Wildlife Bytes 31/5/10

Wildlife MiniBytes

Fraser Island Dingoes

Heres a report and photos of the Fraser Island Dingo Rally held last week in Brisbane. http://www.sosnews.org/newsfront/?p=522

Belconnen

The 19th May was the second anniversary when over 500 kangaroos were brutally killed at Belconnen, and then later another 4000 or so kangaroos were needlessly killed at the Majura Army Base. The Belconnen massacre was bad enough and traumatic enough for those who watched, but the fact that it was authorised and supported by the Federal Government...and the ACT RSPCA .......appalled many Australians. Both Peter Garrett and Kevin Rudd could have stopped both kills, but chose not to do so. Aided and abetted by such as Minister Tony Burke and Mike Kelly, the whole World watched as these defenceless kangaroos and their joeys, were run down and brutally killed. And by a so-called Labor government no less. Along with the rest of the World, we now watch as the bulldozers move into Belconnen, and restructure the area for houses, with scant concern for the small endangered animals that the kangaroos were supposed to be threatening. As a result of that tragedy, many people from different states and backgrounds with a diverse range of skills have come together and networked to campaign even more strongly for the kangaroos. Many groups and individuals have this week written to those responsible, reminding them that Belconnen was a very dark day for all Australians, and one that will never be forgotten. * WPAA

Gorillas

Three baby mountain gorillas and an adult female have died in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, possibly from a combination of extremely cold and rainy weather. Around 680 mountain gorillas remain in the wild, making them one of the world's most endangered great apes, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said in a statement. The statement said the cause of death was not yet known but there was no indication of foul play. "We are all shocked and saddened by the death of these baby gorillas as well as the adult female, and by the grave implications for the mountain gorilla population as a whole," Eugene Rutagarama, director of the International Gorilla Conservation Program, said in the statement. Around half the mountain gorilla population live in the Virunga chain of volcanoes which straddle the central African countries of Rwanda, Uganda and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The rest live in Bwindi Impenetrable Park in Uganda. The primates are under threat from poachers, the destruction of their habitat, the live ape trade, disease and fragmentation, the WWF said. Rwanda's gorilla-viewing tourism industry is a leading source of foreign exchange. *Reuters

Frogs

A Hampshire aquarium is celebrating after successfully breeding one of the most dangerous amphibians on Earth. Phantasmal poison frogs, which can kill anybody who merely touches them, have skin 200 times more toxic than morphine. The frogs, found on the western slopes of the Andes in Ecuador, South America, are so rare they are in danger of becoming extinct. But 26 have now been born at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Portsmouth, after a successful breeding program. When they reach adulthood, the frogs measure just 1cm and turn bright red in colour with three green fluorescent stripes on their back. Aquarium spokeswoman Jenna MacFarlane said: "These beautiful frogs are under increasing threat in the wild due to loss of habitat and pollution and we are delighted to have been able to breed them successfully here. "It's imperative we are able to mimic exactly their wild environment in order for the species to thrive in captivity and it's a real achievement they are breeding so successfully. "They've passed the critical stage of development from tadpoles into froglets and they now look like perfect miniature replicas of their parents." Ms McFarlane added: "Despite their deadly status, it is hoped that the phantasmal poison frog could one day help save lives. "Scientists have discovered that an extract from the skin of the phantasmal poison frog Epipedrobates tricolor can block pain 200 times more effectively than morphine, and without addiction and other serious side effects." * Orange News

Flying Foxes

Dead branches in fig trees near Cairns' city library have been pruned in a scheme designed to protect a flying fox colony described by the mayor as "an integral part of the experience of visiting Cairns". But not all councillors share the mayor's enthusiasm for the animals with one saying they did little more than "crap everywhere" and carrydisease. And Kennedy MP Bob Katter says an outbreak of the deadly Hendra virus on the Sunshine Coast proves the need for culls to control the animals in North Queensland, including parts of the Tableland. Cairns council workers trimmed trees on Abbott and Lake streets during evenings this week, at times selected to avoid disturbing the bats and inadvertently sparked debate about how much consideration should be given to the creatures. "Council has come up with a pruning regime that will be carried out between 7pm and 10pm when 99 per cent of both species are known to be away from the roost collecting dinner," Cairns Mayor Val Schier said. "The colony is an integral part of the experience of visiting Cairns and many tourists love the experience of watching the bats take flight on dusk." Cr Robert Pyne said he thought that was a "mad thing to say". *Cairns Post

Monster Found on Beach

Locals in a small Canadian town have been stumped by the appearance of a bizarre creature, which was dragged from a lake. The animal, which has a long hairy body with bald skin on its head, feet and face, has prompted wild internet speculation that it is a more evolved version of the famous 'Montauk monster'. The creature was discovered by two nurses in the town of Kitchenuhmaykoosib in Ontario, Canada, while out on a walk with their dog. When the dog began sniffing in the lake, the two women started investigating, before the dog pulled the dead animal out.Read more http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/bizarre-white-faced-monster-found-on-beach/story-e6freuy9-1225869543817

Oil Spill

More than 600 animal species are threatened by the expanding oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico, officials say. Louisiana's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the threat affects about 445 species of fish, 134 birds, 45 mammals, and 32 reptiles and amphibians. Among the birds, the biggest fears centre on the brown pelican. State biologists Robert Lover said the graceful state bird of Louisiana lays eggs on the coastal islands and may be ingesting fish contaminated with oil. Similar threats may face the piping plover, royal tern and sandpiper. For amphibians and reptiles, Kemp's Ridley, a severely endangered sea turtle, is seen as threatened because its migration for the nesting season, which has begun, is cut off by the oil slick. Alligators, frogs and sea snakes face threats as well. Sea mammals in peril include the bottlenose dolphin, manatee and various whales. But land mammals including coyotes, raccoons and foxes could also see their habitat polluted. Many species of fish and crustaceans also face obvious threats in a region that has a huge fishing industry. They include the bluefin tuna, red snapper, tarpon and cobia along with crabs, shrimp and oysters. *AFP

Ed Comment; Some US Conservation groups are facing a member backlash as it surfaces that at least one of them has taken $10 million in donations from BP.

Wildlife Pets


A fisherman in China was surprised to catch a mystery creature which looked like a cross between a dinosaur and a turtle. Sun Yongcheng's catch, in Weishan Lake, Anhui province, was later identified as an alligator snapping turtle, which is not native to the country. The species is only native to North America and was probably someone's pet before being dumped in the lake, the local fishing department said. The creature's alien status meant that it could have posed a danger to the local ecological system, they added. Sun said he was surprised when he netted the alligator turtle, which measures 76cm long and 30cm wide and weighs 7kg. He said: "I suddenly noticed a black thing was hooked on the net, which scared me. It was struggling and biting the net when I pulled it up." The spokesman for the Jining Fishing Bureau said this was the first time an alligator snapping turtle had been found in the local water system. He said: "Somebody may have dumped their pet into the lake, which could greatly endanger the local ecology." *Orange News

Media

As everyone who has tried to get a positive media story running about kangaroos, possums, or flying foxes would hardly be surprised, Australia is ranked 28th in the world for 'freedom of the press'. New Zealand is ranked 9th. Why aren't we 1st? Goes to show our Australian "free press" is hardly that. *WPAA

Poison

The Tasmanian government's animal welfare advisers have approved the use of a highly toxic poison to help eradicate rabbits on Macquarie Island. The island, which lies about halfway between Australia and Antarctica, has been ravaged in recent years by an infestation of rabbits. The poison approved by the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is called Brodifacoum and it is currently under review by the Federal Government's pesticides authority due to environmental concerns. Head of the committee Professor Rob White told ABC's Stateline program it was a difficult decision given that some native wildlife are almost certain to suffer secondary poisoning. "Our advice to the minister was for it to be used against rabbits on Macquarie Island only and for this year only and for this particular winter period," he said. *ABC

Kangaroos

Animal welfare groups have condemned the slaughter of up to 100 native animals in Hobart's north in the past two months. Almost 100 kangaroos and wallabies have been found clubbed, bitten and possibly shot, at Glenorchy tip and nearby Tolosa Park in the past two months. Police believe the attacks happened outside the tip's opening hours. Inspector John Arnold says some of the animals had been trapped only to escape and later die from the shock. "So we're having some animals that are dying at the time but it may well be that some are dying as a result of that two or three days down the track." It appears most of them have been clubbed to death, some have exhibited animal bites and we're not ruling out that some of them even died as a result of firearm wounds," he said. Police says dogs were used to trap the animals. The RSPCA's Paul Swaitkowski says it is deplorable. "To me it sounds like people are getting their jollies, so to speak, by killing, maiming and slaughtering animals which can't defend themselves," he said. Anyone with information is urged to contact CrimeStoppers. *ABC

Whaling

The Federal Opposition has accused the Government of secretly ditching any possibility of taking Japan to court over whaling. Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt says there is no money in the federal budget for the court case. Mr Hunt says it shows the Prime Minister's election promise to take strong action against whaling was hollow. "A bit of sunrise rhetoric from the Prime Minister which is dropped before sunset," he said. "The budget papers - which are a test of a Government's seriousness - have dropped all money for a case against Japan. "The budget papers have dropped all reference to a case against Japan in the purpose, the intention, the goal of our marine mammal conservation program." Mr Hunt says Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has misled the public. "This is a Government which has used rhetoric to imply that it was serious about whaling," he said. "But in the cool light of day, there's no money in the budget, there's no reference to a case against Japan in the budget." However, a spokesman for Environment Minister Peter Garrett says the Government remains committed to the issue.He says the Government is trying to resolve the issue diplomatically, but funding will be made available if legal action is needed. *ABC


A marine expert says allowing oil exploration in waters near Kangaroo Island would put at risk the only known feeding area for a rare beaked whale species. Dr Mike Bossley says two drilling leases made available this week by the Federal Government also fall within one of only two known blue whale feeding areas. He says the area off the South Australian coast has been identified as having high conservation value and opening it up to drilling shows that the Government has its priorities wrong. "Clearly the protection of the marine environment comes very low on the Government's priority list," he said. "This Government was elected partly on the basis of having environmental credentials but when it comes to protecting the marine environment we've seen very little evidence of that." *Channel 7 News

Fishing

A San Pedro fish canning and packing company that pleaded guilty to federal wildlife trafficking charges has been fined and sentenced to probation. Tri Marine Fish Co. under-reported the weight of sardines brought to dock in 2008 and 2009 by nearly 650,000 pounds, resulting in underpayment to several local fishing vessel operators and inaccurate harvest data given to fisheries biologists. The company pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts in federal court May 5. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen J. Hillman ordered the company to pay a $150,000 criminal fine, including about $40,000 in restitution to the boat operators and the state Department of Fish and Game. The company also received three years of probation. The case was investigated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Law Enforcement and the state Department of Fish and Game. The sentence was announced earlier this month by the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney's Office. *Daily Breeze.com

Rare Parrots Stolen

A pair of valuable South American parrots have been stolen from Sydney's Taronga Zoo. Police said the two female "green-winged" or "red and green" macaws, aged seven and nine, were reported missing about 9am yesterday. There was no sign of forced entry into their enclosure but the padlock to the aviary was gone, police said. One of the macaws was hatched at the zoo in October 2000 and the other was bought from breeders in September 2002, a zoo spokeswoman said. Zoo officials told police the birds would be difficult to sell on the black market. Zoo keepers and police also warned that the sheer size and power of the macaws - a common sight on pirates' shoulders, according to popular legend - can pose a danger if they are improperly handled. The break-in follows the theft of two macaws from a home in Cann Street, Bass Hill, in February. Jackson and Coco were believed to be worth up to $8000 each and had just hatched a chick when they were taken. Police said they were continuing to investigate that theft. Police urged anyone with information about either theft to contact their nearest police station, Taronga Zoo on 9969 2777 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. *AAP

Tassie Devils

The Tasmanian State Government is scrambling to stop wildlife parks selling endangered Tasmanian devils to interstate parks. It gave East Coast Natureworld owner Bruce Englefield an export licence this month to send four devils to the Hunter Valley Zoo in NSW and Peel Zoo near Perth. He has another three devils in quarantine at his park that are earmarked for Phillip Island zoo in Victoria. The devils are not part of the Government's official insurance population drawn from the wild and housed in zoos around the country. The gruesome devil facial tumour disease has wiped out 80 per cent of the devil population and the insurance population could be the only thing standing between the species and extinction. Read more http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/05/23/147891_tasmania-news.html

Wildlife Bytes

Birds

Captive-bred critically endangered Regent Honeyeaters are being released into Australia's Chiltern - Mount Pilot National Park as part of a recovery programne to curb the species' decline. Forty-four birds will be released into the park wearing coloured leg bands for monitoring, twenty-five of which will also be fitted with radio transmitters. ‘Across Australia we estimate there are now less than 1,000 birds in the wild, with only 100 of these remaining in Victoria,' said Dean Ingwersen, of Birds Australia. ‘Recent surveys suggest that the number of Regent Honeyeaters has continued to decline during the past five years. We believe this is due to pressure from the continuing effect of historic land clearing, food scarcity due to drought, and competition from more aggressive species which out compete them in their favoured woodland habitat.'

The release of the captive-bred birds, which were bred at Taronga Zoo in Sydney and Adelaide Zoo, follows on from the success of the first large-scale trial release programme in May 2008. Trial results have been described as ‘very positive'. Sarah Kelly, who is a biodiversity officer at Australia's Department of Sustainability and Environment said that in the first trial 27 birds were released into the wild, with all but seven monitored daily by radio-tracking and visual observation for nearly two months after the release date. ‘The results of the first trial were very positive and exceeded our expectations,' she said. Once seen in flocks of hundreds there are now just a few Regent Honeyeaters remaining, and it has become one of Australia's 'flagship' conservation species.

It feeds mainly on nectar from a small number of eucalypt species, acting as a pollinator for many flowering plants. It is an endangered species, with between just 800 and 1,500 of the birds left in Australia. Loss of woodland habitat is the major threat to the species – 85 per cent of the box and ironbark forest and woodlands the honeyeater favours have been cleared for agriculture. 'Thanks to the support of volunteers we were able to determine the survivorship of the captive-bred birds in the wild, while also tracking their movement and interaction with wild birds. The hope is that the captive-bred birds will mate with the wild birds, increasing the population base of the species.'

Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park was selected as the preferred release site as wild birds often utilise this habitat and it would appear to provide the best chance for survival of the birds. Ms Kelly said a monitoring team, which includes specially trained community volunteers, will drive post-release surveys for about 12 weeks after the release. "The community's involvement in the monitoring is a vital part of the project's success," Ms Kelly said. The project is the largest captive-bred release of its kind in Victoria, and is funded through Birds Australia, Taronga Zoo and the DSE as part of the Regent Honeyeater recovery programme. *Wildlife Extra


Flying Foxes

Avid gardener Jack Harwood is fed up with the grey-headed flying foxes, which he claims are destroying his 12-metre palm tree. Mr Harwood, of California Gully, said up to 30 grey-headed flying foxes were killing his 26-year-old palm. “They’re here from 8pm till 5am. “In the last four to five weeks the numbers have increased. “There are droppings all over the place.” Mr Harwood said the tree was the pride of his garden and he was saddened at the thought of losing it. “It would be a shame, because they’re killing it. “I think it is time they were moved on. I would hate to think what they’re doing to the trees in Rosalind Park. “I don’t know how they’ll move them on, though.” On Tuesday, the Bendigo Advertiser reported that City of Greater Bendigo acting manager of parks Roger Barbetti would wait and see how to respond to the bats in Rosalind Park.

“The reality for us is that it’s a new phenomenon and we’re not wildlife experts,” he said. “We’re relying on the Department of Sustainability and Environment and other departments, and we’re monitoring the population and the impact it is having.” Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett last week agreed that the Botanic Gardens Trust could move the 22,000 colony, which has killed 18 mature trees and threatens more. *Bendigo Advertiser

Make a comment; http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/jack-sees-red-over-palm-bats/1837048.aspx


More than 1,000 grey-headed flying-foxes are roosting in Adelaide's eastern suburbs, the Department for Environment and Heritage says. Department regional ecologist Jason van Weenen said the fruitbats were displaced from Queensland and New South Wales due to habitat clearance and a critical food shortage. "We expect the grey-headed flying-foxes to move out of Adelaide and go back to eastern Australia in the next month or so, but there is a chance they may stay in Adelaide for longer," he said. Mr van Weenen said the department was concerned about the impacts grey-headed flying-foxes were having on properties and residents in the eastern suburbs, particularly at Fullarton where the main colony is roosting.

He said the bats would this week be disturbed when they returned to the site in the morning in a bid to relocate them to a "more appropriate area, where their impacts on properties and residents will not be so great". "It is very important that members of the public do not attempt to disperse, frighten or harass grey-headed flying-foxes, because it may reduce the effectiveness of any coordinated relocation methods being used by DEH," he said. Mr van Weenen said local residents and hills fruit growers would be consulted ahead of the relocation. The fruitbats are considered threatened nationally and are a protected species in South Australia. He said people should not touch them. "All sick or stressed wild animals can scratch or bite when handled and a very low percentage of grey-headed flying-foxes carry diseases including Australian Bat Lyssavirus," he said.

"In the unlikely event someone is bitten or scratched, they should immediately wash the wound thoroughly with warm soapy water for five minutes and then seek medical advice as soon as possible." People who spot a flying-fox, particularly one deemed to be sick, injured or trapped in fruit netting, should call DEH on (08) 8336 0926 or email FlyingFoxWatch@sa.gov.au. A fact sheet for horse owners regarding the potential transmission of Hendra virus from grey-headed flying-foxes to horses is available on the PIRSA website at www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/animalhealth. * Adelaide Now


A Sunshile Coast company says it has developed an ultrasonic device which will move bats on without hurting them. The claim came as preliminary blood tests cleared 10 of 11 people of Hendra virus after their exposure to an infected horse at Tewantin last week. They will have to be tested again in 21 and 42 days. Fruit bats are the natural host for the deadly Hendra virus, which can be passed on to horses and then on to humans. The bats are protected native fauna and can not be killed without permission. Sunshine Coast MP Peter Wellington called on the Government yesterday to remove the prohibition. However, Bird Gard general manager Darren Stutchbury said there was an easier and more humane solution.

“The Bird Gard ultrasonic device has proved successful at the Northern Territory Royal Australian Air Force base,” Mr Stutchbury said. “Within two days, two thirds of the 300,000 strong colony had moved on. “The ultrasonic device has also worked wonders in backyards around Sunshine Plaza.” Mr Stutchbury said the product had increased in popularity since fears of Hendra virus. He said the ultrasonic device was priced between $1577 and $12,500 depending on the size of the colony and the area affected. Communicable Diseases Branch senior director Dr Christine Selvey said Queensland Health was awaiting blood samples for the 11th case so they can be tested. “They are still coming from interstate where the person had travelled after contact with the horse,” Dr Selvey said. “Symptoms of the disease in humans generally present five to 21 days after exposure to the virus.” Dr Selvey said the evidence from the recent outbreaks was that even someone with a moderate to high exposure has less than one-in-10 chance of actually getting the virus. *Sunshine Coast Daily


Koalas

Conservation groups have accused the Federal Government of failing to protect the koala under national laws. The Commonwealth is currently considering a plan to make the koala "conservation dependent", which would see the states play a role in removing threats such as developments that could destroy koala habitats. But Deborah Tabart from the Australian Koala Foundation says the states have failed so far and the koala needs greater protection if it is to survive. "Here we have an animal that should be listed by the Federal Government," she said. "'Conservation dependent' basically means nothing. You can still leave the decision-making to the states or local governments, and that's seen thousands of koalas die. "We all know that the states haven't been able to protect the koala in the last 200 years. Why would we think they could in the future?"I am so disappointed in Minister [Peter] Garrett." Ms Tabart says there are as few as 43,000 koalas left in Australia. Environment Minister Peter Garrett says the "conservation dependent" listing would give state governments a key role in koala protection. "The responsibilities need to be shared," he said. "My expectation is that everyone will pull their weight." The Federal Government will make its decision later this year. *ABC


Fire Sale

The Queensland government has announced the sale of Forestry Plantations Queensland - the first transaction in its controversial asset sales. Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the 99-year licence for the timber plantation business would be sold for $603 million to Hancock Queensland Plantations. The sale price is well in excess of the $500 million that had been anticipated. Mr Fraser said he signed the contract on Tuesday morning. "By reaching agreement on a price of $603 million, this exceeds original expectations and is great news for Queensland taxpayers,'' Mr Fraser told state parliament on Tuesday. "This is the first of the five commercial businesses to be sold, licensed or leased to the private sector, as the government reforms the state balance sheet and builds a stronger Queensland economy.''

He said award staff would have their jobs guaranteed for three years. Mr Fraser said Hancock Queensland Plantations, a company managed by Hancock Timber Resource Group on behalf of institutional investors, had won the right to grow and harvest the trees. Crown plantation land on which the majority of the business sits will remain in government ownership. The sale includes about 35,000 hectares of freehold land, which is about 10 per cent of the total estate. Hancock Timber Resource Group manages more than two million hectares of timberlands worth approximately $US8.5 billion ($A9.7 billion) across the United States, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The government also plans to float Queensland Rail's coal and bulk freight business and lease the Port of Brisbane, the Abbott Point coal terminal and Queensland Motorways. *Courier Mail

Ed Comment, At least when Forestry was owned by the Qld government we had some (not a lot, but some) input into leaving adequate buffer zones on creekbeds, and native vegetation corridors, etc. Now we will have no influence against a multinational who will just do whatever they want.


Kangaroos

Meat producers across the nation are outraged high school children have been “ideology bashed” by anti-cattle literature in an important exam. Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has heavily criticised the controversial NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) exam, which told year seven students that livestock contributed more to climate change than the coal industry. MLA spokesman David Pietsch said the government-written exam this week printed information that was “biased”, “misleading” and contained “incorrect facts”. “It has naturally got producers quite upset…various letters are going in to ministers on the issue,” Mr Pietsch said. An article in the exam students were questioned on, titled “From Moo to Roo”, extolled the nutritional and environmental virtues of kangaroo meat over beef. It said a beef steak “typically” had 10 per cent to 20pc fat while a ‘roo meat fillet had 2pc.

Beef producers, such as Central Queensland’s Justin MacDonnell, say this is an incorrect figure and is more like 4pc. “Twenty per cent fat is a fifth of a steak,” Mr MacDonnell, a Cattle Council of Australia councillor, told FarmOnline. But causing more crankiness than anything else is the exam’s misleading statement that the livestock industry contributes more the climate change than the coal industry, a claim is attributed to Professor Ross Garnaut. Most government generated pie charts – including graphs by Mr Garnaut and the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory easily accessed online - show the energy sector, including the coal sector, producing a much larger volume of emissions than livestock.

Livestock produces about 11pc of emissions (agriculture a total of about 14pc), however, stationary energy, transport, and fugitive emissions (getting coal out of the ground) in accounts for more than 60pc of Australia’s emissions. v“What’s sad is that kids are seeing this in an exam, which has some sort of credence,” Mr MacDonnell said. Issues of fairness have already been raised in relation to the national numeracy and literacy tests. Make a Comment;

http://theland.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/agribusiness-and-general/general/naplan-moo-roo-outrage/1830526.aspx?src=enews

Ed. Comment; No wonder the teachers are outraged about the Naplan tests, but this whole mess may have backfired on whoever decided to include roo meat in the tests. When a student goes to look up kangaroo meat on Google, amongst all the Industry hype pages, there pops up few pages from the various group kangaroo protection websites. School kids are not stupid, they are quite capable of assessing all sides to an arguement.


Tree Kangaroos

Sat-nav technology that protects endangered marsupials? It’s just one of the ingenious ideas that helped win a top conservation award for the inspirational Mathew Akon from Papua New Guinea. The Whitley Awards are all about encouraging and rewarding wildlife conservation in developing countries. WWF-UK donates one of the Whitley prizes – each worth £30,000 – and this year it's gone to Mathew Akon for his grassroots work protecting the very rare Tenkile, or Scott’s tree kangaroo. The Tenkile is one of several endangered species in the remote Torricelli Mountain range in Papua New Guinea. Mathew Akon – who was born in the area and became aware of the decline in its wildlife – works as senior project officer at the Tenkile Conservation Alliance. Mathew received his award from HRH The Princess Royal at a ceremony hosted by BBC wildlife presenter Kate Humble at London’s Royal Geographical Society on 12 May.

The judges were impressed by Mathew’s use of GPS sat-nav technology to map the area and help protect the rare tree kangaroos, whose habitat is restricted to just 150km2 of rainforest. They also admired the way Mathew has enthused and enlisted some 10,000 local people to help protect the rich and rare wildlife in this mountainous region. He won their support by demonstrating the connections between wildlife conservation and improvements in people’s livelihoods and health. Our director of programmes, Glyn Davies, says: “Mathew shows how a wise community leader can engage with local communities, and enable them to press government to recognise their wish for forest conservation. It’s inspiring to see what has been achieved in this remote area of Papua New Guinea." Mathew’s award includes a project grant of £30,000 donated by WWF-UK, an engraved trophy, membership of the influential network of past Whitley Award winners, international recognition and leadership development training. *WWF


Wildlife Meat Consumption

Hey kids, wanna go to the zoo today and look at the crocodiles? And then maybe eat one? The Beijing Zoo puts the same animals on its restaurant menu as it keeps behind bars. Crocodile, kangaroo, antelope, and hippopotamus are among the species that visitors can go the zoo to admire on the hoof, and then savor at lunch – steamed, braised, or roasted – at the Bin Feng Tang restaurant. This has been going on for years, according to the restaurant’s manager, who seemed surprised that a newspaper article this week about her establishment should cause a stir on the Chinese Internet. The news has not gone down well. “How would you feel, watching animals imprisoned in a limited space while eating their siblings?” asked Zheng Yuanjie, a well-known author, on his blog. The zoo restaurant apparently has the requisite license from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Landscape and Forestry (which would presumably prefer to see crocodiles and hippos in a soup than in their landscapes) and is quite legal because none of the species on the menu is endangered. Nor, the restaurant insists, do any of the animals come from the zoo’s own enclosures. Still, the restaurant’s menu makes some people wonder. “The zoo is where we teach children to be nice to animals,” Qin Xiaona, head of the Capital Animal Welfare Association told the daily “Global Times.” “How can we do this after eating them?” *Christian Science Monitor


Fishing

More than 20 million people employed in the fishing industry may need to be retrained for other work over the next 40 years if the final collapse of fish stocks in the world's oceans is to be avoided, the United Nations has warned. The UN's environment branch, UNEP, gave a preview on Monday of its green economy report to be published in October. It said if the world remained on its path of overfishing, fish stocks could become uneconomic to exploit, or extinct, by 2050. Pavan Sukhdev, head of the initiative, said: ''Already 30 per cent of the ocean fisheries have collapsed and are producing less than 10 per cent of their original ability.'' At the heart of the analysis is the $27 billion ($31 billion) in subsidies the UN estimates is being injected into fishing every year, mainly by developing countries.

The UN says the subsidies are huge in terms of the scale of the industry, amounting to almost a third of the $US85 billion worth of fish caught. Among those subsidies, the UN defines $US8 billion as ''good'', in that they encourage sustainable fishing of healthy stocks. Most of the subsidies are ''bad'', it says, meaning they lead to overcapacity and exploitation. About $US3 billion of the subsidies are ''ugly'', leading to the depletion of the fish population. Among the most egregious practices targeted by the report are inducements to boost the size of world trawler fleets that are among the main culprits of overfishing, and generous fuel subsidies for fishing fleets. ''We're paying ourselves to destroy the very resource on which the fishing industry is dependant,'' said UNEP's director, Achim Steiner.

At stake is not just the biodiversity of the oceans, but a substantial chunk of the global economy and the livelihoods that depend on it. The UN estimates there are at least 35 million people directly employed in fishing, which translates to about 120 million including their households, and 500 million - about 8 per cent of the world's population - taking into account indirect businesses such as packaging and freezing. UNEP refused to name the worst overfishing offenders, though it says its final report will contain figures that will enable readers to ''figure out where the problem is''. *Guardian


Farmed Seahorses

A Tasmanian shipment of seahorses bound for Florida has been seized by US customs officials in what the producer has called "government- sanctioned theft".Seahorse Australia owner Craig Hawkins's shipment of 326 seahorses would have earned him $4500 but he will not see his money or his seahorses, after an Australian customs officer apparently neglected to record how many were being shipped. Throughout the past week there have been ongoing representations from Australian Government departments to the US Fish and Wildlife Service to resolve the issue. But on Friday night the load had to be surrendered, giving the US Government the ability to distribute the seahorses as it sees fit.

"The US requires us to have our shipment validated by customs, which we did, but there was a minor error from a customs official. He neglected to record the number of seahorses in the shipment," Mr Hawkins said. "As soon as we found out there was a problem, he then tried to correct it. I understand he was ignored at the US end." It was the Beauty Point producer's third shipment to the aquarium wholesaler in Florida and Mr Hawkins was concerned that he might lose the customer. "This is just one sale at the moment but if we lose the customer it may be a significant loss to us." He had been trying to break into the US market for several years and was told US customs had a reputation for being "unpredictable". "I do really want to thank the Australian department officers though - they have been absolutely fantastic. "The Wildlife Trade and Conservation section, the quarantine and inspection service and all of them," Mr Hawkins said. "I can only say that the US officials were obnoxious and arrogant." *The Examiner


Possums

Sydney is undergoing an "epidemic" of possum-napping as increasing numbers of residents illegally trap the troublesome marsupials then dump them in city and suburban parks. But experts say moving the animals to another area is a death sentence for many possums. Native animal rescue service WIRES said moving the animals to places such as the Royal Botanic Gardens causes possum warfare as the new arrivals fight for territory with existing animals. "It's a common belief that by relocating a possum there are no consequences for the animal," said WIRES spokeswoman Jilea Carney. "Unfortunately, it is usually a death sentence for a possum." WIRES staff have been called to rescue 1030 ringtail and 843 brushtail possums this year in NSW. It suspects many of these animals have come from other areas. WIRES said the number of possum rescue calls has risen 10 per cent each year since 2006.

St Ives has the highest number of possum rescues from private properties in the Sydney-Blue Mountains region, followed by Springwood, Avalon, North Ryde, Newport, Roseville, Lane Cove, Wahroonga, Mosman and Mona Vale. Outside the metropolitan area, Coffs Harbour, Katoomba and Alstonville have the highest possum rescues. "WIRES knows of recent and ongoing possum dumpings at Waverton and illegal trappings at Vaucluse for relocation on the north shore but it almost certainly would not be limited to any particular area," Ms Carney said. "WIRES suspects that we are dealing with the victims of possum dumping almost every day."

Trapping native animals without a permit is illegal and people can be prosecuted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water said it only issues possum-trapping licences as a last resort and is asking anyone who knows about possum-trapping to notify a NSW Parks and Wildlife office. A department spokesman said the best way to get a possum out of a roof is to build it a small shelter in a nearby tree. "In their natural environment, possums usually live in tree hollows but with the loss of native bushland many of these natural homes have been destroyed," the spokesman said. *SunHerald


We've just heard this possum story from a wildlife carer. "A call came in some minutes ago on our Emergency Line from a very embarrassed father. His little daughter woke him up repeatedly last night crying that there were monsters under her bed - he, half asleep told her to go back to bed she was dreaming. Well, this morning she came out to him while he was having breakfast, took him by the hand and led him into her bedroom and demanded he look under the bed...He did, only to come face to face with a brushtail possum! So from now on he advises, he will believe everything his little daughter tells him!" *


Fraser Island Dingoes

Recently Wildlife Bytes ran the story about Jennifer Parkhurst, the photographer who had her house invaded by DERM thugs early one morning last year. Jennifer now faces a maximum two years' jail or up to a $300,000 fine under the Nature Conservation Act and Recreation Area Management Act, for allegedly interfering with the Fraser Island dingoes. The real reasons for the raid were that, like many others, Jennifer has been highly critical of the Fraser Island dingo mis-management strategies. Anyway, a rally or two are being planned, and Fund has been set up to help Jennifer and the dingoes. People can contribute to the fund at Westpac Bank, Pialba, Hervey Bay. Save Fraser island Dingoes Inc. BSB 034-136 Acct 303196.

Wildlfie Bytes 25/5/10

Wildlife MiniBytes

Wildlife for Pets

Wildlife for pets is firmly back on the agenda of those who wish to make money from wildlife, with CSIRO releasing a report next month espousing the "benefits' of humans keeping all sorts of wildlife species for pets. The arguments will be that wildlife should not be avaliable from petshops, but would be purchased from especially licenced breeders, and purchasers would have to be "qualified" to look after wildlife. It's all about money of course, its got nothing to do with what's best for wildlife. One would think that a government funded quango like SCIRO could find better things to do. *WPAA

Whales

Two Cheltenham men face possible charges over the alleged removal of whale bones from a Flinders beach. If convicted, each could be fined more than $27,000. Wildlife officers have recovered 10 bones believed to have been removed from a blue whale carcass in April and May. The whale had washed up on Cyrils Beach. Parks Victoria rangers on routine patrol reported the disturbance of the whale to wildlife officers from the Department of Sustainability and the Environment (DSE). DSE compliance officer Emily Gibson said others may have also removed bones from the whale carcass. ``We would encourage anyone who has collected bones from the carcass and wishes to voluntarily surrender them to contact us on 136 186. ``This report can be made anonymously.'' To report a stranding, entanglement, injury or death of a whale or a dolphin, phone 1300 136 017. *Mordialoc News

Ducks

Ducks are breeding out of season at Elsternwick Park, with an expert saying climate change is to blame. Port Phillip EcoCentre co-ordinator Neil Blake said he had seen ducks mating as well as chestnut teal ducklings at the lake this month. The breeding season should be between August and February. ``It will be interesting to see if they (the ducklings) make it through the winter,'' Mr Blake said. ``Maybe this will be a good reminder for people to do those easy little things to cut their power consumption.'' Department of Sustainability and Environment wildlife management project leader Ian Temby said waterbirds usually bred in spring and summer. ``The mild conditions have led to several reports of breeding by waterbirds including chestnut teals,'' Mr Temby said. ``The availability of food and survival rate of ducklings is also dependent on conditions remaining favourable.'' Melbourne recorded its second warmest April on record last month. Weatherzone meteorologist Samuel Terry said: ``Typically we'd expect an increase in cold weather systems for April in Melbourne, but for most of the month we didn't see that.'' *Caulfield Leader

Pythons

Maybe it was Hurricane Andrew blowing down a snake importer's warehouse in 1992. Maybe it was snake lovers who bought cute baby reptiles, only to dump them in the wild when they grew too voracious. Florida wildlife officials say they may never know their origin, but there is no doubt about this fact: Florida is home to thousands of Burmese pythons that have turned the Everglades into a nesting area, raising concerns about their impact on native wildlife and possible migration into developed areas. "People already have this built-in fear of snakes," said Ron Magill of Miami Metrozoo. "Now you're talking about 20-foot snakes . . . ." Yet in recent months, entire clusters of these great serpents of Southeast Asia -- which can grow up to weigh more than 200 pounds -- have been turning up dead in what would typically be their mating season, one of the few welcome casualties of the record cold temperatures that beset the Sunshine State in early 2010. *Washington PostRead more http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/17/AR2010051703119.html

Crocodiles

A saltwater crocodile has been caught in a trap in the Katherine River. Rangers removed the 3.1m saltie from a crocodile trap located in the river at the Ballongilly Mango Farm. Parks and Wildlife senior wildlife ranger Melissa Farrelly said the trap was set about 30km downstream from the town of Katherine. ``This is the fifth estuarine (saltwater) crocodile caught in the Katherine River this year,'' she said. The Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport has urged the public to BE CROCWISE and remember that crocodile danger is real. For more information go to www.nt.gov.au/becrocwise. To report crocodile sightings in the Darwin region phone 0419 822 859 or in the Katherine region phone 0407 958 405. *NT News

Your own wildlife Website!

Last week we showed our readers how to get their own website...quickly, easily, and for free. Congratulations to those who took action and built one, we know that several people did! Dont forget to send us a link to your wildlife website so we can add it to our list of wildlife websites. If you need a website, and havent built it yet, go to http://www.webs.com and get started now. *WPAA

Turtles

At least 150 sea turtles have washed up dead or dying along the U.S. Gulf Coast since the giant oil spill off Louisiana, a higher number than normal for this time of year, a leading wildlife expert said on Monday. The toll among sea turtles has been steadily rising since the deep-sea well ruptured last month, and the stranding count began to reach an unusually high level in the past week, said Dr. Michael Ziccardi, a veterinarian overseeing some of the area's wildlife rescue teams. Several days ago, when the number of dead turtles stood at just over 100, federal wildlife officials said that was still considered typical for the season. Wildlife officials are especially concerned for the well-being of sea turtles in the Gulf following the spill because all five species native to the region are endangered, and they are just heading into their spring nesting season.*Reuters

Cockatoos

Hopes have risen for a critically-endangered cockatoo species on Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. The Environment Department says two yellow-tailed black cockatoos have been reared this year - one on a farming property, the other at a wildlife park. Ecologist Jason Van Weenen says, with only nine birds left in the wild and 14 in captivity, the program is vital to the species' survival. "The Eyre Peninsula population is unique, it is genetically diverse and ... we've been trying to keep this population persisting," he said. "The little cockatoo that's fledged this year in the wild is very significant because it's the first chick that's actually been raised on Eyre Peninsula since the Black Tuesday bushfires in 2005. "They haven't been able to successfully rear a chick for a long time so this is quite an achievement." *ABC

New owners for Warrawong

The future for native animals at controversial (they served kangaroo meat in their restuarant) Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary is safe - jointly in the hands of new owners, Zoos South Australia and the Ngarrindjeri people. Developers and feral cats and foxes can do little more than peer through the fence at the 14ha haven for 100 species founded by the man in the cat fur hat, Dr John Wamsley. Zoos SA president Heather Caddick called Warrawong "a secure refugee habitat for Australian animals in the Adelaide Hills". She said the acquisition, from private owners Anthony and Judy Miller for an undisclosed sum, ensured Warrawong would remain safe from developers. "Zoos South Australia now has three strategic sites," she said. "Adelaide Zoo, a small city zoo, Monarto in the Murraylands, the largest open-range zoo in the world, and now Warrawong, which was secured in 1986 with a feral-proof fence as a haven for our native animals." Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority executive member Tom Trevorrow said the joint venture was an "exciting" development that would provide opportunities in education and training. * Network Item

Climate Change

The world is warming too quickly for lizards to adapt, and 20 per cent of species could be extinct by 2080, a new study shows. In Australia, lizards living in the central desert areas and alpine districts are most at risk if current climate change trends continue. Even if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, a 6 per cent decline in the world's lizard populations by 2050 is almost unavoidable, an international team of scientists has concluded. David Chapple, of Monash University, said the cold-blooded reptiles basked in the sun to warm up, but had to seek shade when they get too hot. "If it is too warm for too long, and they spend too long under the shelter, they can't be out their looking for mates and finding food." * Age Read More http://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/lizards-find-climate-change-too-hot-to-handle-20100514-v2yx.html

Chudich Found

A rare chuditch was found in the Paganoni Swamp Reserve in Karnup last week, a short distance from a patch of bushland that has been identified for future clearing. Friends of Paganoni Swamp spokeswoman Leonie Stubbs said the discovery was proof that a proposal to rezone 48 hectares of bushland in the north-west corner of the reserve to support the proposed Karnup train station would destroy flora as well as fauna. She said it was wonderful to know that such a rare species lived locally but said it should serve as a reminder to be more cautious about clearing bushland in the metropolitan area. Staff and students from The University of Western Australia’s School of Animal Biology made the rare sighting while trapping in the reserve as part of a project to study the effectiveness of the Perth to Bunbury Highway fauna underpasses. The chuditch was captured and tagged and was released. The week-long trapping effort also resulted in the capture of several brushtail possums and quenda, or southern brown bandicoots, and a threatened brush-tailed phascogale. *InmyCommunity.com

Ed Comment; For overseas readers the chuditch is otherwise known as the Western Quoll. The chuditch was previously found in 70 percent of Australia, existing in all mainland states and the Northern Territory. It is now found only in the southwest corner of Western Australia.

Biodiversity Lost

Humanity is sealing its own fate by rapidly destroying the planet's ecological diversity, the Australian Greens have warned. Their warning follows the release of a UN report which finds that far too many of the world's plants and animals - and the wild places that support them - are at risk of collapse. Frogs and other amphibians are most at risk of extinction, coral reefs are the species deteriorating most rapidly and the survival of nearly a quarter of all plant species is threatened, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity said in a report issued every four years. Pollution, climate change, drought, deforestation, illegal poaching and overfishing are among the many culprits named. Greens leader Bob Brown said Australia was one of the many "failed" nations contributing to the problem. "It's not going to change while we have governments who don't care and governments who are making things worse," he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday. "It is a prescription for our own fate if we don't stop to consider the value, of least to ourselves, of wildlife and biodiversity." Senator Brown says a crisis in Tasmania's forestry industry is an opportunity to protect forests and woodlands that are the chief stronghold of wildlife. He says the Greens also aim to strengthen the nation's biodiversity act to make it mandatory for governments to protect the habitat of rare and endangered species. * AAP

UK Bird poisonings

A horrific total of 6 eagles, 10 buzzards, 3 red kites, a Peregrine falcon and a sparrowhawk have all been poisoned in recent weeks across Ireland, England and Scotland. And these are just the ones that we know about and have been discovered. This includes 3 Eagles and 3 Red kites, 3 buzzards and a peregrine killed in Ireland in a spate of poisoning May 2010. Six buzzards and two fox cubs poisoned in Derbyshire April 2010. Three Golden eagles amongst other birds found dead in Scotland. May 2010. *Wildlife Extra

Rhinos

Poachers killed one of the final few Javan rhinoceros left in Vietnam, conservationists said today, calling it a major blow to attempts to save the world's rarest large mammal. The rhino was found shot dead and its horn removed late last week in Cat Tien National Park in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said. "This is devastating news for rhino conservation and Vietnam," said Dung Huynh Tien, the national policy coordinator of WWF Vietnam. Vietnam's Javan rhinos are one of only two populations of the species left on earth, the group said. "It is now uncertain how many, if any, Javan rhinos are left in Vietnam," it said. The death signals a "dire situation", according the WWF, which conducted tests on rhino dung to try to determine the population status. There are believed to be fewer than 10 left in the country. The WWF said there are no captive Javan rhinos in Vietnam, and only 40 to 60 of the animals live in a national park on the Indonesian island of Java. Rhino horn is used in traditional East Asian medicine to treat fever and high blood pressure. *News.com.au


Fraser Island Dingo Rally

The Rally was awesome, 100 people marching through the streets of Brisbane escorted by two police cars, two on motorbikes and two on push bikes were so helpful, placards waving and voices chanting had quite an effect and people came out of the buildings, some even joined in, others waved and smiled. As we rounded the last corner before entering the grounds of Parliament House the powerful and haunting sounds of the didgeridoo could be heard, it hailed the start of a very successful day. Guest Speakers came from near and far and delivered a great message! Rally commenced 1030 am with a march around the streets of Brisbane. Led by the president of SFID Mal Kilpatrick holding the banner. Chants were shouted throughout the march which drew great attention from the people on the streets, who came out of their office buildings to watch. The marchers culminated in front of parliament house by the haunting sounds of didgeridoo. Sam Catalino didgeridoo player who flew in from Newcastle especially to provide entertainment for the day. *SFID

About 100 protesters have marched through Brisbane's centre calling on the State Government to record reasons for each dingo death on Fraser Island. Save Fraser Island Dingoes spokeswoman Joanne McKay said the organisation disputed government statistics that state the dogs' population on the World Heritage-listed island has risen to 240. Ms McKay told AAP the dingo population was closer to 100 and the number of dogs was dwindling because of starvation, poisoning and being shot. "What we are calling on is an open, transparent and independent body to carry out the management on Fraser Island,'' Ms McKay said. "We dispute their data. There is nothing like 240 dingoes. "They do not have the money or the funds to actually obtain accurate information.'' The march culminated in a rally outside Parliament House, with state opposition environment spokesman Glen Elmes among the 10 guest speakers. State Environment Minister Kate Jones released figures on Friday compiled by Griffith University, University of Queensland and Biosecurity scientists showing that the island's dingo population had increased by at least 40 to 240. *Courier Mail

Make a Comment; http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/protestors-want-more-transparent-data-on-fraser-island-dingo-deaths/story-e6freoof-1225867155553

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cR1EtbNiNs Dingoes howling, if you've never seen or heard a dingo this is "must-watch" footage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPnIZtgvCaQ Dingoes approaching a beach walker wanting to play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehX8LwCrWqE A group of dingoes playing. All these dingoes in this footage above have since been killed by the Queensland Government


Flying Fox Relocation

Environment Protection Minister Peter Garrett has approved, with strict conditions, the relocation of protected grey-headed flying foxes at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. “After a thorough environmental assessment the relocation can go ahead and I am confident that there will be no unacceptable impacts on protected grey-headed flying foxes,” Mr Garrett said. “I have imposed strict conditions to ensure the dispersal happens in a way that minimises impacts. “The dispersal activity must happen within a limited timeframe to avoid disrupting the camp during the sensitive breeding and roosting season. “An independent observer group and panel with expertise in animal biology and grey-headed flying foxes must oversee all aspects of the operation, and report back to my department. “The Botanic Gardens Trust will be responsible and accountable for all aspects of the relocation. This includes ensuring the colony relocates to an appropriate site. “Similarly, the trust is responsible and must be accountable for any safety risks associated with this operation and must conduct a public health risk analysis before the dispersal action can proceed. “The grey-headed flying foxes are a threatened species protected under both state and national environment law. They play a crucial role in pollination and seed dispersal in our native forests. Protecting this species is therefore very important to our biodiversity,” Mr Garrett said. *SMH

Animal welfare activists are warning inner Sydney residents they are about to be driven batty by flying foxes evicted from the Royal Botanic Gardens. Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has given his approval for the Botanic Gardens Trust to evict a colony of up to 22,000 threatened grey-headed flying foxes, which have killed 18 mature trees and threaten 300 more. The trust will blast the bats with loud industrial noise, such as motors and banging, following the success Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens using the same method. Mr Garrett's approval comes with strict conditions, including supervision by an independent observer group with expertise in animal biology and grey-headed flying foxes. The operation can be carried out only outside the flying fox breeding season, and the trust must make sure the colony relocates to an appropriate site.

But animal welfare groups the Humane Society International and Bat Advocacy NSW say the planned method is cruel and the threatened species will be denied a rare sanctuary for feeding and roosting. Bat advocacy spokesman Nick Edards said there was a risk the flying foxes would join other colonies, or "camps", in neighbourhoods such as Kareela and Wolli Creek in Sydney's south, where residents are already annoyed with the animals. "We are very concerned that bats dispersed from the gardens may set up camps in the backyards of eastern suburbs residents or will attempt to join camps which are already a source of conflict with residents," he said. The Botanic Gardens Trust has already tried deterring the flying foxes with everything from strobe lights to shrimp paste and bags of python poo.

The trust's executive director Dr Tim Entwisle said it was hoped the animals would relocate well away from home, either in a national park, or on a reserve at Gordon, in the city's north. The trust expected to spend about $500,000 on the project - raised from savings and donations - and believes it will be the largest program ever monitoring the species. "My view is that even one of our 150-year-old trees is worth that," Dr Entwisle said. "These trees that are being killed have enormous heritage and environmental importance." The trust plans to play noise at 10-minute intervals from noon each day, and expects the bats will leave within two weeks. Dr Entwisle said the method had proven safe in Melbourne and hoped visitors would be understanding. "It will be an annoyance," he said. "But I think our three and a half million visitors each year will appreciate this is for the long-term survival of the gardens." Grey-headed flying-foxes are listed as threatened under federal and state environmental laws, and play a crucial role in pollination and seed dispersal in native forests. *AAP

Ed comment; This is a very disappointing decision. We have read the "conditions" and they are very strict, and it will cost a lot of money to implement. It cost over 3 million dollars to relocate the Melbourne Botanic Gardens flying foxes. The Gardens Trust claimed it was a "successful" relocation, but it depends how you qualify success. It wasnt very succesfull for the flying foxes. As the Sydney Botanic Gardens is owned jointly by the Sydney City Council and NSW Parks and Wildlife, the relocation costs will be high too, much higher than the $500,000 quoted, and that will mean funds will be diverted from other more realisitc and deserving conservation outcomes. It will cost far more than the "Friends of the SBG Gardens" can raise with a few chook raffles. Garret has let down wildlife yet again.

National Parks

One of Australia's largest national parks will be renamed after it was officially handed back to its "rightful owners" during a ceremony yesterday. Traditional owners of the Victoria River region decided the Gregory National Park will soon be called Jutpurra Park. Hundreds of people gathered at the park's Jasper Gorge - about 350km south of Darwin - to celebrate the occasion. The new agreement will see Aboriginal people working with the NT Government to maintain the park. Traditional owner Larry Johns, who celebrated his 65th birthday yesterday, said it was an important day for the people of the region. "The men and women here are the rightful owners of this place," he said. "It's a very important place for the people - it's like the capital of the Victoria River region, like Canberra is the capital of Australia."

Australia's Governor-General Quentin Bryce and federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin welcomed the handover of the 1.3 million hectare park. The land was given back under the condition traditional owners would sign a 99-year lease with the Territory Government. It is hoped to see more Aboriginal rangers, eco-tourism and other job opportunities for local residents. The move has seen widespread opposition among the general public, fearing the park would no longer be open for visitors. Northern Land Council chief executive Kim Hill said discussions to hand over the park's land started more than seven years ago. "It was a very complex negotiation but today it is for the benefit for the Aboriginal people," he said. For Mr Johns, it is his "last shot" to ensure a better future for the next generation. "They need to learn white man's way and learn numeracy and literacy and get the park uniform," he said. "It's going to be a big challenge." *NT News


Platypus

A deadly fungus infection that was threatening Tasmania's platypus population appears to be subsiding. In the mid 1990s it was discovered that a third of the state's platypus population was suffering from a fungus called mucormycosis that causes large ulcers to form on their back legs and tail. Fears that it could have a devastating effect similar to Tassie devil facial cancer prompted the most comprehensive study ever done on the animal. For two years two dedicated field officers spent chilly nights wading in rivers around the state to trap close to 200 platypuses, racking up 10,000 hours of netting time. Their results, released yesterday, show that the number of infected animals has reduced to 7 per cent. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment platypus conservation project leader Nick Gust said the results were good news.

He estimated that there were tens of thousands of platypuses in rivers around the state and most appeared to be in good health. "Platypuses are actually much more plentiful than a lot of people realise," he said. "We actually found one in the Hobart Rivulet near the Royal Hobart Hospital a couple of weeks ago, so it was right in the heart of the CBD." But it was important to take steps to ensure that they continued to thrive. The Tasmanian Platypus Management Plan released yesterday identifies a range of ways for people to help preserve the platypus. Dogs kill a large number of platypuses so owners should ensure their animals are restrained near waterways. Anyone who sees a platypus with an ulcer-like wound is requested to report the location to DPIPWE. And anyone who sees a platypus that has been killed on the road is requested to report its location to help prevent other platypuses suffering the same fate. "Often platypuses will leave the water and go onto roads when they are unable to navigate their way through a culvert," Mr Gust said. "If we know where the culverts are then we can make alterations to them so that the platypuses can get through them." *Mercury


Bettongs

Most recent arrivals to the Clarence Valley, and even many long-term residents, will be unaware of the presence of rufous bettongs, which inhabit certain areas of remaining natural bushland across the Valley. Dubbed the rat kangaroo by early settlers, a bettong is in fact considerably larger than a rat but is also very much smaller than other macropod species, kangaroos, wallaroos and wallabies. About the size of a possum or bandicoot, these little fellows bound on strong hind legs in the way of kangaroos, while their swift agility and erratic leaping when startled helps them to successfully evade surprised predators. Although sturdy and quite easily raised when taken into care by wildlife groups, the rufous bettong is a threatened species, listed as vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act. As with most threatened wildlife, loss of habitat is the chief cause of this species being pushed to the edge in the Clarence Valley. So if one evening you should chance to see what looks like a stocky little kangaroo with a round blunt nose, standing upright on its hind-legs in the middle of the road, stop and enjoy it, because not everyone is privileged to see one. Then make sure you take careful note of the precise place you see him, and pass this location information on to the Clarence Valley branch of WIRES for lodgement with the NSW Wildlife Atlas. Not everyone is privileged to see one. *Daily Examiner

ADI Site

Wild kangaroos at Cranebrook are a thing of the past, with the last remaining troop at the ADI site moved on to make way for development. While residents are still reeling from the moonscape left behind when bulldozers started clearing the site, the risk to the delicate eco-system is yet to sink in. Western Sydney Conservation Alliance president Geoff Brown said the area was going to see a lot of displaced fauna after the clearing of land. ``Every tree that is removed is devastating for the wildlife ,'' he said. ``We've got to look at smaller animals like insects and beetles as well. ``It's all part of the food chain, and once the collapse happens, that's when the humans are affected. People think we're somehow disconnected from nature and I don't believe that to be the case.''

Mr Brown said when people thought of animals they thought more about kangaroos and emus. He said the kangaroos had been moved on, with eastern grey females sterilised. ``It's likely kangaroos as we've known them for many years are going to go down in history as a distant memory,'' he said. ``Where they're clearing now is where you could see kangaroos and emus when going past content, happy and in a natural environment, and that's what a lot of people are very upset about.'' When Cumberland Courier Newspapers photographer Armen Deushian flew over the site in a helicopter looking for animals recently, none was found. Mr Brown said Delfin Lend Lease's proposal of a 900ha regional park was not enough.

``It's actually five regional parks fragmented by roads. It's compromised it's a lousy conservation outcome,'' he said. ``We've consistently argued it should be bigger and roads need to be removed.'' In response to Mr Brown's comments in Friday's Press that Federal Environment Protection Minister Peter Garrett had ``turned his back'' on Penrith and the ADI site, Mr Garrett said the Government would continue to take action to protect it but there was no legal basis on which he could step in to stop the development. *Penrith Press

Ed Comment; For those who dont know about the Sydney ADI site, it was owned by the Commonwealth and used by the Defence Force. It was sold by the Howard Government to Dolphin Lend Lease and mostly cleared for housing. Community groups fought long and hard for it to be retained as a Conservation Site and Parklands, without success, except for a small corner of 900 hectares. The kangaroos were killed and/or relocated in a horrific relocation program.


More New Species Researchers have uncovered a clutch of previously unknown species living in a remote area of West Papua often referred to as "the lost world". In the United Nation's international year of biodiversity, the group's announcement includes a unique tree frog with a Pinocchio-like nose. Paul Oliver, the Australian researcher who first saw it, said the frog had an erectile nose. "When they're excited, it does go up," he said. "The fact that the males have a bigger one suggests it's something to do with sexual selection, so females could be impressed by males with a long nose." Although there have been reports of a similar frog a few hundred kilometres away, Mr Oliver said: "At a minimum it's a completely new spot for this species and at best it's a new species."

In the dense forest around the Foja Mountains in the Indonesian province of West Papua the researchers from Conservation International and National Geographic also found an oversized, rather tame woolly rat, an imperial pigeon with rust, grey and white plumage, and a bent-toed gecko with striking yellow eyes. The 25-centimetre gecko, which boasts claws rather than pads on the tips of its toes, and the pigeon, are also new species. The team identified a black forest wallaby in the mountains. Measuring just 30 centimetres in height, it is the smallest member of the kangaroo family documented in the world. The international team dropped in to the remote area by helicopter and spent three weeks in the forest tracking species from the low foothills near Kwerba village to the top of the 2200-metre mountain range as part of a program to assess the area's biodiversity.

Mr Oliver, a PhD candidate from Adelaide University's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the South Australian Museum, said the area had a richly diverse ecosystem. "It's an incredible area for biodiversity research, it's one of the frontiers," he said. "We were the first group of Western scientists to ever go to the top of the Fojas. "It's exciting to think that there are still a few areas left where there are things that have never been seen. There are birds on those mountains that have really only been seen by 50 people on the entire planet, which is really special." Mr Oliver said there were many benefits to be had from conducting a scientific stocktake. "Most of these species exist on the tops of mountains and if in 50 years time the habitat changes [because of climate change] we should know the climatic tolerance these species have," he said. The findings, the result of fieldwork undertaken in late 2008, were completed with backing from the Indonesian Institute of Science, the Smithsonian Institution and the National Geographic Society. The expedition's work will feature in next month's National Geographic magazine. *Age


Preston Beach Kangaroos

Preston Beach residents believe the Shire of Waroona allowed a shooter hired to cull western grey kangaroos on its golf course to carry out the controversial slaughter in the adjacent Yalgorup National Park last Wednesday night. Resident Carlene Smith found the body of a decapitated juvenile kangaroo in the national park early the following morning, along with tyre tracks and several pools of blood. An inspection later found the kangaroo’s body and blood covered over with sand. The joey’s head remains missing. Another local resident took photos of the ill-fated joey before emailing them to the Times. They were all too graphic for publication but the photo accompanying this article clearly shows tyre tracks on national park land.

Volunteer wildlife carer Gina Hartnett found another juvenile roo with a badly injured leg on a track next to Lake Preston early on the same morning. It had to be put down by a Halls Head vet later that day because of severe fractures and open wounds to one of its legs. Shire CEO Ian Curley confirmed that 60 roos were culled between 6.45 and 9.15pm last Wednesday in accordance with a licence issued by the Department of Conservation and Environment. The licence gave the Shire permission to cull 100 roos but Mr Curley said no more culls would take place despite the solo shooter being unable to achieve the desired target before the DEC’s 10.30pm cut off. A DEC spokeswoman said the Shire told the department that shooting ceased when residents gained access to the golf course and disrupted the cull. *My Community Make a comment....http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Decapitated-roo-found/7556385/

Four kangaroos were either killed or injured so badly they had to be euthanised after being attacked by two dogs that burrowed into Big Swamp Wildlife Park last Sunday. The City of Bunbury (WA) has impounded the dogs and is investigating the attack with no charges laid. A fine of up to $10,000 can be handed out to the owner of dogs which injure a person or animal. City of Bunbury chief executive officer Greg Trevaskis said the deaths of the hand-raised kangaroos were very distressing for park staff and the public. “Big Swamp Wildlife Park staff first noticed the dogs chasing ducks along the Five Mile Brook and reported them,” Mr Trevaskis said. “Although our rangers arrived quickly, it was too late to save the kangaroos.” Mr Trevaskis warned all dog owners to be responsible for their dogs or risk prosecution. “We will not hesitate to prosecute owners where their dog is found to have caused injury to people or wildlife,” he said. “Things can be so easily avoided by owners taking responsibility for the care and containment of their dogs.” *Bunbury Mail

Around 10,000 kangaroos have invaded a small national park near Loxton and may have to be shot or starved out. The Department of Environment and Heritage has warned locals a culling campaign could soon begin after surveys showed numbers at the Murray River National Park near Loxton had tripled to 80 animals per square kilometre. The current population would mean the equivalent of 200 animals in an area the size of the Adelaide CBD. The decision has been welcomed by locals who told The Advertiser that despite being listed as a tourist attraction in the park, the grey and red kangaroos are starving and destroying plant life. Former chairman of the Katarapko Community Action Group Sandy Loffler said the organisation had lobbied the department for eight years between 1996 and 2004 for a cull to save bettongs which had been reintroduced to the Katarapko Island within the park. Ms Loffler said the cull would be long overdue.

"The place has been so decimated and destroyed by years and years of overgrazing by kangaroos and it was even when the numbers were 55 animals per square kilometres," she said. "This is gut wrenching because we tried hard to get them to do something." Ms Loffler said wildflowers in the park had been almost destroyed and kangaroos had resorted to digging up grass roots to survive. "There were (kangaroo) skeletons everywhere," she said. "The department said the problem was just seasonal but obviously the numbers have been getting worse and worse and worse." Adelaide University researcher Nerissa Haby, who worked to reintroduce the bettongs until 2002, said kangaroos were already starving when her work there ended. At the time, numbers were only 40 animals per square kilometre, half the current levels. "By the time I finished, there were animals starving and dying and eating people's food," she said.

Interested community groups have been asked to comment on the department's changes to the national park's development plan. "Such programs (population control of kangaroos) may include a variety of management options, including restricting access to food and water, and culling," the draft states. The Australian Society for Kangaroos is challenging reports that kangaroo numbers are unsustainable at the Murray River National Park and that they are starving and responsible for loss of fauna and flora. "Claims by Sandy Lofftier, former chair of a local environment group that kangaroo densities in the park are "getting worse and worse" are misleading and bias with current densities within the park (80 per sq km) actually representing low densities in scientific terms. Scientists (Dunn, 2002) refer to one sheep per hectare (100 sheep/300 kangaroos per sq km) as very light grazing in conservation terms for the preservation of native grasslands. Densities within this park of just 80 kangaroos sq km (0.8 kangaroos per hectare) is almost neglible in terms of grazing pressure", said Nikki Sutterby, Australian Society for Kangaroos.

"Reports of starvation that have also been alleged appear to be from eight years ago during the worst drought in a century. This cannot be used as evidence to support a cull now, eight years on. Kangaroos naturally rise and fall in response to environmental conditions (boom and bust cycle), and this is typical of what we are seeing here where numbers fell during the drought (2001) and then increased and plateaued in 2008. From what I have been informed by local rangers, recent counts show the population has not changed since 2008". "Claims by Ms Loffier that kangaroos are destroying flora and fauna in the park has not been researched or reported by the Department of Environment and Heritage in their recent management plan and I would be interested in seeing any credible research from Ms Loffier to support this".

"What has been reported by the DEH in their management plan is that there are ''significant overriding factors affecting the regeneration of the park' including massive weed infestations, severe environmental imbalances caused by salinity, reduced water flow due to large scale diversions and 30 barriers to channels and creeks, aquatic anoxia and cynobacteria, loss of habitat, loss of diversity, etc etc". "I would imagine these 'significant overriding factors' to be more relevant than relatively low densities of a native herbivore. In fact kangaroos and their own intrinsic ability to regenerate native grasses and flora may be the only saving grace for this park in the absence of a committed programme by the department and interest groups to restore the park to its former state", stated Ms Sutterby. "

According to the ABC and other media however, DEH has stated that a cull is not, and has never been planned for the Murray River National Park, and the numbers are sustainable in the Park.

Kangaroos and their joeys are being run over by motorbikes and their carcasses are being taken away for dog meat, a senior wildlife officer claims. The kangaroos have been inhabiting the Golden Vale Golf Club at Benalla with the attacks happening over the past three weeks. Department of Sustainability and Environment senior wildlife officer Leigh Murray said the incidents involved youngsters on motorbikes harassing kangaroos and forcing their joeys out. “We understand that in some cases motorbikes have been used to chase down the kangaroos prior to their death,” Mr Murray said. “We are also investigating allegations that the carcasses were then removed and used to feed domestic animals. “I would like to make it perfectly clear that these allegations are extremely serious and we are working closely with police and the community to gather additional information.”

Mr Murray warned that the offenders could be fined up to $5000. “We would look at them for aggravated cruelty if they are running them down and running them over with motor­bikes,” Mr Murray said. “The allegation is they’re taking them home for dog meat but we can’t find out who they are.” Graeme Harper said the kangaroos had been a pest at the 18-hole sandscrape course for some time but he did not believe his members would be involved in such cruel behaviour. “I know a lot of people are getting sick of them but there’s not much you can do,” Mr Harper said. “They’re pretty well protected, it’s just part and parcel of having them out there.”

Meanwhile, the DSE is investigating the death of seven white-winged choughs on a property in the Whorouly area. The native birds were found to have been shot. “This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable,” Mr Murray said. “The birds are not destructive and a check of DSE records back to 2002 show that no control permits have been issued for this species.” Information about both incidents can be phoned into the DSE on 136 186. *Border Mail

Kangaroos facing culling for pet food can be penned, tranquillised and moved from Preston Beach, a Mandurah-based 15-year veteran of relocating urban fringe wildlife says. But the $50,000 to $110,000 cost of shifting the 100 kangaroos from the coastal village’s golf course and gardens is an issue for culling proponent the Shire of Waroona. Preston Beach wildlife carer and kangaroo trapper John Smith says neither shooting or moving the animals are solutions for the village, with about 140 full-time residents, 40km south of Mandurah. Mr Smith attracts kangaroo mobs to his 10m2 soft wire net pens with high quality feed. “When they’re ready we come in and grab ’em, give them a needle, and when they wake up they’re in new bush,” he said. It could cost about $500 to move each kangaroo if Preston Beach’s mobs have quiet enough temperaments. Wilder kangaroos would cost about $1100 a head to shift after penning, Mr Smith said. Last month, The Mandurah Coastal Times was able to walk within 15 metres of the kangaroos on vacant Preston Beach blocks.

Under CALM direction in the past 15 years, Mr Smith has relocated about 3000 Peel Region kangaroos for developers, Alcoa and other golf courses. He is currently moving Port Kennedy and Meadow Springs kangaroos from Mandurah’s northern belt. At Preston Beach, the animals damage the course and are becoming a greater traffic and public hazard, cull proponents say. (‘Concern over roo-cull plan at Preston Beach’, Mandurah Coastal Times, August 19). But the residents are torn between the course and garden grazing damage, the traffic danger, and the aesthetics of the having homes so close to the animals, which many consider pets, attracting tourists.Mr Smith said with enough staff he could tranquillise the quiet animals in the open, while catching wilder kangaroos can take up to six weeks as they become familiar with entering the pen for feed, after which its door is secured, preventing exit.

Men in protective clothing catch the kangaroos, tranquillising the larger animals, and unsedated joeys are put in bags colour-coded to their mothers. “The boomers (mature males) are the easiest to catch as they are old,” Mr Smith said. “The worst ones are the little ones which are flying about, bouncing a metre in the air. They’re like 10-year-old children.” Previous relocations have shown moved mobs do not return, he said. Shire of Waroona chief executive officer Ian Curley said he would be interested hearing from Mr Smith about relocation, but the shire also had to deal with untamed, large male kangaroos at Preston Beach. “And at $500 a head that’s $50,000 to remove. I don’t think the council would be interested in that, ” he said. Cull proponents have argued that an alleged attack by large boomer on a woman in Preston Beach indicates a public safety threat. It is understood the Department of Conservation has considered the shire’s July cull request and Waroona councillors may decide on the proposal at next month’s meeting. *InmyCommunity


Fraser Island Dingoes

Recently Wildlife Bytes ran the story about Jennifer Parkhurst, the photographer who had her house invaded by DERM thugs early one morning last year. Jennifer now faces a maximum two years' jail or up to a $300,000 fine under the Nature Conservation Act and Recreation Area Management Act, for allegedly interfering with the Fraser Island dingoes. The real reasons for the raid were that, like many others, Jennifer has been highly critical of the Fraser Island dingo mis-management strategies. Anyway, a rally or two are being planned, and Fund has been set up to help Jennifer and the dingoes. People can contribute to the fund at Westpac Bank, Pialba, Hervey Bay. Save Fraser island Dingoes Inc. BSB 034-136 Acct 303196.


The Fair Dinkum Characters

The new Summer range of toddlers wildlife shirts, shorts, and singlets are now avaliable on the Fair Dinkum Characters website at http://www.fairdinkum-characters.com too late for Christmas unfortuntely. The Dinkums are Ambassadors for the Wildlife Protection Association of Australia Inc. Watch for them playing in a Shopping Centre near you!

Wildlife Bytes 11/5/10

Fraser Island Dingo Rally

FACEBOOK - ‘SAVE FRASER ISLAND DINGOES’ SAVE FRASER ISLAND DINGOES (SFID) Incorporated, 50 Old Maryborough Road Pialba, HERVEY BAY QLD 4655 Ph: (07) 41241979 Fax: (07) 41243623

Rally starting at 10 am Saturday 15th May. Gathering at "Emma Miller Place" Roma St, Brisbane at 10 am. Walking at 10.30 am to Parliament House (approx 40 mins). Then 12 pm going to Musgrave Park, Cordelia St, South Brisbane. A bus will be available for a shuttle, or it's a pleasant 20 minute walk over Brisbane River via the footbridge near QUT/Botanical gardens. At Musgrave Park there will be entertainment and refreshments, musical artists, indigenous dancers, Dingo education and materials, special guests and speakers. A bus will pickup from Hervey Bay, leaving at 5.30 am, and pickup from Maryborough, and then Gympie. For bus bookings and details (must be paid in advance ) contact SFID at the contact details above. *Network Item savefraserislanddingoes@hotmail.com


Fraser Island Dingoes

Dingo numbers on Fraser Island should be artificially increased by improving the animal’s access to food, according to an expert who believes the dogs are crucial conservation assets for the whole of Australia. Ultimately, Monash Senior Fellow Dr Ernest Healy believes a high quality population of dingoes on the island could provide founding animals for dingo conservation efforts on the mainland. Co-founder of the national Dingo Preservation and Recovery Program, Dr Healy said the predominant conservationist mindset and that of Queensland authorities needed to shift from determining what the “natural” dingo population level is for the island. A small or uncertain population size may throw into doubt the island dingoes’ genetic viability, he warned. “If unnecessary culling is continued by the authorities, then the genetic diversity of the Fraser Island dingo population may become too limited for the taxon’s longer-term survival,” he said. “The politically-motivated and unnecessarily heavy culling of the Fraser Island dingo population after the death of a small boy on the island may have had a significant impact in this regard.”

Dr Healy has been highly critical of the Queensland Government’s management of the dingoes, saying it had a responsibility to the island’s World Heritage listing to preserve the animal. There is mounting anger among both locals and conservationists concerned that those management practices are literally starving the animals. Save Fraser Island Dingoes Inc will hold a rally in Brisbane on May 15 and march on Parliament House in an attempt to bring their plight to the attention of Environment Minister Kate Jones. Ms Jones last week denied there was any evidence of animals starving but has launched a dingo population study in conjunction with the University of Queensland to determine both population numbers and food sources. “Wild dingoes are naturally lean animals. Studies show that the dingoes on Fraser Island are actually heavier than their mainland counterparts,” she claimed.

“Analysis of nearly 1000 Fraser Island dingo scats reveals that their favoured natural prey species are bandicoots, echidnas and bush rats. Bandicoots and bush rats are particularly abundant on Fraser Island. “Occasionally, individual dingoes will be seen in poor condition due to injury or sickness or because they have been denied food by dominant members of their pack. “A key principle of the Fraser Island Dingo Management Strategy is that wild dingoes should be interfered with as little as possible and definitely not fed.” Ms Jones has dismissed calls for controlled food drops, saying it would artificially inflate numbers while diminishing hunting instincts. Dr Healy said qualified professionals needed to conduct autopsies on all dingoes found dead or culled, rather than leaving it to departmental officers without specialist training, which he said “has most often been the case”. Forty-year island veteran Peter Thomas said the island’s dingo population was being denied access to food sources they had relied on. “The poor buggers are starving,” he said. “They’ve taken away their food source. The poor buggers have to eat. “I don’t know for the hell of me why they can’t do controlled food drops. The dogs are paying the price of us.” *Sunshine Coast Daily

A dingo preservation group says more ranger patrols are needed on Fraser Island off south-east Queensland to stop visitors interacting with dingoes. Two people were charged in January after allegedly interfering with dingoes, including feeding them. Fraser Island Dingo Preservation Group spokeswoman Bree Jashin says awareness campaigns are not getting through. "I think there will be eventually a turnaround period where it may not need to have that level of monitoring because people have got the message," she said. "Honestly, I really do think that this point in time that places like Eli Creek should be monitored by [the] parks [service] on a daily basis during periods of high visitation." She says visitors are flouting the law."It's quite a long beach to monitor, but it's sites like Eli Creek where I think it's really important the Department considers monitoring the area or the areas of such high visitation," she said. But a spokeswoman for the Environment Department says the current level of monitoring and regulations on Fraser Island are suitable. *ABC

Get your own Free Wildlife Website!

We suggested in last weeks Wildlife Bytes we would show you how to get your own website free! Free hosting, free web builder etc, totally free. And we built a free simple website in 20 minutes, including the time taken to read the instructions. Mind you, we did have some prewritten content that we used, and we have added to the website since then. This website has a blog, news page, an online shop, who we are, contact page, photo album, video album, calender of events, members (if you want them) and a forum, and many more applications you can add...all free! You can add just about anything else you wish, and delete the pages you dont want. Have a look. All free! http://www.aboutspider.webs.com/ If you are selling a product such as wallaby teats, or a PDF eBook, entitled something like "The Genetic Impacts of Cannabilism in Redback Spiders" you only need three pages, a Home Page, a Salespage with info about your product, and your Online Shop page with your Paypal link. It's very simple and very easy! You'll notice we used some free photos from the Internet, later we'll replace them with our own photos, and probably upgrade even later on to a paid hosting..its only $4 a month! If you have never built a website before, go to the "Building your Website!" page at http://www.aboutspider.webs.com/ and read it, or if you already know about building websites, go straight to http://www.webs.com and get started now! Everyone needs their own website, and this is so easy, and costs nothing! Build one, then build another.....soon you can have a stable of wildlife websites! *WPAA


Kangaroo Campaign Fundraiser

"An Afternoon with Australian Icons" Sunday 23rd May 2010 3 -6pm, Revesby Workers Club, 2b Brett St, Revesby, Sydney. A fundraiser effort to raise much needed funds to save our kangaroos. The event will be a wonderful afternoon of singing, dancing, music, speeches, auctioning as well as a great opportunity to get together and celebrate our united front to save our kangaroos. For more details contact Nikki Sutterby, Co Ordinator, Australian Society for Kangaroos, PO Box 524 Castlemaine Vic 3450, PH: 0417354408


Elephants

A gang of people in Indonesia have poisoned an endangered Sumatran elephant, removed its tusks, chopped up its body and dumped it in a river. The killing of the 15-year-old male was carried out on an oil palm plantation in the Tamiang Hulu area of Aceh province last month by more than 10 people, wildlife officers told AFP. "An eyewitness said after the tusks were removed, the elephant was cut up to pieces and then thrown into the river," said one. Conflict between humans and animals are a rising problem in the massive archipelago as forests are destroyed for timber or to make way for palm oil, forcing animals such as elephants and tigers into closer contact with people. There are about 2400 to 2800 Sumatran elephants in Indonesia, according to environmentxal group WWF. They are the smallest of the Asian elephants. *News.com.au


Flying Foxes

Geelong's hunting association president says claims of protected flying foxes being shot at Lake Connewarre are part of a set-up by conservationists. Geelong Gun and Rod Association president Mick Veitch said yesterday he believed duck hunters were not responsible for a number of grey-headed flying foxes allegedly found shot to death in the gaming reserve in recent weeks. Mr Veitch said the Victorian Advocates for Animals were using false evidence in a bid to oust legitimate hunters from the area. "My point of view is this was a set-up by the greenies," he said. "We don't shoot protected species. I have no doubt that someone has done this elsewhere and brought these bats to the area."

Mr Veitch dismissed the suggestion that hunters may have shot the flying foxes either deliberately or by mistaking them for birds. "They wouldn't be shot by recreational duck hunters, because there's no point to it," he said. "If you've ever seen a flying fox fly, you know what it looks like." Victorian Advocates for Animals president Lawrence Pope hit back, branding Mr Veitch's claim childish and ridiculous. "That's the kind of deceptive nonsense that is disappointing to hear ... it's offensive and absurd," he said. "The idea that we would do something like that with such an important issue that's close to our hearts is the sort of the thing that just beggars belief. It's outrageous, and (Mr Veitch) owes us an apology." The grey-headed fox is both state and federally protected. The VAFA has repeatedly called on the State Government to close the game reserve to all hunters, to no avail. *Geelong Advertiser

Orchardists are seeking the help of the Orange City Council to rid the district of flying foxes. The bats have been roosting in a park in the city's CBD, flying to nearby orchards at night. One apple grower estimates the pest has destroyed at least $100,000 worth of his fruit. It's now feared that if the bats aren't moved on, this year's cherry crop could be under threat. Peter Darley from the NSW Farmers' Association says orchardists will ask for help at tonight's council meeting. "Tonight a councillor will present a motion which looks at removing the flying foxes from Cook Park. "That bats are still attacking fruit. "They have established themselves in the park and I think they're becoming acclimatised. "That's a concern. "If the flying foxes, stay they'll start attacking the cherry crops in spring." *ABC

Residents bordering Bielsdown Park Dorrigo have had enough after six weeks of smell, continuous noise and sleepless nights due to the invasion of a flying-fox colony that took up residence in the park in March. A Bielsdown Park residents meeting was held recently to discuss the flying fox problem, provide a united voice of concern and call for action by relevant authorities. Occasionally flying-foxes have foraged in the park but this is the first time a colony, estimated at 4000 flying-foxes, has decided to call the normally peaceful Bielsdown Park home. March and April is breeding season for the grey-headed flying-fox which has contributed to the constant screeching, squabbling and squawking that has filled the air for up to 20 hours each day since early March. With male flying-foxes busy selecting territory and protecting their ‘harems’, they are unaware of the significant impact their presence is making on the residents whose properties border Bielsdown Park.

The well attended residents meeting saw lively discussion and positive actions being agreed upon. A ‘call-for-action’ request has been submitted to Bellingen Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) asking the authorities to develop a plan of action to ensure Bielsdown Park does not become an established flying fox camp. The meeting acknowledged that the grey-headed flying-fox is a protected species and correct protocols must be adhered to. It is expected the flying-foxes will vacate the park during the cold of winter. The residents are hoping that Bellingen Council & NPWS can develop an effective action plan to deter the flying-foxes from returning to Bielsdown Park so the significant problems endured over the past six weeks will not be repeated. *Bellingen Courier

Deadly virus warning as flying foxes on the move, extraordinary numbers of flying foxes have prompted a warning to horse owners to watch out for signs of the deadly Hendra virus. Recent mass movements of large flying fox colonies mean owners should be especially vigilant, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) says. Wet weather in some parts of the country has caused flying foxes to take to the air to find food in new areas, the association says. "Anyone working with horses should be on the lookout and immediately report any suspected cases of Hendra virus infection over the coming months," AVA vice-president Barry Smyth said in a statement. Common symptoms include respiratory distress, frothy nasal discharge, elevated body temperature (above 40 degrees), and rapid heart rate.

But Dr Smyth said it was important to realise there were no specific signs of infection. Since 1994, Hendra virus has been confirmed in 40 horses and seven humans, the AVA says. All the horses either died or were destroyed and four of the people died. The Hendra infection had so far been restricted to Queensland and NSW, but the disease could strike wherever there were flying foxes, Dr Smyth said. An influx of more than 130,000 flying foxes into Victoria was confirmed by scientists just last week, he said. Protective measures include placing feed and water under cover where possible, not placing feed and water under trees when flying foxes are in the area, not using feed that might attract flying foxes (such as fruit and vegetables).

Where possible horses should be removed from fields where flying foxes are active, and trees where flying foxes roost should be fenced off, Dr Smyth said. All the cases of human infection with Hendra virus had been the result of very close contact with infected horses, he said. "The risk can be greatly reduced by adopting good hygiene practices as a matter of routine and taking increased precautions around any sick horse," Dr Smyth said. There is no specific treatment for Hendra virus infection in horses. *News.com.au


Authorities have finally found a fox in Tasmania. But it is not the chicken-munching variety that eradication officers are chasing. A young flying fox was found dead in netting around an apple tree in a Sandy Bay backyard yesterday morning. It is the first grey-headed flying fox to be found in Tasmania in more than 50 years. "The flying fox or mega-bat is capable of flying the distance between Melbourne and Tasmania," Department of Primary Industry, Parks, Water and Environment senior zoologist Michael Driessen said. "Although there is always the possibility it may have hitched a ride on board a shipping container." In total, 10 flying foxes have been found in Tasmania since records were taken.

The first was found on King island in 1938. Only three have made it to mainland Tasmania – yesterday's find in Sandy Bay, another washed up at Eaglehawk Neck in 1951 and another at Woodbridge in 1946. "It was only a young bat and I am assuming she was female, due to the lack of certain bodily features," Mr Driessen said. "It is a shame she was not alive. Flying foxes are very rare in Tasmania and are a very interesting mammal." Tasmania's endemic bats, microbats, grow to be only about seven to 20 grams. The flying fox or fruit bat, however, can weigh up to 1kg. The bats sleep during the day and feed on pollen, nectar and fruit at night. The flying fox has been associated with the hendra virus and the little mammals can also bite. "If anyone sees a flying fox in Tasmania we would certainly like to know about it," Mr Driessen said. "People should not handle the bat but contact DPIPWE on 6233 3751." *Mercury


Formation of the Australian Alliance For Native Animal Survival (AAFNAS)

Today marks an historic development in the relationship between Australia’s First Peoples, our shared country and all our unique flora and fauna. This morning in Canberra, the Australian Alliance For Native Animal Survival (AAFNAS) was officially constituted at a meeting of Indigenous representatives from around the country. After voting on the constitution and charter and ratification of the committee – Eric Craigie (President), Ray Ferguson (Vice-President), Glenda Wenck (Secretary) and George Dingo (Treasurer) – founding President Eric Robert Craigie said: ‘Today is the beginning of a new era of consultation between the original guardians of our land and government and institutional decision makers. The formation of AAFNAS will provide us with the opportunity to influence future policy for Australia’s unique flora and fauna.’

The concept of AAFNAS was born in Canberra on 10th November 2008 in response to the continuing massacres of landlocked kangaroos in the ACT without consultation with the Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples and local communities, and the arrest and prosecution of six Aboriginal people who were performing a smoking and healing ceremony. Since European arrival in 1788 far too many species of mammals, birds and plants have become extinct. This destruction of animals and land continues at a relentless speed.

The aims of AAFNAS are: To educate the Australian and international communities about our unique native flora and fauna. This includes the Aboriginal concepts of caring for country, natural resources and all life past, present and future.* To link Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and international supporters to work together to help native species and their carers both locally and nationally.* To tap into the ancient and intimate knowledge held by the Aboriginal people and build a grass roots national organisation.* To re-establish land rights and allocate the resources necessary to establish carers’ centres/safe tracts of land for native species along the dreaming tracks.

Eric Craigie concluded by inviting other Indigenous groups to join with AAFNAS and become a unified voice for our land and our future. Press Release..... AAFNAS


Possums

Animal welfare groups have banded together to oppose a renewed export trade in possum meat and hides. The State Government has submitted a plan to the Federal Government for approval that would allow more than 100,000 brushtail possums a year to be killed and processed for overseas sale. Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania, wildlife carers and the Tasmanian Conservation Trust yesterday added their voices to the RSPCA's in expressing concerns over the plan. "Possums will not be shot in the field but will be trapped and transported long distances before they are slaughtered," AACT spokesman Chris Simcox said. "No code of practice can stop these naturally shy, nocturnal wild animals suffering from deprivation of food and water during up to 48 hours of captivity, extremes of temperature, strange noises and exposure to bright lights," he said. "AACT and its supporters are completely against commercial use of wild animals."

Peter Power of Wildlife Tasmania said thousands of baby possums would end up being killed or given to overburdened carers. "Wildlife carers are sick of shooters and trappers expecting them to care for joeys taken from their mothers. Each animal costs about $250 a year to rehabilitate," he said. "People who earn money out of killing possums should be made to contribute to the cost." More than 300,000 possums are estimated to have been killed in Tasmania last year but possum products have not been exported since 2004, when the last management plan expired. The Tasmanian Conservation Trust said the State Government was claiming a trade would prevent the waste of culled possums and would assist farming and forestry operations.

"The truth is that wallabies are a far bigger problem for farmers and it's unlikely exporters will target areas where forestry companies are establishing plantations," TCT director Peter McGlone said. "We will see an enormous increase in the numbers of possums killed with little or no reduction in the amount of culling by forestry companies and farmers." There has been criticism of Tasmania's Game Management Liaison Committee, which has no animal welfare groups but includes hunting, farming, sporting shooter and hound dog groups. *Mercury


Eradication plan ruffles a few feathers

Ulverstone resident David Spicer is waging his own David and Goliath battle with the Central Coast Council which plans to poison the galahs he loves. Having studied the birds with keen interest for many years, he said the galahs could not possibly cause the damage the council has suggested. "They say they are damaging trees to the extent a limb is going to fall out and hit someone on the head. "This is ludicrous," he said. Mr Spicer said large holes in lawn areas attributed to the birds were likely caused by rabbits. "And bandicoots too, they'd do far more damage. Is the council going to kill them, a highly endangered and protected species?" He said the council had overlooked the fact that black cockatoos also use the parks and would contribute to the damage. "Still damage doesn't constitute mass murder," he said. "Plant more trees."

At the same time every day for the past 20 years, a flock of up to 120 birds has congregated at Mr Spicer's home. Human interference has been suggested as a reason for the increase of the galah population, which has led to significant damage to native trees. "I am not feeding them as such, I do not have food for them all day, every day. It is a feed supplement," he said. "The rest of the time they are off fossicking like normal." Mr Spicer said the only time the flock comes together is when he gives them a two- litre ice-cream container of seed. "I have counted 80 birds and I think that's pretty accurate," he said. "But the rest of the time they spread far and wide. This is the only time they're all together." Mr Spicer's answer to the council's problem is to replace the "so called" damaged trees. "You can't replace these birds once you kill them," he said. * Advocate.com.au


Preston Beach Kangaroos

By the time you read this story, 100 western grey kangaroos may have been shot dead and processed for pet meat in a controversial Department of Environment and Conservation-sanctioned cull at Preston Beach Golf Club. Last month the Shire of Waroona received a DEC cull licence with an expiry date of June 30 but letters to Preston Beach residents from Shire CEO Ian Curley said a licensed shooter would conduct the “reduction” between 5pm and 2am from May 1-16. Murray-Wellington MLA Murray Cowper criticised the cull saying a reduction of 100 roos would make no difference to the marsupials population explosion at Yalgorup National Park adjacent to the unfenced golf course. “Australia has been critical of the Japanese for whaling in our southern oceans but they say it is for research purposes. We can be accused of killing kangaroos so we can play golf,” Mr Cowper said.

Mr Cowper said he would happily take a submission to the Royalties for Regions Regional Grants Scheme to help fund a fence to keep the animals off the golf course. Preston Beach petitioner and DEC-registered wildlife carer Trish Brown said she and others locals, who didn’t want to reveal their identities due to claims of harassment by cull supporters, still planned to hold protests during the two-week cull period. “I’ll be there with my pots and pans scaring the kangaroos away, I’ll keep fighting,” Mrs Brown said. “That these roos are a danger to the public is a fabrication and completely unproven,” Mrs Brown said. * My Community

Kangaroo Cull Suspended

A kangaroo slaughter at Preston Beach golf club in Western Australia that has divided a community has been called off by authorities. Local residents at Preston Beach Western Australia are in shock after a kangaroo cull at their local golf club on Wednesday night turned into a massacre leaving scores of kangaroos and joeys dead and maimed on their doorstep. “On the night of the kill, Preston Beach residents desperately tried to herd kangaroos off the golf course and into the national park where they thought they would be safe. However residents stood in disbelief as shooters illegally entered the national park and relentlessly began shooting inside it.”, said Nikki Sutterby, Co- ordinator, Australian Society for Kangaroos.

“The next day residents woke to find pools of blood and scores of injured kangaroos and joeys in the national park. A local resident found a decapitated joey laying on the ground and pools of blood and tyre tracks on the walking path in the national park. Gina who has lived with and cared for these kangaroos for years ran out of her house when she heard the shooting and pleaded with the shooters to stop, but they continued to shoot in front of her. She found a joey whose leg had been shattered, possibly from a gun shot. Its mother was dead. There were reports of kangaroos with leg and body wounds and ears and faces shot off”, said Ms Nikki Sutterby, Co-Ordinator, Austalian Society for Kangaroos.

West Australian Government officials were called immediately and arrived at the scene in a helicopter. The shooting was suspended pending an investigation and RSPCA officials spent today investigating the scene. “If the shooters are found guilty of shooting in a national park they will face serious criminal charges as well as crimes under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act”, said Ms Sutterby.. Media release, Australian Society for Kangaroos

Read more about the Preston Beach kangaroos.......http://candobetter.org/node/1989

PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASSACRE, Waroona Shire Council, Ph: (08) 9733 7800, Fax: (08) 9733 1883, Email: warshire@waroona.wa.gov.au

Department Environment and Conservation http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/component/option,com_contact/task,view/contact_id,13/Itemid,730/ Preston Beach Golf Club 08) 9739 1247/ 0439 690 711

Well, I guess it’s been drawn out longer than a politicians promise but it looks like it will happen or may have already been carried out. It’s very sad when a cull of 100 kangaroos which are part of our national symbol and unique to Australia has to be carried out. Yes, it’s true its none of our business and the decision is in the hands of the Waroona Shire Council and the residents of Preston Beach. However, this is quite a large cull and if it’s carried out by shooting it will be very distressing to the young kangaroos. No matter how professional the people may be who will carry this out joeys in the pouch will become distressed. Our kangaroo is a beautiful gentle animal and unless cornered by dogs or fitted out with boxing gloves by some idiot they are peaceful. Yes, its true they do live in large numbers on the golf courses but except for a lot of whoopsies I don’t know what the golfers are getting so excited about. Everyone who hits a ball is playing on the same surface which incidentally is not that good and nothing to do with the ‘roos. The answer maybe instead of culling the ‘roos, which were here even before Captain Cook is to hold a few chook raffles and put a fence right alongside the National Park. You will only need about a million dollars as the park and the kangaroos were there first. Preston Beach and the people is a great place which I am fortunate to visit on a regular basis. As a Mandurah resident my message to you is to enjoy your ‘roos. Love the kookaburras being fed on your arm because as you expand one day it will all be gone. Charlie, Letter to Mandurah Mail

Dolphins

A Japanese government study has found that the residents of a village whose slaughter of dolphins featured in an Oscar-winning film have dangerously high mercury levels. But the villagers are being told there is no need for them to change their diet. The study involved the testing of more than 1,000 people in Taiji, the Japanese village whose killing of dolphins was graphically shown in the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove. It found that mercury concentrations in residents are four times the national average. One of the scientists involved in the study says the results suggest that there is a connection between mercury levels and the residents' diet of dolphin and whale meat. But at a meeting in Taiji the townsfolk were told there was no need to change their diet.

The head of the town council celebrated by eating raw slices of dolphin dipped in soy sauce. The director of The Cove documentary, Louie Psihoyos, says the villagers should stop eating dolphins immediately. "All dolphin meat is toxic," he said. "Mercury is caused naturally in the environment. "It starts at the lowest end of the food chain, so it basically just accumulates up the food chain. So at the very highest levels, these animals like dolphins and whales become swimming toxic dump sites." *ABC

The State's Chief Scientist has released her report into the sudden deaths of a quarter of the Swan River's dolphin population. Six Bottlenose dolphins were found dead in the River in the five months to November last year. The Chief Scientist Lynn Beazley was called in to examine the deaths. She has found three died from ulcerative skin lesions caused by a virus, one had a fungal infection to its brain and the fifth died from broncho-pneumonia. Professor Beazley says the dolphins appeared to have died after an inflow of fresh water from heavy rainfall in winter and spring. *ABC


Australia Amongst Worst Polluters

A new study ranks Australia among the top 10 worst environmental offenders in the world. Researchers from Australia and overseas have sized up more than 150 countries on land clearing, carbon emissions and species loss. They say the findings dispel the view that poorer countries are mainly to blame for trashing the environment. The study aimed to take a big-picture look at how humans are changing the natural environment around them. Researchers from the University of Adelaide, the National University of Singapore and Princeton University pulled together figures from various sources, including the United Nations. The first list ranks impact on a global scale. Large-scale land clearing in Brazil puts that country at the top, while Australia is ninth. Professor Corey Bradshaw from the University of Adelaide says too much damage has been done to the continent since European settlement.

"Basically the richer you get the more damage you do," he said. "We have some of the highest per-capita water use and some of the highest per-capita carbon emissions. We also have the world record for modern mammal extinctions, mainly due to invasive species but also habitat loss. "So there's quite a bit of damage we've done to the Australian continent. For example, since European colonisation we've lost over half of our forests and the ones that remain are largely fragmented, so we have done quite a bit of damage." But Australia did much better on the second ranking, which is proportional, comparing the amount of available resources and the rate of loss.

Australia comes in at 120. The heavily urbanised city state of Singapore is at number one. "I think anyone who has been to Singapore wouldn't be terribly surprised by that result - I mean it's a very small country - it's mostly urbanised and any green spaces left are essentially manicured parks," Professor Bradshaw said. The researchers say their study dispels a long-held idea that countries become more environmentally aware as they get wealthier. Professor Bradshaw says it is based on what is known as the Kuznets curve. "It hypotheses that as a poor country starts to develop, it increases its environmental footprint," he said. "Then at some threshold of per-capita wealth it gains access to cleaner technologies. It has more educated public. It gets an environmental self-consciousness, if you will.

"At that point the total environmental impact should start to decline with increasing per capita wealth. "It's a very controversial thing because it depends which metrics you look at, but we found absolutely no evidence for it in either the proportional or absolute metric." Professor Bradshaw says the study provides a rationale for easing consumption. "Australia has a lot to learn certainly in terms of our consumption rates," he said. "That was definitely the aspect that pushed us into that worst position, because we do have such high consumption and... we're a very wealthy country so we tend to live to excess." *ABC

Britain's rarest wild flower is to be protected by extra police patrols to stop it being stolen when it flowers this month. The Lady's Slipper orchid at Silverdale Golf Course in Carnfoth, Lancashire, is the last remaining flowering plant in the country. Although experts have tried to re-introduce the purple and yellow bloom in other areas, none of them have flowered, reports the Daily Telegraph. Lancashire Police is now mounting a three-pronged defence of the flower amid concerns thieves may strike in May or June when the plant flowers. Officers have been ordered to ensure the safety of the orchid by including it in their routine foot patrols, meaning they will pass it every hour or so. Police will also tag the 100-year-old orchid with a coded security mark so that anyone who tries to sell a cutting to wildflower collectors can be caught.

The force is also considering spending thousands of pounds on CCTV cameras to keep a 24-hour watch on the orchid, which is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. PC Tony Marsh, beat manager for the area, told Police Review: "We will be doing passing patrols, putting up deterrent notices, warning people about the offences and (asking them) to report any suspicious activity." Last June a thief took a cutting from the plant, leaving it with just six flowers, and in 2004 a collector tried to dig up the entire plant by its roots, but managed to get away with just a part of the plant. PC Marsh added: "The biggest threat is collectors. When flowers were taken last year, we think purely just to press and put in a book, the value on the crime report was thousands of pounds." *WebOrange.co.uk


Kangaroos
Queensland kangaroo harvesters could be on the verge of re-entry to the lucrative Russian game meat market after the successful trial of ground-breaking time temperature monitoring technology in western Queensland. The kangaroo harvesting industry has been in turmoil since the collapse of the Russian market in July 2009 and the subsequent introduction of new regulations by Safefood Queensland that all mobile and stationary field depots must have time temperature monitoring technology 24 hours a day. With the technology not yet available in Australia, Tom and Sharyn Garrett of the Maranoa Kangaroo Harvesters and Growers Cooperative, decided to look further afield. Since July last year, the Garretts have been working with the Australian representatives of the German based company, Euroscan, which specialises in providing time temperature monitoring in the European Union (EU) cold chain.

Last week, the Euroscan CEO Ron Quaedvlieg and export manager Shiraz Gulamali traveled to Amby in Western Queensland to review the work that has been done to perfect a system for the game meat industry in Queensland. The system uses the mobile phone network to send information to a central website about each field site and mobile harvesting depot. It relays information every three minutes such as the location of the site and any temperature parameters set for the cold room such as the deep muscle temperature of carcasses and the ambient temperature of the cold room. It also monitors and relays information on when the doors of the cold room were opened and the length of time that they remained open. Mr Garrett said last Tuesday’s meeting was very positive and he was confident the technology would stand up to scrutiny from Safefood Queensland.

“This device actually works and it meets the requirements set by Safefood Queensland and the only thing left now is for the industry and Safefood to get behind it,” he said. “We have been talking to Euroscan and the company that distributes Euroscan products in Australia, SCA, about the Maranoa Kangaroo Harvesters and Growers Cooperative acting as an agent to sell these devices to the industry and that has been agreed upon which is very exciting for the local cooperative.” SCA managing director Mark Mitchell attended the meeting at Amby last week and said the technology was a great fit for the game meat industry. “We had been doing some work on other temperature monitoring procedures when Tom Garrett contacted us and what pricked his ear about our system is that the data is all recorded online and a lot of the features in the monitoring and recording process are automatic,” he said.

“This has several advantages in that it makes it easier for the harvesters to comply because it’s all automatic yet it still ensures we have that quality assurance.” Safefood Queensland project officer Andrew Wilson confirmed Safefood Queensland was now trialling the technology and said it could be the key to regaining access to the Russian market. “We have an opportunity here to move the whole wild game industry forward with regard to food safety and I think work like this would go a long way towards opening both new and old markets,” he said. “The work they have been doing certainly delivers what we are looking for with regard to time and temperature recording, traceability and food safety.” *Qld Country life

Ed Comment; It doesnt explain how they will maintain optimum temperatures in old dilapidated chiller boxes, before delivery to a processing plant, or how to overcome the up to two weeks or so the bodies have to hang in the remote area chiller boxes, and then spend 4 weeks sitting in a Coles or Woolworths supermarket waiting for the use by-date to expire!


Birds

As part of the largest captive-bred release of its kind in the state, 44 critically endangered regent honeyeaters will be released into the wild tomorrow. The birds - all banded and 25 of them boasting ''mini backpacks'' containing a radio transmitter for researchers to track their travels - are part of a national recovery program designed to boost the species' declining numbers. Listed as nationally endangered, wild regent honeyeaters number fewer than 1000 in Australia, with just 100 found in Victoria. Their numbers have declined because of land clearing, food scarcity due to drought and competition from more aggressive species. It is hoped the 44 captive-bred birds will breed with the wild population and deepen the species' gene pool. Read more http://www.theage.com.au/environment/backpackbearing-honeyeaters-on-a-mission-to-boost-numbers-20100510-uosl.html


Tasmanian Forestry

A coalition of forestry heavyweights has held an emergency meeting to discuss the timber industry crisis. The group intends to pressure the state and federal governments for a forestry assistance package and, in a startling twist, it wants conservation groups to help steer the future of the forestry industry. Members agreed there needed to be a radical shift in forest practices. The industry leaders agreed on the need for immediate action to support forest contractors reeling from a combination of the global financial crisis, the high Australian dollar, a downturn in woodchip exports and the collapse of managed investment schemes. Read more http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/05/10/145131_tasmania-news.html


Gulf Oil Spill Update

A German biologist says that efforts to clean oil-drenched birds in the Gulf of Mexico are in vain. For the birds' sake, it would be faster and less painful if animal-rescue workers put them under, she says. Studies and other experts back her up. "Kill, don't clean," is the recommendation of a German animal biologist, who this week said that massive efforts to clean oil-soaked birds in Gulf of Mexico won't do much to stop a near certain and painful death for the creatures. Despite the short-term success in cleaning the birds and releasing them back into the wild, few, if any, have a chance of surviving, says Silvia Gaus, a biologist at the Wattenmeer National Park along the North Sea in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. "According to serious studies, the middle-term survival rate of oil-soaked birds is under 1 percent," Gaus says. "We, therefore, oppose cleaning birds." The oil spill -- which continues to pump more than 200,000 gallons (755,000 liters) of crude into the Gulf each day -- was caused by an April 20 explosion on a BP-operated oil rig about 50 miles off the Louisiana coast. read more http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,693359,00.html

Meanwhile the CBS News reports that an estimated 3.5 million gallons has risen from the depths since the April 20 explosion that killed 11, a pace that would surpass the total spilled in the Exxon Valdez disaster by Father's Day. Read more http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/09/national/main6470052.shtml


Fire Management

Fighting fire with fire may not be the best way to protect property and wildlife , experts say. The warning comes from a team of Canberra fire scientists, land managers and ecologists who are calling for a new approach to fire management. In an article published in the journal Conservation Letters this week, ANU fire ecologist Don Driscoll says frequent, widespread burn- offs may not be as protective as is widely believed. He says modelling shows it is not the total area burned that really matters, but the location of the fuel- reduction burns. "It seems that burning within 100m or so of the urban fringe can have a strong protective effect, but randomly located burns have very little or no protective effect, even when a very high proportion of the landscape is burned annually," Dr Driscoll said. "Very frequent burning say, more than once every five or 10 years in eucalypt forests and woodlands can eliminate native species from the area. "So, minimising the area that is frequently burned is a win for biodiversity." Dr Driscoll says the full range of fire management options needs to be employed, rather than focusing exclusively on fuel reduction burns. "There seems to be an ingrained belief that we have to fight fire with fire, but that's only part of the solution," he said. "We need to put all of the options on the table, including fire management, engineering solutions, and social solutions," he said. *Canberra Times


Fraser Island Dingoes

Recently Wildlife Bytes ran the story about Jennifer Parkhurst, the photographer who had her house invaded by DERM thugs early one morning last year. Jennifer now faces a maximum two years' jail or up to a $300,000 fine under the Nature Conservation Act and Recreation Area Management Act, for allegedly interfering with the Fraser Island dingoes. The real reasons for the raid were that, like many others, Jennifer has been highly critical of the Fraser Island dingo mis-management strategies. Anyway, a rally or two are being planned, and Fund has been set up to help Jennifer and the dingoes. People can contribute to the fund at Westpac Bank, Pialba, Hervey Bay. Save Fraser island Dingoes Inc. BSB 034-136 Acct 303196.


The Fair Dinkum Characters

The new Summer range of toddlers wildlife shirts, shorts, and singlets are now avaliable on the Fair Dinkum Characters website at http://www.fairdinkum-characters.com too late for Christmas unfortuntely. The Dinkums are Ambassadors for the Wildlife Protection Association of Australia Inc. Watch for them playing in a Shopping Centre near you!

New political party, Animal Justice Party The time has come for animals to have a voice in the political arena. Animal Rights/Welfare is the next social justice movement and everyone can be a part of it. Please go to this website below to see how you can make a difference. Help end the suffering and become a voice for those without one. http://www.animaljusticeparty.org/About_the_AJP.html There you will find forms for both NSW and Federal memebrship. At this point no memebership fee is payable, and its important to get 750 members for the ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY to be registered as a political party. Other States will follow. It is important you fill in your name exactly as it appears on the Electoral Roll, otherwise your application will be invalid. You can download membership forms from the website. Please post to this address only... Animal Justice Party, P.O. Box 3126, Blakehurst 2221, Sydney NSW http://www.animaljusticeparty.org/About_the_AJP.html The animals need you......