nature Reserve, Crace Nature Reserve, Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve, Jerrabomberra West Nature Reserve, Kama Nature Reserve, Mount Painter Nature Reserve, Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, the Pinnacle Nature Reserve and Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve. *Age

Ed Comment; If you like reading fiction, the dodgy science and suspect surveys done by the ACT government can be found here........   http://www.tams.act.gov.au/play/pcl/wildlife/local/kangaroos/resident_survey

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/248663/Kangaroo_Q_and_A_2012.pdf


Protesters have accused the government of announcing the controversial kangaroo cull a week before the shooting actually begins, to throw activists off and allow public anger to dissipate before it begins. The cull of more than 2000 eastern grey kangaroos across nine ACT nature reserves was due to begin on Tuesday night. But animal welfare groups, vehemently opposed to the cull, have claimed the shooting had not started yesterday. Campaigner Carolyn Drew and other activists have been monitoring the situation at the reserves. The Territory and Municipal Services Directorate did not respond to the claims yesterday. A spokesman said details of where, when or how the culling would occur would not be released, for reasons of public safety and to allow the operation to be conducted effectively. Fewer animals will be culled compared to last year, but it will still cost $215,000. *Canberra Times


Protests against the ACT government's controversial culling of more than 2000 kangaroos continued last night with activists jumping fences into nature reserves after reportedly hearing gun shots. Police were called to the Crace Nature Reserve where Fiona Corke, of the Australian Society for Kangaroos, said activists had reportedly heard gun fire. 'Our scout out here heard a number of gunshots around 5.30pm,'' she said. ''Protesters jumped the fence and went in.'' Ms Corke called the police, who she said sent a tactical response team into the site after the protesters. ACT Policing's Sergeant Stuart Howes said a tactical response team may have attended the site, but would not have acted in a tactical response capacity. ''They would have attended as a general patrol,'' Sergeant Howes said. He said no arrests had been made. Ms Corke said ACT Policing had been supportive of the campaigners' rights to protest. ''We'll be here for the rest of the night and if we need to go in again we will,'' she said. 'We will be persistent, until we stop them.'' The sites to be closed for culling are Callum Brae Nature Reserve, Crace Nature Reserve, Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve, Jerrabomberra West Nature Reserve, Kama Nature Reserve, Mount Painter Nature Reserve, Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, the Pinnacle Nature Reserve and Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve. The parks will be closed until 6pm on Tuesday, June 12. *Canberra Times

Koalas

Tomorrow at 10.15 a.m. (Wednesday 23rd May, 2012), Senator Bob Brown and Senator Larissa Waters will announce their intention to table a Koala Protection Bill in the Federal Parliament of Australia.   This is the first step towards the Koala’s very own piece of legislation that will be nationwide and designed uniquely for them.  This is a huge step and the beginning of either a short or long journey to its fruition, which would be a Koala Protection Act.    Basically, a Bill is introduced into Parliament and our Parliamentarians can either agree; yes or no to its passing.  Once the majority says yes, it becomes an Act.  

As you know, the AKF has wanted a National Koala Act for nearly twenty years and to be frank, I feel like I have wasted over 12 years as we have tried to meet the narrow criteria of the IUCN guidelines and the EPBC Act.    Even with 25,000 dead koalas in South East Queensland and thousands of others dead in New South Wales, it took a Senate Inquiry to basically “force” the Minister to make a decision which still leaves Victorian koalas unprotected.   Honestly the system is broken.  By the time you have met the criteria of these ridiculous guidelines, the species has to be on the brink.  It is quite ridiculous really.

As we have seen, there are politicians already wringing their hands about the Koala listing and unless there is a specific legislation to protect them, the AKF can see politicians of different persuasions using the Koala like a political football.   Shocking really when you think of what the Koala does for Australia.   Every tourist, every celebrity, even the Pope has cuddled one.     So, we are hoping you will give AKF support over the coming months (and hopefully not years), to encourage our leaders to endorse the passing of this legislation.
Regards and thanks. Deborah, AKF


Some koala stakeholders in Australia say they would not support moves to commercialise the species in order to conserve it. Some scientists and farmers are calling for state and federal governments to do more to allow private landholders to manage, breed and trade koalas across state borders.  Over the last 20 years koala numbers in New South Wales have dropped by a third, but there are large numbers in Victoria and South Australia.  The Australian Koala Foundation's Deborah Tabbart says she would support incentives to encourage conservation on private lands, but not moves to commercialise wildlife. "If those landholders sought to say sell koalas, then I am totally against that," she said. In a statement, Australia's Environment Minister Tony Burke says national guidelines for relocating koalas are being developed and decisions are likely to be based on genetics, disease risk and the availability of suitable habitat.  *ABC


The Tweed coast's koala population is at high risk of extinction because existing numbers are not sustainable. The Tweed Shire Council is seeking a higher classification for the marsupials. The council's bio-diversity officer, doctor Mark Kingston, says the NSW Scientific Committee will be asked to list Tweed koala colonies as 'endangered', which is a classification above 'vulnerable'. Dr Kingston says that would ensure greater protection and also attract better funding to regenerate known habitat areas. "It also focuses attention for developers... to have a little bit more consideration of those particular koalas as opposed to the koalas more generally," he said. "The situation is pretty dire and without some very concerted efforts they will probably be extinct within the next 10 to 20 years.  "So we think we've got probably around the 150 to 140 animals and that number of animals is not sustainable on it's own... since they're fragmented and they're separated from each other." *ABC


The Australian Greens Party has released a bill to increase protection for koalas. The bill makes it unlawful to kill or harm koalas, and makes it an offence to destroy their habitat in areas where the koala is listed as threatened. The former Greens Leader Bob Brown says the bill is similar to a 1940 United States law that gave extra protection to the American bald eagle and brought it back from the brink of extinction. Senator Brown says the population of koalas has dropped alarmingly. "The koala's also faced with multiple threats where most numerous - that is expressways, housing developments and other developments in their habitat - and they keep on getting shoved back," he said. Meanwhile, a Senate Estimates Committee has heard listing koalas as a threatened species should have only a limited impact on farmers. The Australian Government has classified the koala as a vulnerable species and added it to the threatened list across the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. The Coalition Senator, Barnaby Joyce, has used the committee to question what impact this will have on farming communities. An Environment Department official has told the hearing it will only affect farmers who make significant changes to their land use, such as subdivision or large scale clearing for irrigation. *ABC


A tourism entrepreneur says legislation is the only way to protect koalas. Flight Centre CEO Graham Turner is considering appealing against a Supreme Court decision allowing a miner to reopen a coal mine near one of his resorts at Grandchester in the Lockyer Valley. Mr Turner says the area is a known habitat for koalas which the Federal Government recently listed as 'vulnerable'. He says that decision, and a Greens' plan to make it illegal to destroy habitats, is the only thing that can save the animals. "I think it's probably essential at some stage if the koalas are going to survive, particularly in areas such as south-east Queensland, that there has to be protection of habitat - it's the big reason for the decline in the numbers," he said.
Mr Turner says having legislative protection will make it easier to overrule developments in known habitats. "Mines are important but in habitat like this, in closely settled areas which also have quite significant koala populations, open-cut coal mining is just not suitable," he said. He says the Greens' bill could make it harder for mining companies to operate in sensitive areas. "Koalas really don't figure in mining at the moment," he said. "The most miners have to do is set aside some old habitat if they're going to destroy one and it's not an effective way of saving koala habitat and the argument we use is not about koalas because it's very hard to put an argument about koalas because of the current lack of legislation protecting them." *ABC

Sustainable Wildlife Use?

George Wilson is presenting a paper at the Australian Veterinary Conference in Canberra on 24th May 2012 at 0900 hr in the Convention Centre. It asserts that current Australian policies and programs to support wildlife have not rectified the conservation status of many species which continues to get worse. Endangered species management is too dependent on limited Government funding. He suggests Australia should draw more on overseas experience that the private sector can play a major role in species and habitat conservation. The key is to enable population increases on private lands by creating incentives for landholders to manage existing habitats, permit translocation of overabundant populations and encourage the expansion of suitable habitat. If Australian Governments encouraged such innovation wildlife populations would increase and widen their distribution.

Government agencies would still have a role in authorising transfers of animals to ensure improvements in the genetic status of populations, and enforcing animal welfare regulations and codes of practice. Koalas for example are under threat; evidenced by their patchy distribution and apparent incapacity to recolonise suitable habitat. Involvement of the private sector in koala management and in effect ‘ownership’ of koalas would mirror that which already occurs through the activities of private zoos and animal parks. A wider ‘koala market’ would enable private landholders to also be involved in conservation projects and expand the distribution, health and security of Australia’s koala population. The challenge is to enable today’s landholders to contribute to conservation through sustainable wildlife use. Veterinarians can assist achieve this outcome. *Australian Wildlife Services

Ed Comment; Wilson has a long and disgusting history of supporting wildlife abuse, as does the above Australian Wildlife Services, which is an organisatino set up by the Kangaroo Mafia to access government funding, and to provide dodgy science and services to Government....including wildlife "pest" control, and the commercial kangaroo Industry. Wilson has been quiet lately about the commercial kangaroo kill, but now appears to have jumped on the pet wildlife bandwagon.

Ghost Nets

Hundreds of marine animals are being strangled, drowned or starved to death after becoming tangled in "ghost" fishing nets off northern Australia. New figures show 10,034 such nets have been removed from beaches and mangroves in the Gulf of Carpentaria since 2004. Ghost Nets Australia project co-ordinator Riki Gunn said the environmental impact was significant with hundreds of turtles, dugongs, fish, stingrays, crabs and sharks maimed or killed after becoming entangled. She said the combination of monsoonal winds and the clockwise gyre current meant the Gulf of Carpentaria acted like a plughole for ghost nets. "That combination drives the nets into the northwest Cape region where they get swept into the Gulf from the Arafura and Timor seas, touching parts of the coast on the way," she said. "The high incidence of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in that area suggests they most likely come from that region."

GNA project officer Jen Goldberg, who has spent the past few weeks collating the data collected by indigenous land and sea rangers, said some of the nets were massive, weighing several tonnes. In one two-year period, 622 nets were removed from Flinders Beach near Mapoon, on the western edge of the Cape York Peninsula, an area described as a ghost net "hot spot". Three-quarters of marine animals trapped in nets along the Gulf coast were turtles. "Something the size of a football is enough to entangle an animal and impair its ability to feed, but they (nets) also smother reefs and corals, destroying ecosystems," Ms Goldberg said. It has been estimated 90 per cent of marine debris washing into Australian waters is fishing-related and originates in South-East Asia. CSIRO research scientist Dr Denise Hardesty said the Gulf of Carpentaria and a stretch of coastline in western Tasmania had a higher rate of ghost nets than anywhere else in Australia.

"We are trying to identify where those nets are coming from by looking at the characteristics of the netting and using oceanographic models to see the likely path they took, identify who is using these nets, where they are using them and why they are washing up where they are," she said. "The goal is not to point the finger but to come up with workable solutions to what is a global problem." Net disposal points at ports, buyback schemes for worn nets and tracking devices on nets may be among the solutions, she said. *Courier Mail

Kangaroos

There was no happy ending for a kangaroo stuck in a drain at Junction Hill yesterday. Grafton Fire Brigade, WIRES and Clarence Valley Council personnel all tried their best to get the animal out, but soon after midday it became apparent the creature had died. Grafton Fire Brigade station commander Mick Kearns said it was unfortunate, but it would have been irresponsible to allow any of his men to climb into the drain to rescue the roo. A neighbour, Tom Ensby, said the kangaroo could have been in there for two days. He suspected it was chased up the drain by dogs from nearby houses. WIRES worker Joan O'Shea said she had heard the kangaroo breathing that morning, but it would have been stressed. *Daily Examiner


Nearly 2000 Queenslanders have lost their jobs because of the government's inaction to help the kangaroo meat industry said Member for Mount Isa and State Leader of Katter's Australian Party, Rob Katter.  Mr Katter has raised concerns about Australia's kangaroo meat industry and is lobbying the state government to assist.  "Not only has the kangaroo take hit a record low, an explosion in roo numbers is threatening our agricultural industries."  He supports calls from the Kangaroo Industries Association of Australia (KIAA) for the Queensland government to fund a $3.7 million recovery plan over three years.  "The association's plan includes developing the domestic market, re-opening exports with Russia and accessing new markets to China which will ensure the industry can continue to prosper," Mr Katter said. "We don't have the liberty to sit back and hope this will sort itself out because it will only get worse if we don't act now."  Given the significant employment the industry created, he said it was a reasonable request by the KIAA and he urged the Queensland government to favourably consider allocating the funds. Chief executive of the KIAA, John Kelly said the industry had been trying for three years to get into China and back into Russia, and now the cheque books were dry."All we're asking for is an investment of $3.7 million over three years and Queensland could be earning $150 million a year in export earnings. "That's a pretty good return on investment," Mr Kelly said. It required engaging the right people in Beijing and Moscow to get kangaroo products over the line, he said. "At the moment we're very close to the situation where Queensland has to ask itself what it would look like without a kangaroo industry." *Northwest Star

Ed Comment; What Katter hasn't said is that many of the 2000 "Queenslanders" out of work in the Industry are foreigners bought in on temporary work visas, the others are shooters who are unemployable elsewhere.


A proposed new hospital at Sydney’s French’s Forest has motorists playing chicken with native wildlife. Tony Backhouse reports. Overseas visitors are often disappointed when they come to Sydney with the expectation of seeing kangaroos bounding along our suburban streets. They might get more than they bargained for now, because at Frenchs Forest – just 13km from the CBD – the NSW State Government’s Health Infrastructure Commission has locked out wildlife, such as swamp wallaby’s, from a nature corridor so they are now being slaughtered when made to detour along the busy six lane Warringah Road. Early last Monday afternoon, for instance, I found the body of a 12 month old female joey on the median strip near the intersection with the Wakehurst Parkway — it was apparent that it had been there since the early morning. The problem is not that wallabies are trying to cross, but rather that they are being diverted from their intended destination by a new obstacle – the site fence for a proposed specialist hospital – which makes them traverse back, so they end up having to play “Frogger” with the traffic as they bound along the road looking for somewhere else to depart. This is not only a risk to the animals, of course, but also a grave risk to fast travelling motorists, which is a rather a darkly ironic impact for a new hospital. * IndependentAustralia.net
Read more  ..  http://www.independentaustralia.net/2011/life/health/sydney-swamp-wallabies-playing-deadly-game-of-frogger/

Kangaroo Attacks

Two people were hospitalised after a kangaroo went "berserk" on Jervis Bay School grounds - with a young boy and a pregnant woman among the injured. Authorities have said the kangaroo may now be destroyed. Booderee National Park services manager Dr Martin Fortescue confirmed that a kangaroo had gone "berserk" during the Wreck Bay under-7s soccer training on the school oval on Wednesday afternoon. "The children were using the school oval for soccer training - it was not a school activity - and there are always a lot of kangaroos in the area," he said. Dr Fortescue said the attack was unprovoked. "A male kangaroo attacked an older boy on the sidelines, knocking him to the ground and causing serious injuries to his back, which required stitches at hospital," he said. The kangaroo then attacked a pregnant woman, kicking her in the stomach and causing a severe laceration to her torso which also required stitches. Both people are home and recovering from their injuries.

Dr Fortescue arrived on the scene to see the kangaroo continue his rampage by attacking three other people. "It was very unusual," he said. "It was a small kangaroo, but very aggressive." Following an emergency meeting yesterday between agencies involved, including National Parks and Wildlife, Jervis Bay School and the Australian Federal Police, it was decided the kangaroo may be destroyed. "We will need to observe the area for the next few days to try to identify the kangaroo and see if it is still aggressive," Dr Fortescue said. "If there is a risk to safety, we will destroy the kangaroo." He said that such a measure would be "heartbreaking", but added that people's safety was the first priority. "This is a reminder that they are wild animals," he said. "The chance of an attack is very low, but you can't be complacent. Don't approach them, don't feed them, they are potentially dangerous. They have the equipment to seriously injure or even kill someone, especially a child." Dr Fortescue added that nothing of this nature had ever happened on school grounds before, but that kangaroos in the Jervis Bay Territory were always there in great numbers because of the amount of grass in the area. Any consequent culling of the kangaroo would be carried out in consultation with the Australian Federal Police. *Illawarra Mercury


A rogue kangaroo that attacked a young mother, leaving her with a 30cm scar, had bailed her up in the garden on two previous occasions.  Despite desperate calls to National Parks and Wildlife Services for help, she was told to ignore it and it would go away. Two days before the attack Kirrily McWilliams was in the backyard of her property south of Port Macquarie when she was confronted by the growling female eastern grey kangaroo. The next day she was in the backyard with her dog, a 65kg mastiff, when the same kangaroo got through the fence and grabbed the dog. She phoned NPWS for help but was told to just ignore it. That afternoon she was walking down the driveway to pick her daughter up from the school bus when she saw the kangaroo heading towards her at high speed. With nothing to hide behind she dropped to the ground and curled up in a ball. "If you stand and confront them they can easily tear you apart because that's what they do to each other," Mrs McWilliams said. It pounded at her a number of times, scratching at her back before bounding away. She sustained a 30cm gash and other scratches on her back. "It was lucky it was cool weather and I had two layers of clothing, otherwise it could have been worse," she said.

While she was at the hospital seeking attention, her husband was approached by the kangaroo in the backyard. It went to attack but he kept it at bay with a shovel. They again contacted NPWS but there was no reply. She heard from NPWS a day later. It issued an immediate 48-hour permit to hire a shooter and kill the kangaroo. But by that time the mad marsupial had moved on and attacked someone else.  Mrs McWilliams was disappointed by the response and attitude from NPWS. "I'm for protecting kangaroos but there seems to be nothing in place to help people," she said. "I had to be injured before they did anything. I have three children and it could have been one of them." It's not the first time a kangaroo has lashed out. Last year two-year-old Zakkia Galea was left bloodied and needing stitches after he was pinned to the ground by a female eastern grey kangaroo not far from where Mrs McWilliams was attacked. NPWS said kangaroos were considered dangerous and its policy was to educate people on avoiding conflict. The statement added a licence to harm/destroy a kangaroo was a last resort that was only issued after there was demonstrated aggressive behaviour exhibited or an attack. * Telegraph

Ed Comment; Media have lot to answer for, articles like this only create fear in the many uninformed people on our communities.