Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Wildlife Bytes 28/9/11

Editorial; An eight-year old girl in Los Angeles has won our WPAA Wildlife Warrior of the Month award. Katie Donaldson asked her friends who were attending her eighth birthday party not to bring presents, but to make a donation to help kangaroos. She sent us the $125 AUD dollars she raised, asking that we use it to help the kangaroos. Thank you very much Katie, and we have sent you a nice birthday present, and the kangaroos thank you too.

Unique Fraser Island Painting for Sale

Wild Beauty of Fraser Island" was specially commissioned by Vegan Warriors and has had visitors to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in awe, where it has been on display for the past few months. Profts from the sale will go towards Vegan Warriors and the Wildlife Hospital. Vegan Warriors continually campaign against the horrific treatment of dingoes on Fraser Island, land clearing, rodeos, circuses, factory farming and bobby calf starvation. The Hospital takes in and rehabilitates over 8,600 native animals each year, victims of landclearing and disease. Wild Beauty of Fraser Island by Leigh Hutfield is 1.83 metres x 61cm of Acrylic and muslin on canvas. The expanse of golden white sand which strengths the entire length of the east side of Fraser Island – more commonly known as 75 mile Beach; is the scene that is set for my latest painting……Incorporating the dignified yet beautiful Dingo’s that roam this captivating island. The painting is currently for sale on EBay Item No. 280734892834 * For the Animals

Pet Wildlife

Florida has more invasive amphibians and reptiles than anywhere else in the world, and the pet trade is the No. 1 cause, researchers said in a report released Thursday. State officials, meanwhile, confirmed the presence of another type of invasive species -- the giant African land snail -- in South Florida, where it may pose a threat to human health as well as agriculture and even buildings. The 20-year amphibian and reptile study led by University of Florida researcher Kenneth Krysko was published in the journal Zootaxa. It urges the passage of stronger laws to prevent the release of exotic species. "No other area in the world has a problem like we do, and today's laws simply cannot be enforced to stop current trends," Krysko said in a statement. He is herpetology collection manager for the Florida Museum of Natural History on the Gainesville campus. The study says the pet industry was most likely responsible for the introduction of 84 percent of 137 nonnative reptile and amphibian species introduced from 1863 through 2010. That includes 25 percent linked to one importer, Strictly Reptiles of Hollywood. * Keysnet.com
Read more http://www.keysnet.com/2011/09/20/379641/florida-capital-of-invasive-species.html

Kangaroos

There are many things you might expect to find if you visited a military base; soldiers, armoured vehicles or even weapons may be high on the list. However, at Defence Establishment Orchard Hills you’d also find more than 1000 kangaroos on site, perhaps a slightly more surprising discovery. “At the last census in November 2010, the kangaroo population at Orchard Hills totalled approximately 1100 animals,” a Defence Department spokeswoman said. “The majority of the kangaroos are in a number of sectioned areas and are considered to be in manageable populations. Development in the vicinity of the Defence Establishment Orchard Hills has not had a noticeable impact on these numbers.” She said a compromise had been reached to enable the work of the base to go ahead without too much interruption. “Defence Establishment Orchard Hills actively manages a sustainable kangaroo population in accordance with the Defence Kangaroo Management Plan, which identifies a number of management options to minimise the impact on operations. “Personnel located at Defence Establishment Orchard Hills are aware of the kangaroo population and advise management of any potential impact or disruption to operations.” *Penrith Press

Purina Pet Foods Boycotted

Wildlife groups are asking pet owners to boycott Purina Pet Foods. Purina (owned by Nestle, we understand) have been running a national advertising campaign stating proudly that they use kangaroo meat in their tinned dog food. Dozens of people have contacted them by phone and email, pleading with them to stop using kangaroo meat. They have all been laughed off. So the wildlife groups have decided to mount a campaign asking pet owners to boycott Purina foods, and not only boycott them, but telling Purina why....by phone or email. Purina contact details are below......

Please contact PetCare Advice Centre on 1800 738 238, or email them at https://www.purina.com.au/Ask-Purina.aspx If you get a poor response, please email them back, dont let them get away with the lies they tell.

Meanwhile, what the Wildlife groups are now doing is determining all pet food brands in Australia that contain kangaroo meat because many do not specify the meat source This may first require a campaign for accurate labelling of meat type in all tinned pet food.. Then we can raise community awareness about issues surrounding the kangaroo industry in association with the pet foods that use its products. More details about the Purina campaign can be found here http://www.kangaroo-protection-coalition.com/boycott-purina.html

Seals to be Killed

Two of Canada's leading marine biologists and a conservation group say a five-year proposal to slaughter 140,000 grey seals in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence is being driven by politics, not science. "I don't support it," said Hal Whitehead, a professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax who specializes in the study of whales. "From what I've seen of the rationale, it doesn't make much sense to me." Earlier this month, a federal advisory panel urged Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield to approve the cull, which would result in the killing of 70 per cent of the grey seals that feed in an area that stretches from Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula to the east side of Cape Breton. The Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, made up of scientists and fishing industry representatives appointed by the minister, said the proposed cull is an experiment that will test indirect scientific evidence suggesting grey seals are impeding the recovery of cod stocks. Wayne Stobo, a retired researcher with the federal Fisheries Department, said his extensive fieldwork with grey seals has led him to the conclusion that the proposed cull is worth a try. While he doesn't disagree with the professors' arguments, he insisted that experiments don't need control groups to be valid. "The nature of an experiment is that you try something and see what the result is," he said, adding that scientists didn't need a control group to conclude that the collapse of the cod stocks in the early 1990s was largely due to overfishing. * CTV News
Read more ... http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/SciTech/20110925/seal-cull-proposed-criticism-110925/

Exotic Carp

The east coast floods last summer flushed much needed water through the Murray Darling River system. But with higher water levels the carp are breeding like rabbits, according to locals. The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries says in the latest breeding season carp numbers have increased more than 4,000 per cent in the lower Darling River below Menindee. *WPAA

Frogs

Two new studies have revealed how some frogs can survive the chytrid fungal disease that is currently devastating amphibian populations worldwide. Known as chytridiomycosis, the disease is caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), and is more prevalent in some frog populations than others. To understand why, Dr Kelly Zamudio and PhD candidate Anna Savage, Cornell University in New York examined lowland leopard frogs. They looked for a genetic difference within a key part of the immune system, known as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Their results appear this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. MHC proteins act as signposts, alerting the immune system to the presence of a pathogen, which then triggers an immune response to clear the infection. Similar to a lock and key, MHC proteins can only recognise certain pathogens. *ABC Read more ... http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/09/27/3326532.htm

Dugong Hunting

More traditional owners' groups in north Queensland have agreed to stop hunting dugongs and turtles to let the two species recover from the effects of disastrous floods. Queensland Environment Minister Vicki Darling today said the Girrigun Aboriginal Corporation, which covers two clan groups in the Townsville region, had agreed to suspend hunting of both species indefinitely. The clans are entitled to hunt both species under the Native Title Act but agreed to stop after widespread flooding across Queensland last summer damaged seagrass beds - the major food source for both animals - along the coastline. The agreement comes two weeks after traditional owners' groups from Bundaberg to Gladstone agreed to self-imposed bans on hunting both species. "I think this move speaks volumes about the capacity of local traditional owners' groups to make their own informed decisions about cultural practices that have existed for thousands of years," Ms Darling said in a statement today. "I congratulate the clans of Girrigun for this decision because it acknowledges that, while there are severe limitations in addressing the food supply crisis hitting turtles and dugongs, we can address the impacts humans are having on the population and hunting is one of them." *AAP

Ed comment; But what about the other hunters who dont or wont abide by clan rule? What about some hard Legislation to stop the hunting altogether?

Elephants

Wildlife rangers have begun relocating 50 rampaging elephants back to the renowned Maasai Mara game reserve to stem rising human deaths and property destruction in outlying villages. On Thursday, the first four of the elephants, due to be relocated over the next 10 days, were shot with tranquilliser darts from a helicopter near Narok, about 150 kilometres south of the capital, Nairobi, a notorious zone for human-wildlife conflict.
Once the giant animals lost consciousness, conservationists carefully winched them up by crane onto trucks for the journey to the Maasai Mara, from where they had been cut off by widening settlement, increasing farming and deforestation. "The greatest challenge to Kenyan wildlife conservation today is Kenya's population growth," said the Kenya Wildlife Service director, Julius Kipng'etich. Workers splashed the elephants with water to cool them before giving another injection to wake them up, ready for their 150-kilometre truck journey to the Maasai Mara. If the operation is a success for the first 50 animals, wildlife service plans to move 200 of them. * AFP

Seabirds

Report says some albatross, petrel and shearwater species nearing extinction as fleets failing to implement simple measures. Up to 320,000 seabirds a year are being killed worldwide each year by being caught up in fishing lines, according to a study being presented to the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity on Tuesday. Some species and populations of albatross, petrels and shearwaters are being pushed to the edge of extinction because many fishing fleets are not taking simple measures to prevent birds chasing bait, experts will warn. Some fleets have drastically cut the carnage though methods such as bird-scaring lines and weighting of hooks. But others are failing to monitor the problem or implement steps that could reduce the problem to "negligible proportions", according to authors of a study that is attempting to set a global baseline against which progress could be measured. * Guardian Read more ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/sep/26/fishing-boats-killing-seabirds

Kangaroos and Bushfires

Bushfires in Central Australia are being blamed for causing native animals to come down with pneumonia. As two bushfires burn out of control north of Alice Springs, sending smoke across the town, wildlife carers have said native animals are being affected. "This is something we haven't seen before," said Cynthia Lynch from Alice Springs Wildcare Inc. She said there has been more bushfires this year than in the past and the smoke was far more noticeable and had been harming native animals. Ms Lynch said she had seen about half a dozen young red kangaroos affected by pneumonia, a disease she had never before witnessed in them. "They are very wheezy and you can hear their chests without a stethoscope," Ms Lynch said. She said all the joeys that were affected over the past six weeks had been hand-raised and were in captivity. It was difficult to know whether those in the wild were unaffected by the condition because they could better escape the smoke, or if wild kangaroos had pneumonia that was undiagnosed, she said. Her comments came as Bushfires NT director Steve Sutton warned two fires were burning out of control north of Alice Springs. Mr Sutton said one fire was burning about 70km north of Alice Springs at Yambah and another was 30km from the town, at Bond Springs. "Currently a lot of smoke is blowing into Alice Springs," Mr Sutton said. *Weekly Times


Whales

The annual Humpback whale migration begins in May as the mammals make their way up the West Australian coast from the food-rich Southern Ocean to breeding grounds in warm northern waters. But, experts say an increasing number are not surviving the journey. Of the 14 Humpback whales to die along WA's coast already this season, most have been young. Recently, a dead calf washed up at Gnarloo on the southern end of the Ningaloo Marine Park. The Department of Environment and Conservation's senior wildlife officer Doug Cochrane says the calf at Gnarloo, and others like it, are showing signs of malnutrition. "They are skinny and sickly, they don't have a lot of blubber and it looked like most of them hadn't had a chance to feed from their mothers," he said. Mr Cochrane says there has been a marked increase in sick and dying Humpback whales in recent years. "There's definitely a lot more than say, 10 years ago." Mr Cochrane says conversely, the reason for the increase in deaths could also simply be because of a growing population. "The population is the healthiest recovering Humpback population globally," he said. "So, the same as with all other populations of whatever they be, mammals, birds, or even humans, when you have an increase in population, you also have an increase in losses or deaths." *ABC Read more ... http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-26/humpback-whale-stranding-feature/2943026


Tasmania is set to become a whale-watching mecca over the next few weeks as the world's biggest marine mammals move down the coast and stop here on their way to Antarctica to feed. This week whales have been spotted at Taroona, Binalong Bay and Wineglass Bay and a southern right whale mother and calf have been spotted by eco-tourism operators near Tasman Arch. Tasman Island Adventure Cruises Skipper Craig Parsey said his team recorded 150 whale sightings last year and it looked like 2011 could be an even better whale watching season. "Already we have been told that good numbers of humpback whales are heading down the coast," Mr Parsey said. "With the abundance of krill around the Tasman Peninsula, we are expecting some exciting interactions." He said thousands of dusky dolphins also had been seen playing in local waters. The dusky dolphin was known for its remarkable acrobatics but had commonly been caught in gill nets in the past. *Mercury
Read more ... http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/09/28/264801_tasmania-news.html


A record number of whales migrating down the coast has thrilled Hervey Bay whale watch pioneer Brian Perry - but it has him concerned as well. With an increased number of whales passing through, the risk of hitting one of the ocean giants is increasing as well and he is urging caution to all heading out into the waters of Hervey Bay, especially when there is fog or in the night. "Unfortunately accidents can happen," he said. More than 16,000 whales are making their way up the coast of Australia and there have been several collisions between whales and boats so far this year. Mr Perry said there were several hundred whales passing through Hervey Bay at the moment, some of the best numbers seen in years. When Brian and his wife Jill first started their business in 1987, the first of its kind in Australia, they saw about 100 whales in one whole season. Now he said it wasn't unusual to see about 100 whales in a day. Mr Perry said it was heartening to see whale numbers improving. "It's one of the best seasons we've had in 25 years," he said. With people coming from around Australia and the world to visit Hervey Bay this whale watching season, Mr Perry said it was fantastic to see the reactions of people who hadn't had the chance to see whales up close and personal before. A rare sighting of a southern right whale and its calf also excited visitors. It stayed in the area for two or three weeks, which Mr Perry said was "very unusual". *Fraser Coast Chronicle

Red Spot Disease in Fishes

An endemic disease found in fish samples taken to discover what was killing fish in The Narrows and Gladstone Harbour has not been found in Rockhampton waters. Red spot, a disease found in fish all over Australian coastal waters and in Asia, was evident in test samples taken during the current ban on fishing in Gladstone. A spokeswoman for Biosecurity Queensland said the disease was typically caused by a fungus, Aphanomyces invadans, and occurred in fish when they were under stress. The red spot disease, Epzootic ulcerative syndrome, develops as red spots that develop into ulcers, which can cause death in fish. It has been found in estuarine fish including bream, mullet, whiting, eels and catfish. The disease has also been found in freshwater fish farms as well as inland freshwater rivers. While research has found links between highly acidic waters and the red spot disease, no such connection has been made in investigations to the latest outbreak to date. Government investigations have also not found any particular environmental "stressor" in the Gladstone Harbour area that may have caused the recent outbreak. Authorities were still investigating an unknown parasite found in fish samples last week that may have also been contributing to fish deaths in the area.
The government spokeswoman said: "These initial test results identified two conditions, red-spot disease and a parasite. More research is needed into the parasite, which affects the eye of the fish. "Additional testing is being conducted on newly received samples of other fish species, prawns and mud crabs but results are not expected for several weeks. "As further testing and research is still under way, it is too early to determine what is causing the conditions affecting some locally-caught fish." *Bulletin



The State Government has refused to stop Gladstone's massive dredging program while scientists work out what has caused disease in its fish. Yesterday, Greens environment spokeswoman Larissa Waters called for a dredging ban, saying it was wrong that a major environmental crisis was occurring while 46 million cubic metres of dredging works for the liquefied natural gas industry continued unabated. Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace said he would not stop the work because Health Department and independent tests showed no link between dredging and the diseased fish. Mr Wallace - who was in Gladstone for crisis talks with fishermen and the city's port authority - said a taskforce looking into the issue would be headed by Australian Institute of Marine Science chief Ian Poiner. The Government last week banned fishing for about 500sq km - centred on Gladstone's harbour - while scientists try to resolve issues that have shut down part of the region's $40 million commercial fishing industry. Tests have found fish are infected with red spot disease and a parasite that causes milky eye in barramundi. Red spot also broke out in Moreton Bay after the January floods.

Gladstone also has recorded more than 100 turtle and dugong deaths this year, raising concerns of links between the dredging in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and stressed animals. Senator Waters said that, in August, she had asked Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke to suspend dredging but nothing had happened. "What will it take for the Government to place the long-term health of our precious marine ecosystems and coastal communities ahead of short-term private LNG profits?" she asked. "Dredging is blanketing seagrass beds with sediment and exacerbating poor water quality, making fish susceptible to disease. It's also possible dredging is stirring up organic toxins and heavy metals . . . Everyone is responding to this crisis except for the industry which may be contributing to it . . . and the Government which is allowing them to operate with impunity." Mr Burke said 52 conditions had been imposed on dredging in Gladstone harbour and the department had been monitoring these criteria. *Courier Mail


Barrier Reef Contaminated

A commonly used farm chemical has been found in a Great Barrier Reef catchment at levels an alarming 50 times higher than those considered safe. Diuron is found in more than 100 products and is primarily used in sugar cane, cotton and weed spraying and in anti-fouling paints. A newly released State Environment Department study found the highest readings in Barratta Creek, a popular fishing location about 50km south of Townsville in north Queensland. Penalties for oil spills are increasing, see page 10 of today's print edition of The Courier-Mail. Farm chemicals metolachlor and atrazine were also found at 11 sites, all of which flow into Great Barrier Reef waters. It's the third environmental contamination incident in days, with a major study last week finding poisonous industrial pollutants such as DDT, dioxins and PCBs in birds' eggs in Brisbane and fishing being banned at Gladstone due to diseased fish. WWF-Australia seized on the diuron research, saying it was evidence the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority was too slow to act.
Spokesman Nick Heath said while the APVMA had been investigating diuron for nine years, eight of the sites investigated were being contaminated at toxic levels.

"This paper (Environment Department) is the smoking gun," he said. "Here we have clear evidence that at least three chemicals which are approved for sale, one of which is known to cause cancer, are present in the Great Barrier Reef environment and in our internationally recognised wetlands, at unacceptably toxic levels." The study found that diuron, which is poisonous to some marine plants and animals, accounted for 97 per cent of the toxicity in Barratta Creek, between Mackay and Townsville. APVMA spokeswoman Felicity McDonald said it had been proposed in July to suspend most diuron uses, but manufacturers and growers had to be given an opportunity to respond and the Environment Department paper would be taken into account. Ms McDonald said atrazine was detected marginally above recommended levels at only one site and the APVMA was confident it could be used safely. "At present, we hold no concerns about the continued use of metolachlor, provided it is used in accordance with conditions outlined on product labels," she said. "Claims that diuron, atrazine and metolachlor are carcinogenic are incorrect and alarmist." Mr Heath said he accepted the APVMA would probably ban diuron, but he was disappointed about further delays. *Courier Mail

Senate Inquiry Backs Away From Koala Protection

Speed limits should be lowered, wild dog controls tightened and research funding boosted to stop the decline of koala numbers, a Senate committee has recommended. But it has stopped short of suggesting the marsupial be added to the threatened species list, saying it is not qualified to pass judgment. Following a 10-month investigation, the Senate's environment committee today delivered 19 recommendations to halt what it says is a nationwide decline in koala numbers. They include getting the government to boost funding for research and koala monitoring, implementing an independent review and acting on the potential threats of wild dogs and koala-unfriendly roads. The committee said there was no question koala numbers were falling but the issue was much more complex than that fact alone. For instance, in some areas in Queensland the koala population is in sharp decline, but in other parts of Australia their numbers have to be managed because of over-population.

Koalas faced a range of threats, from dogs, cars and diseases to issues affecting their habitats, such as climate change. The Senate's investigation is not the first time the koala has come under scrutiny, with the government's chief advisory body on threatened species having considered it no fewer than three times since 1996. From the information it received, the committee said there was a clear need for early conservation work. Environment Minister Tony Burke is considering whether to list the koala as a nationally threatened species and said he welcomed the new information. He noted the government had already spent at least $6.3 million on koala conservation efforts during the past 15 years. "Koalas are an iconic Australian animal. They hold a special place in the hearts of Australians," he said. *AAP

Kangaroo Fence

A higher kangaroo-proof fence will be built around the Hanging Rock racetrack to keep the animals from interrupting future race meetings. This year's traditional Australia Day meeting was cancelled due to kangaroos jumping over fencing and entering the track. Stewards halted racing twice during the event but cancelled the remainder of the card after they declared it too dangerous to continue. A working group then started work on finding a solution whereby kangaroos could still utilise the Hanging Rock Reserve but would be kept off the track. The group approved a final kangaroo management plan, which includes building permanent fences about 1.9 metres high around the track. They replace the existing fences, which are more than 20 years old, and are about 1.5 metres in height, with some parts already 1.8 metres. The fences will also feature a gate to allow wildlife to return to the racecourse after meetings.

Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club general manager Mark Graham described the outcome as a win for racing and the area's kangaroo population. He said racing and wildlife would continue to share the racecourse. "We have successfully shared the racecourse with the local kangaroo population for the past 125 years, apart from a couple of safety issues arising in the past couple of years. 'We were very keen to achieve an outcome which allowed this to continue while ensuring racing can be conducted safely. "The club appreciates the efforts of the working group to find a balanced outcome and for the funding assistance provided by the state government via the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Macedon Ranges Council, Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria." The Australia Day event at Hanging Rock is the only race meet held at the picturesque location each year. Northern Victoria MP Donna Petrovich, a member of the working group, said they had found a "timely, practical, cost-effective solution" to the problem. "Hanging Rock races are an important part of the Macedon Ranges from a social, economic and historical perspective. "It was a very positive experience... dedicated to finding a workable outcome for all parties which will enhance and preserve the history of racing at Hanging Rock and also protect the natural environment of this beautiful place and its native wildlife." *Macedon Ranges Weekly

Spiders

Spiders known for a flesh-eating venom may hold the key to a cure for chronic pain, new research shows. Scientists believe some spiders and their highly toxic venom have emerged as the latest, albeit unlikely, ally in the fight against human illness, inflammation and even erectile dysfunction. They are also investigating spider venom for its potential as a potent bio-insecticide to protect valuable food crops. Scientists at the University of Queensland have been working to harvest venom from some of Australia's deadliest creatures - including spiders, snakes, scorpions and box jellyfish - for bio-medical research. Dr Mehdi Mobli, of UQ's Institute for Molecular Bioscience, will today present his latest findings at ComBio 2011 in Cairns, the nation's peak annual conference for biochemists and molecular biologists. "From the unlikely source of spider venoms, we are working on finding new ways of protecting our food source and crops as well as new therapeutics against pain," Dr Mobli told The Courier-Mail. His research involves the American hobo spider, a distant cousin of the Australian funnelweb, often blamed for a bite that turns necrotic and eats away human cells, tissue and flesh. "Spiders have evolved a biochemically complex venom that is designed to rapidly subdue prey," Dr Mobli said. His research found the potent insecticidal neurotoxin, linked to an ancestral gene, had evolved over 200 million years. "Because it targets the nervous system, it may have benefits for treating nervous system disorders like chronic pain," he said.

He said an Access Economic Report (2007) estimated the economic impact of persistent pain in Australia at about $34 billion a year. "We think primarily it may be useful as a commercial insecticide, where we put this gene into plants so they can protect themselves against pests," Dr Mobli said. "The American hobo spider is the first toxin in spiders that we have been able to track down the ancestral gene. "In this case, it turned out to be a hormone involved in - amongst other things - moulting. "The spiders seem to have recruited this hormone, and then massively changed it to make it exceptionally insecticidal (so it no longer functions as a hormone)." Huge advances in technology in recent years have allowed unprecedented access to molecular diversity of animal venoms - developing a pipeline in venom-based drug discovery. "We have been able to insert a gene encoding this toxin into bacteria, so that we can produce large quantities of the toxin in the bacteria. "We are able to produce large amounts of this toxin for insecticidal testing." *CM

Fishing

Scientists believe they have identified the tipping point of overfishing that could save the world's coral reefs. They identified the stages or "thresholds" a coral reef eco-system goes through before collapse. And they found how many fish it takes to make a healthy or dying reef. "Hard coral cover is the last line of defence before a reef collapses," said Townsville-based Nick Graham, of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. "But it starts dying when the nuts and bolts go. You see patches of weeds replacing coral, you see more sea urchins devouring the coral, you see a general decline in the species richness on the reef, and you see less coral cover." Dr Graham was part of an international team that surveyed 300 reefs in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. They found that in well-protected areas there were typically 1000kg-1500kg of fish a hectare of coral reef.

As this is reduced below 1000kg, early warning signs such as increased seaweed growth and urchin activity began to show, Dr Graham said. "It shows us multiple tipping points," he said. "There is more than one line between life and death for a reef." When fish stocks dropped below 300kg/ha, the reef was in real trouble, Dr Graham said. The loss of hard corals, which had been thought of as a warning sign, was actually the last stage in the collapse of a reef, the study found. The researchers found between 300kg-600kg of fish a hectare was the "maximum sustainable yield". As debate rages over the impact of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef, Dr Graham said measuring the amount of fish was a tangible variable. "It is easier to comprehend than some variable like the amount of phosphorous in the water," he said. "Fishermen and scientists have long wondered how many fish can be taken off a reef before it collapses. This sets a target. "The consequences of overfishing can be severe to the ecosystem, and may take decades to recover, but hundreds of millions of people depend on reefs for food and livelihoods, so banning fishing altogether isn't a reality in many nations." The report, "Critical thresholds and tangible targets for ecosystem-based management of coral reef fisheries", has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA (PNAS). *Courier Mail

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Wildlfie Bytes 16/9/11

Kangaroo Chiller Boxes

Mark Pearson from AL NSW and myself landed in Broken Hill Friday night around 10 pm. Early next day saw us driving around Broken Hill looking for kangaroo chiller boxes. We wanted new contamination evidence to be presented at a meeting with one of the major supermarkets. Here we located four chiller box sites, all were closed and not working, with a total of 8 boxes. One site had two large chillers, the other sites had three. While looking at the 3 box site a vehicle pulled up and the driver demanded to know who we were and what we were doing. The police were on their way he said, and we would be charged with trespass.

After some argie bargie, he admitted that the chillers were owned by Macro meats, and he was the manager. When we questioned him why they were empty, he said the kangaroo Industry was about to get very busy, and they were just waiting. (Presumably for the Russian market to restart.) It appears the Federal government are now trying to blackmail Russia into starting imports of kangaroo meat again. Russia has asked Australia to grant it 'market economy status' before it joins the WTO, which the Australian government has said it will consider if Russia opens up its markets to kangaroo meat!

After that episode we headed to Wilcannia, a dead town with two empty chiller boxes found, then to White Cliffs, then to Wanaaring, Hungerford, through the dingo fence (which should be pulled down) and to Cunnamulla. We found three chiller sites in Cunnamulla, one with six chiller boxes, and one with two larger boxes, both brand new and "state of the art", and another site with two boxes. Of all of them, only one box was working. We headed off to get some food, but before we got out of the vehicle, a truck loaded with dead wild pigs went past. We followed it, but there was some other traffic, and in the dark we lost it. It didn’t go to the chiller boxes like we thought it would have. So we went back to the cafe, ordered some food, then went across the road to the pub for a drink. We were told by the only other drinker in the bar that he had just come back from a weekend’s pig shooting, brought the pigs to Cunnamulla Chillers only to find that chillers were closed. So his son had taken the 30 pigs out into the scrub to dump them on the side of the road!

Goats are the big money earners at the moment, followed by pigs, and kangaroos are not worth shooting we were told. Goats are attracted to a penned area by saltlicks, then trapped, and transported by truck to an abattoirs.

I have to say that generally the wildlife was plentiful. The vegetation has had quite bit of rain, and looks superb. Lovely country. We saw lots of emus, including a flock of 100 or so, very good to see. We also saw a large flock of Major Mitchell parrots, probably around 60 birds, but only a couple by themselves. We saw some kangaroo and emu road kill around Eulo and Cunnamulla, but not as much as we expected to see, and not much on the dirt roads. We only saw a few wedgetail eagles, one high up, and one feeding on road kill, and one being harassed by 50 or so crows. A few letterwinged kites and small raptors were seen. Not many kangaroos seen, but zillions of goats. Very little mobile phone coverage except at major towns.

From Cunnamulla we headed West towards Thargominda, Nocundra and towards Tibbooburra. We found two empty chillers at Thargominda, long unused, and nothing at Nocundra. The drive South through extensive natural native grasslands was stunning. For a hundred kilometers or more, native grasses spread as far as the eye could see, on both sides of the road, with vegetation and trees along the creek lines. We never saw much wildlife here, except for lizards on the road, and a couple of lonely wedgetails up high, looking for those lizards. No kangaroos, emus, or roadkill. After we drove through the dingo fence at Warri Gate into Sturt National Park, we started to see kangaroos, including quite a bit of roadkill. Which suggests to me that the kangaroos on the extensive grasslands that were being grazed by cattle and sheep, had been shot out. In the '70's, Dr John Auty produced a paper showing his model found that prior to white settlement, Australia's natural grasslands could support up to 400 million kangaroos. After driving through some of Queensland’s and NSW's natural grasslands, and seeing them myself, I think his model was a bit conservative.

Unfortunately, like the indigenous people before them, the kangaroos have been removed to facilitate the beef and sheep grazing Industry. We were amazed at the Sturt National Park though, another extensive area of native grasses. We drove the 60 or so kilometres through the Park towards Tibbooburra as the sun was about to set, and the colours were nothing short of spectacular. Here at Tibbooburra (of all places) we found five chiller boxes, two had not been used for yonks, and one was running with something in it. There was a pool of blood outside where someone had washed their vehicle. In 2008 when activists inspected these chillers, they were packed with kangaroos, all tagged with the date they were shot, and some at the back of the chiller had been there for 13 days.

We drove over 2000 kilometres in 5 days, through some of the most spectacular dry landscapes in the country, perhaps in the World. Out of around 22 chiller boxes, we only found 3 working and, they may have held wild pigs. We didn’t enter any of the boxes for that reason, and we didn’t want to raise any alarm bells within the Industry, although they do know we are watching them very closely.

Maintenance of most of the chillers we inspected was poor, with gaps in the doors, broken seals and rusty hinges, etc. Still, there has been significant investment within the Industry, new chillers, some upgrading of old chillers, and we saw one brand new shooter’s vehicle. Both the State and Federal government have created an illusion that the Russian market will soon reopen, and the Chinese market is imminent, so they are really responsible when the Industry dies properly, and these investments are lost.

We know where the chillers are now, and in the remote chance that the Russian markets open up, we can monitor them very closely. As Mark said to me, we are cataloguing a dead Industry, but one that still twitches now and again! * Pat O'Brien

Seals

A NZ teenager who beat seals to death using a galvanised pole near Kaikoura has been jailed for two years. Jason Trevor Godsiff, 19, of Renwick, previously admitted wilfully ill-treating the protected seals at Ohau Point, north of Kaikoura. He appeared before Judge Ian Mill in the Blenheim District Court today. A charge of possession of an offensive weapon was dropped. Godsiff's co-accused, Jamaal Peter Roy Large, 36, from the Wairau Valley, has denied the charges. More than 20 fur seals were beaten to death late last year in what the Conservation Department described as a "callous and cowardly" attack. Some were just a few days old. The dead seals included 13 females and two bulls. Seals in the area had injuries that suggested they had also been hit. *Press.co.nz

Bilbys

You have to take your hat off to one of Australia's most embattled icons. Yesterday was National Bilby Day, an occasion used to promote the cause of the plucky little marsupial. Officially listed as threatened, there are only 400 of the big-eared animals left in the wild in Queensland. There is also a population in the Northern Territory, but it has disappeared from every other Australian state. On the Gold Coast, theme park Dreamworld is taking part in a unique breeding program aimed at bolstering the shy animal's numbers. More than 20 bilbies have been born at Dreamworld, with 13 released into a predator-proof park in southwest Queensland. Dreamworld's general manager of life sciences Al Mucci said: "The ones that have been released out west are not only surviving, but they are thriving. *Courier Mail

Abalone

Abalone fishers face new restrictions this season after a rare marine heatwave devastated stocks north of Perth. Fisheries Minister Norman Moore has ordered a total ban on abalone fishing north of Moore River this year. Abalone fishers near Perth will be allowed to fish between 7am and 8am, one Sunday a month from November to March. The season south of Busselton jetty starts on October 1. South West bioregions manager Kevin Donohue said sea temperatures in some spots north of Perth were 3C higher than average. Fisheries has flagged prohibitions next year to allow stocks to recover. *West.com.au

Fraser Island Dingoes

With Fraser Island dingoes rearing their pups during September, visitors and residents are urged to take extra caution and stay in fenced campsites. Environment Minister Vicky Darling said the September whelping season was an important time for dingoes as their pups were weaned and left their dens to learn how to hunt, find water and socialise. "More dingoes may be seen at this time, they may be more determined and aggressive in their search for food and adults will aggressively defend their young," Ms Darling said. "Learning to hunt is a vital part of the pups' rearing and it is important to conserve the natural behaviour of dingoes by not interfering with them during this crucial stage of their lives." Ms Darling said an overlap between the dingo whelping season and the holiday camping period could lead to an increase in human-dingo encounters. "Families with children are strongly urged to camp in fenced campgrounds at Central Station, Dundubara, Lake Boomanjin, Dilli Village and Waddy Point. "Parents should ensure children are supervised at all times and should never allow them to walk alone as attacks could happen very quickly." Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers will be on duty across the island during the holiday period, ensuring visitors are aware of these important safety messages. They will visit camp grounds and tourist spots each day to talk to visitors about dingo safety. To report a dingo incident contact a ranger as soon as you can, or phone 4121 1609 or email dingo.ranger@ derm.qld.gov.au. *Fraser Coast Chronicle

Cuttlefish

Research into giant cuttlefish in South Australia's upper Spencer Gulf will receive $105,000 in federal and state funding. SA Fisheries Minister Michael O'Brien says a monitoring and evaluation program will look at population biomass, water quality and habitat. There has been some recent concern that fewer cuttlefish are in the upper Gulf. Concern also has been expressed about the possible effects of discharge if a desalination plant is built in the area. *ABC

Dolphins

Dolphin colonies in Victoria's Port Phillip and the Gippsland Lakes have been formally recognised as a new species. The dolphins, named Tursiops australis, have a combined population of about 150 and were originally thought to be one of the two existing bottlenose dolphin species. Monash University PhD researcher Kate Charlton-Robb discovered they were unique by comparing skulls, DNA and physical traits with specimens dating back to the early 1900s. The new species will commonly be known as the burrunan dolphin, an Aboriginal name meaning large sea fish of the porpoise kind. The findings, published in the latest PLoS ONE journal, show that the dolphins of the southern Australian coast differ greatly from other dolphin species. "This is an incredibly fascinating discovery as there have only been three new dolphin species formally described and recognised since the late 1800s," Ms Charlton-Robb said. "What makes this even more exciting is this dolphin species has been living right under our noses, with only two known resident populations living in Port Phillip Bay and the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria." Ms Charlton-Robb said more research was needed to determine whether there were other populations of the burrunan dolphin in Australia. * AAP

Koalas

They spend their days looking half asleep while gorging on gum leaves. But the seemingly lazy ways of Australia's iconic koalas need to be preserved under federal laws, the Australian Greens say. Greens senator Larissa Waters will push for the marsupials to be listed as a nationally-threatened species in the Senate on Wednesday. "The koala is not listed as nationally threatened because there are clumps where there are quite a lot of them," she told reporters in Canberra. "But there are areas where there are very few." Such areas include Queensland's "koala coast", which encompasses the bayside portions of the Redland, Brisbane and Logan local government areas. With fewer than 5000 koalas left in south-east Queensland, Senator Waters believes koalas along the koala coast may become extinct during the next 10 years. "I don't know what they will call it if there are no koalas left," she said. If the koala were listed as a nationally threatened species (under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act), it would be an offence to injure the creature. "It also means that any development that is going to have a significant impact on koalas needs to get federal approval," Senator Waters said. "So it basically brings in an extra layer of protection, that might mean a development has to be stopped, or there can be conditions." Such conditions might include the retention of important habitat trees. Loss of habitat was one of the greatest pressures driving species to extinction, Senator Waters said. "If we're going to stop the decline on biodiversity we should put the brakes on development in the only areas (that) threatened species still exist." *News.com.au

Wildlife Care

The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital has entered to win $5,000 to purchase essential orthopaedic equipment through the Sunsuper DREAMS grant. The DREAM with the highest vote wins so PLEASE cast your vote to help them win this funding. Many of us have had injured wildlife in care that have been saved and returned to the wild because of the special orthopaedic surgery that the wildlife vets at the Hospital have been able to perform. This equipment is very special. To vote go to:- http://sunsuperdreams.com.au/dream/view/help-give-our-native-wildlife-a-fighting-chance You will then receive an email where your vote will be authenticated.
PLEASE pass this onto your friends and family to vote! * Wildcare Australia Inc.

Flying Foxes

Hendra virus is one of a number of recently emerged viruses which has spilled over from its usual wild-animal-hosts to domestic animals, and then to us. Hendra’s repeated appearance this year has caught public attention. Sadly much of that attention has not focused on the rarity of the disease or that transmission to humans occurs from exposure to sick horses. Instead, it has focused strongly on control of the reservoir host of the virus: flying foxes. Flying foxes are large bats found in forests along the whole of the east coast of Australia. They are important pollinators, and disperse the seed of native trees and shrubs. In many environments, they are better at these tasks than birds, insects or the wind. In the wet tropics of northern Queensland, flying foxes help maintain the world heritage values of the tropical rainforest. *The Conversationalist
Read more http://theconversation.edu.au/culling-bats-isnt-the-way-to-control-hendra-virus-3253

Forests

New research shows Australia has lost 99per cent of its old-growth mountain ash forests, with ''catastrophic implications'' for bushfire control, water harvesting and wildlife conservation, a leading scientist says. Australian National University ecologist Professor David Lindenmayer has called for an urgent review of all federal and state regional forestry agreements, blasting the joint agreements as an outdated and ''lazy system, designed to gag forestry debate with red tape''. The Australian Forest Products Association and Australian Greens have backed his call for a review, but Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has defended the 20-year agreements, which set sustainable logging limits for native forests in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia. Mr Burke said an assessment last year by the former Bureau of Resources Sciences found that 73per cent of all old-growth forests in areas covered by the agreements were in protected areas. A spokeswoman for the Federal Forestry Minister Joe Ludwig said the agreements ''were already regularly reviewed.''
*canberra Times Read more http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/oldforest-loss-catastrophic-study/2289773.aspx

Wildlife Poaching

Thai authorities have seized nearly 3,000 rare animals in the biggest wildlife trafficking bust reported in the Southeast Asian country this year.Thai customs officials say they stopped a truck on Tuesday night in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan. Inside the vehicle, they found more than 2,700 monitor lizards, more than 700 rare terrapins, 44 civets and 20 snakes. The animals are protected by a convention on international trade in endangered species, called CITES, of which Thailand is a signatory. Chris Shepherd, the deputy Southeast Asian director from the animal welfare organisation Traffic says it's not a rare occurrence. *ABC

Toxic Birds

The hooting, squawking ibis that haunt rubbish bins and landfill sites are one of the best barometers of pollution, a detailed study of the toxic chemicals carried in their eggs has shown. Researchers from the University of NSW tested ibis eggs in 11 locations across eastern Australia and found that eggs in city-based nests carried seven to nine times as many artificial chemicals as those of country-dwelling birds. Traces of the synthetic pesticide dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, or DDT, were found in some eggs, indicating that the substance is still working its way through the food chain after being banned in Australia in 1987. A new batch of feathered sentinels ... Camila Ridoutt and Professor Richard Kingsford with ibis chicks at Centennial Park. Photo: Kate Geraghty 'The eggs get contaminated through the ibis parents' diets,'' said the study's author, Camila Ridoutt. ''The white ibis will be foraging in landfill sites, typically in urban areas, where they pick up a lot of pollutant levels from electrical products and old cooling agents that are left in the tip. Inland, their diets are more natural and they're feeding on worms and yabbies, so their pollution levels are typically lower.''

Ms Ridoutt gathered single eggs from clutches in Australian white ibis nests, froze them, and analysed the contents at the dioxin analysis unit of the National Measurement Institute. The Sydney samples, taken from Lake Gillawarna west of Bankstown, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Lake Annan in Camden, carried much higher readings for dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs - toxic compounds used in paint, adhesives and fire retardants - than eggs in country areas. However, chemical levels in cities were generally lower than levels revealed by similar tests in the United States and China. The director of the Australian Wetlands and Rivers Centre, Professor Richard Kingsford, said the presence of chemicals in bird eggs was a problem, because they would accumulate in species higher up the food chain, such as sea eagles, which eat ibises.

The presence of the bird all over eastern Australia meant it could play a ''canary in the coalmine'' role in detecting contamination. 'This is a species that occurs in all our capital cities, and so it's really a sort of sentinel on the background pollution that we're getting in our environment in our cities,'' Professor Kingsford said. ''But also we find the same species inland, so it's a great opportunity to standardise the species and look at city populations and compare those to inland populations. ''We did find one egg that had high levels inland, and that was in the Macquarie Marshes, which is of some concern. We did have a pesticide death in ibis populations in the mid 1990s, but we're really not sure what caused this.'' *Age

Fire Ants

The sky is an unlikely place to fight ground-based fire ants yet the Biosecurity Queensland are using helicopters to destroy the tiny pests. The chopper plan, which uses thermal imaging to detect hot ant nests, is aimed at wiping out the invaders. Biosecurity Queensland boffins have been working on the idea since 2009, which will be rolled out in rural and semi-rural areas such as south and west of Ipswich. Last year fire ants were found near Grandchester, about 80km west of where the first outbreak occurred at the Port of Brisbane in 2001. It puts them on the fringe of prime food production and grazing country, where they might get a chance to establish before being discovered. So far $215 million has been poured into eradicating the pests, small change compared with their estimated $43 billion impact on the economy. Agriculture Minister Tim Mulherin said the new helicopter-mounted cameras use thermal, near-infrared and high-definition imaging to detect ants' nests from about 150m. "Their nests are significantly hotter than the surrounding area, so they can be seen quite clearly with this new thermal technology," Mr Mulherin said.

"The (US) cameras arrived in Brisbane yesterday and were mounted on to a helicopter straight away." One chopper could check 750ha a day, much more than the department's foot-sloggers. Mr Mulherin said data was downloaded to a computer and ground crews despatched on a confirm-and-destroy mission. Test flights would be conducted over the next few weeks around Ipswich, an infested area. Results were expected next month. Biosecurity Queensland acting fire ant control centre director Craig Jennings said nests were still being found, mostly in an arc from the Redlands to the Lockyer Valley. Mr Jennings said an aerial baiting program would soon begin too. "They tend to move more in spring, especially after rain when there's a light breeze and humidity," he said. "Now's the time we will see them around, so we really need people to keep an eye out. "I firmly believe we can still eradicate them." About 560ha, particularly to the south and west of Brisbane, are infested with fire ants, and a total of 118,000ha in buffer zones - where plant and soil movements are restricted - surround these hot spots. *Courier Mail

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Wildlfie Bytes 9/9/11

Editorial; No Wildlife Bytes next week as we will be away.

Magpie to be Shot by Police

Police have been directed to shoot a magpie responsible for an attack on a schoolgirl. The magpie struck the girl on her head last week when she was in a nature corridor at Tweed Heads about 100km south of Brisbane. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services confirmed they gave the direction to police on Friday - a decision that satisifed the girl's father. Murwillumbah-based ranger Lance Tarvey said the father provided the department with enough evidence to warrant the magpie being destroyed. "The bird actually struck his daughter, but most birds don't actually strike. We try and work our way through and with most birds you can manage. There's many more aggressive magpies that we deal with that don't get to this point,'' he said. Magpies are protected, meaning it is illegal to kill them unless condoned by authorities. *SMH
Ed comment; Another native animal bites the dust, because its easier to kill them than live with them. And Micheal Beatty from the QRSPCA supported the kill, saying "sometimes these things are necessary......" However, public outrage has caused the Police to say they are not about shooting magpies, and Qld DERM have placed signs in the Park saying "beware of swooping birds". So far the magpie is safe.

Crocodiles

A giant saltwater crocodile weighing more than a tonne has been captured in a remote southern Philippine village following a series of attacks on humans and animals, officials said. Measuring 6.4m (21ft) and weighing 1,075kg (2,370lb), it is the biggest to be caught alive in the Philippines in recent years. It may also be the biggest specimen ever captured, officials said. Saltwater crocodiles can live for more than 100 years and grow to 23ft (7m). Josefina de Leon, wildlife division chief of the environment ministry's protected areas and wildlife bureau, said it was likely to be the biggest crocodile ever captured. "Based on existing records, the largest that had been captured previously was 5.48m (18ft) long," she told AFP. "This is the biggest animal that I've handled in 20 years of trapping." The hunt for the crocodile in the village of Bunawan began in mid-August and it took dozens of local men to secure its capture on Saturday. But crocodile hunter Rollie Sumiller, who led the hunt, said this reptile may not be the killer they have been looking for after at least one attack on a human was reported in the area. "We're not really sure if this is the man-eater, because there have been other sightings of other crocodiles in the area," he told AFP. The captured croc will now become the main attraction at a planned nature park in the area.
Saltwater crocodiles; Also known as the estuarine crocodile, it is the world's largest living croc It is capable of killing any animal or human that strays into its territory. Body length: usually 4.2m-4.8m (13.8ft-15.8ft), although specimens of over 7m (23ft) have been recorded. Weight: Male generally 408-520kg (900lb-1,140lb), but have been known to exceed 1,000kg (2,204lb). Life expectancy: They can live for more than 100 years. *BBC News

Become a Wildlife Warrior

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

Africa in Queensland

Crikey! It's as wild as life gets at Australia Zoo's new open-range exhibit - Africa! Opening these school holidays (17 September) you can see the only African multi species exhibit in Queensland. Step on board the FREE* African Safari Shuttle and explore the wide open plains of the African savannah and see exotic animals such as Giraffe, Rhino and Zebra interacting together - and marvel at our gorgeous Cheetah as they walk by. Taking visitors on a journey to the African Savannah, we will showcase the only active breeding group of Rhinos in Queensland - our first Rhino calf, Savannah, was born at Australia Zoo in April. Cheeky Savannah is no doubt the star attraction of Africa as she loves to run, jump and play with some of our other adult Southern White Rhinos and is well known for frolicking with her mum and running at top speed around the new exhibit!
Africa is right here in your own back yard. So come on - go WILD with us! Check out http://www.australiazoo.com.au/africa

Fraser Island

Jennifer Parkhurst has put together the following youtube presentations which we are sure you will find very informative.

Dingo slideshow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTs_R5AdenA

Video made by Max: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_v9v0O2lNI

Marine debris: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYKogBBukfk&feature=related

Marine debris: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9i9vAZnHo8&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Kangaroo Trade

Federal Trade Minister Craig Emerson says a deal to reopen the kangaroo meat trade to Russia is on the table. Russia banned kangaroo meat imports in mid-2009, saying it was concerned about contamination. During the Cairns Group meeting in Canada this week, Dr Emerson will meet the Russian Agriculture minister to discuss issues including the roo meat trade and Russia's impending membership of the World Trade Organisation. Dr Emerson says Russia has asked Australia to grant it 'market economy status' before it joins the WTO, which Australia will consider if Russia opens up its markets to kangaroo meat. "I have had discussions with the minister from Russia, we'll have further discussions this week," Dr Emerson said. "We've kind of agreed in principle and we've just got to make sure that we keep driving that through together." The Cairns Group includes 19 agricultural exporting countries committed to free trade, including Brazil, Malaysia, Chile, Argentina and Australia. *ABC

Rhinos

A South African game reserve has developed a treatment for rhino horns that is safe for the animals but causes convulsions and headaches to people who consume them, a wildlife group says. The potion is a mixture of drugs used to kill parasites on the rhinos, and includes a dye that turns even finely ground horns neon pink when seen by airport scanners, Rhino and Lion Reserve spokeswoman Lorinda Hern told national news agency SAPA. "The chemicals have the dual threat of keeping away both natural and human parasites ... and last for three to four years," she said. The treatment has been tested on rhinos at the park outside Johannesburg, she said. "A permanent solution would be to eliminate the demand for rhino horn altogether," Ms Hern said. Since the beginning of the year 279 rhinos had been killed for their horns at parks across the country, according to the national parks agency. Last month, the ministry of environmental affairs said it was investigating dehorning rhinos and stopping legal trophy hunts to fight poaching, which has seen the army being deployed to the Kruger National Park. Poaching has soared from just 13 cases in 2007, an increase powered by demand for rhino horns in Asian traditional medicine. "Education would go a long way towards teaching consumers that rhino horn contains no nutritional or medicinal value," she said. * AFP

Threatened Species

Stronger measures to protect endangered flora and fauna were called for yesterday on the anniversary of the demise of one of Tasmania's most recognisable species. It was National Threatened Species Day, first held in 1996 to commemorate the death of the last known thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger. Thylacines were hunted to extinction in the 1930s by farmers and bounty hunters but it was in captivity that the last known specimen died 75 years ago yesterday. The tiger, known commonly as Benjamin, died at Hobart's old Beaumaris Zoo. The anniversary of Benjamin's death prompted warnings from experts and advocates about how Tasmania dealt with threatened species. And it was on the site of Beaumaris Zoo where Benjamin died that hundreds of Tasmanians gathered yesterday to commemorate the extinct species. Naturalist and author John Dengate said more than 54 native Australian species had been wiped off the map, with more than 500 still endangered today. "Orange-bellied parrots are Tasmania's most endangered species and there are fewer than 200 left," he said. Landsdowne Crescent Primary School student Lousie Gillies, 11, said Tasmanians needed to meet the responsibility head on. She read a passionate poem she wrote about the demise of the thylacine, which she had researched heavily in school and in her own time. "We have already lost enough of our wildlife and it is so important that Tasmanians accept the responsibility of protecting all our surviving species," she said. Hobart City Council Alderman Jeff Briscoe, who organised yesterday's event, said the Beaumaris Zoo site was perfect for an education and protection centre, which could be called Thylacine Park. *Mercury

Unsustainable Fishing

A team of leading marine scientists from around the world is recommending an end to most commercial fishing in the deep sea, the Earth's largest ecosystem. Instead, they recommend fishing in more productive waters nearer to consumers. In a comprehensive analysis published online this week in the journal Marine Policy, marine ecologists, fisheries biologists, economists, mathematicians and international policy experts show that, with rare exceptions, deep-sea fisheries are unsustainable. The "Sustainability of deep-sea fisheries" study, funded mainly by the Lenfest Ocean Program, comes just before the UN decides whether to continue allowing deep-sea fishing in international waters, which the UN calls "high seas." *Read more; http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=69583010174

Flyinf Foxes

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) says tree branches in Gayndah's CBD, south-west of Bundaberg in the state's south, will start being lopped to try to move a large colony of flying foxes. Clive Cook from the Conservation Strategy Plan says they will start work with the North Burnett Regional Council from today to remove thousands of bats from the township. He says numbers have halved with many bats flying north for the summer. "If they've moved out of the tree and there's no flying foxes present, there's no reason why lopping or trimming of the trees couldn't take place," he said. "We are working with council to determine which trees they can get a start on." *ABC

Aboriginal Elders to Challenge Kangaroo Meat Industry

Last month, an alliance of Aboriginal elders announced their intention to bring a constitutional law challenge against Australia’s kangaroo industry. The announcement follows efforts by the Federal Government to export kangaroo meat to China and Russia. If eating kangaroos is good for Australia, why oppose it? The Australian Alliance for Native Animals Survival (AAFNAS) has written letters to the Chinese and Russian governments expressing their strong opposition to the proposed export of kangaroo meat to those countries. So why would Aboriginal elders oppose the kangaroo industry and the export of kangaroo meat? After all, Aboriginal Australians have been eating kangaroos for thousands of years. Moreover, the introduction of cattle and sheep for meat has caused irreparable damage to the Australian landscape. Wouldn’t it would be a good thing if we all started eating kangaroos? The AAFNAS sees things differently.

Uncle Eric Craigie, president of the AAFNAS, was quoted in the Fairfax media saying: “We have harvested animals but we have only ever taken what we needed. We are not into mass slaughter.” Uncle Eric – whose personal totem is the kangaroo – has pointed out that until now Aboriginal people have always focused on land rights. But Aboriginal people “have never ever spoken up for the animals in this country”. AAFNAS is changing that. It has established itself as “a group of First Peoples with representatives from all over Australia”. AAFNAS is “an independent community-based educational association that … advocates for animals and cares for country”. Too many, and too much cruelty. So what’s the big deal over the kangaroo industry?

The industry represents the largest commercial slaughter of land-based wildlife in the world, with around 3 million adult kangaroos and 855,000 joeys killed every year. By contrast, Aboriginal people only killed kangaroos on a subsistence basis for their family and tribe. The kangaroos are wild (not farmed) and are hunted at night by professional, licensed shooters in remote parts of Australia’s rangelands. The industry is regulated by a National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos (Commercial Purposes) – known as the “Code”. Yet there is virtually no monitoring of killing in the field. Given the field conditions of the killing – it happens in extremely remote locations – it would be virtually impossible to do so. The Code itself legalises cruelty to kangaroos, particularly with regard to joeys. The Code treats them as a waste product of the industry. If a female kangaroo is killed, the shooter is required to kill any dependent young. This may include pouch young and young “at foot”. Both are dependent on their mother for survival.

The Code’s recommended method for killing furred pouch young is euthanasia by a single “forceful blow to the base of the skull sufficient to destroy the functional capacity of the brain”. Shooters are legally able to crush the heads of joeys with a steel water pipe or even the towbar of a vehicle. Such practices would be considered clear breaches of anti-cruelty laws if committed against a range of other animals. The Australian Wildlife Protection Council has compared the cruelty suffered by these joeys to that experienced by Canadian harp seals and by whales. Australia has condemned the cruelty inflicted upon whales by the whaling industry, yet has failed to critically examine the cruelty inflicted by its own kangaroo industry.

Concerns about cleanliness In spite of this cruelty, Australia is trying to export kangaroo meat into Russia and China, lured by the attraction of growing markets and, of course, profits. Russia previously bought 70% of all kangaroo meat exported from Australia yet suspended imports in August 2009. Russia cited dangerous levels of salmonella and E. coli in kangaroo meat. Former NSW chief food inspector, Desmond Sibraa, blamed a lack of industry care in adhering to Australian standards: “There is a big difference between animals slaughtered in an abattoir with an inspector present, and a kangaroo shot in the bush with dust and blowflies.” The industry itself has shrunk considerably over the past few years. In 2005, the kangaroo industry estimated its worth to the Australian economy at $200 million, providing approximately 4000 jobs. However, recent, low revenues of $50 million for 2008/2009 (for meat, pet food and skins) suggest that this estimate is currently over-valued. It is not yet clear on what grounds the AAFNAS will challenge the kangaroo industry. However they are likely to draw upon the fact that Australian governments have failed to consult Aboriginal people about what happens to kangaroos. * Keely Boom, The Conversation

Monday, September 5, 2011

Wildlife Bytes 6/9/11

Pet Foxes

Animal shelters will be placed under further pressure if the importation of silver foxes as an exotic domestic pet is permitted, the RSPCA has warned. There are more than 30 million feral red foxes in Australia and the RSPCA has joined a chorus of criticism of an application to the federal government to import silver foxes. ''The rationale for importing the silver fox to Australia is simple: a new sort of unique pet. Foxes can have all the friendliness of a dog with the independence of a cat. Like a dog is not a wolf, the silver fox is not a wild fox, though they are the same species,'' the application from an unnamed person in NSW says. RSPCA chief scientist Bidda Jones said silver foxes are the same species as the red fox, which is a major pest, and when undomesticated breeds like foxes or dingoes are kept as pets people tend to have problems. 'Keeping or breeding wild animal crosses like foxes or dingoes is problematic. These animals add another burden to animal shelters as well as being a risk to native species'' Dr Jones said.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said legal issues on the application would be presented to him in a few weeks. ''At first glance it seems insane,'' Mr Burke said. Victorian Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said the government would oppose any move to import fox species into Australia. He said foxes already cost Victoria $39 million annually. "Importing Patterson's curse, rabbits and the red fox all sounded like a great idea at the time but now they have become a rod for our backs,'' Mr Walsh said. A bounty on foxes and wild dogs will be introduced next month to reduce numbers. The National Farmers Federation and the Coalition have labelled the application and its consideration, as ''political correctness gone mad.'' 'Foxes are not pets, they're predators. We are calling on the government to reject this application outright," NFF president Jock Laurie said. * The Age

New Kangaroo Book

Kangaroo Footprints, an information and activity book by Margaret Warner for children aged 7 to 12 is now available. It's a 75 page activity book that encourages children to develop an understanding and appreciation of Australia's unique kangaroos. It explains how and where different species of kangaroos live, how they care for their young, the threats that they face and much more information. Each double page combines an information page with a fun activity page. Activities include word searches, poems, drawing, colouring, magic squares, crosswords, origami, designing a poster and more. The book is designed for children to use on their own, or for teachers to use with a class as all page are photocopy masters. It could also be used by wildlife carers visiting schools or doing community talks. Kangaroo Footprints can be ordered from the Kangaroo Book page on the website www.kangaroofootprints.com.au Postage is free in Australia and $10.00 for overseas (usually this is $15.00) Both the book and website have been designed as a resource to encourage children (and adults) to learn about and appreciate Australia's unique and beautiful kangaroos and wallabies. *

Fraser Island Dingoes

Here is a very well-compiled story of events about Jennifer Parkhurst and what happened to her after she began observing the Fraser Island Dingo.
http://www.ecovoice.com.au/eco-news/5600-naibar-wongari-yeeran-our-sister-dingo-woman

Green Politics

Environmentalist Bob Irwin will not contest the seat of Ashgrove at the next Queensland election. The father of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin had been considering running for the Queensland Party in the west Brisbane seat, which is being contested by Liberal National Party Leader Campbell Newman and former environment minister Kate Jones. Mr Irwin says he has decided he can better advance the environmental cause from outside politics. "The most important consideration is for the animals that I try very hard to protect," he told ABC Radio on Monday. "If I have the added responsibility of being a political type person I just very well may let my animal friends down." Mr Irwin said he worried he didn't have the political skills needed to represent the people of Ashgrove. *Courier Mail Ed Comment; Good decision Bob.

Kangaroo Doco

For those who havent yet seen last years NZ 60 minutes program on the Kangaroo Kill, its here .. http://www.3news.co.nz/Bloody-Harvest-/tabid/371/articleID/130448/Default.aspx

Opposums

Heidi the cross-eyed opossum is being put into retirement at the ripe old age of three-and-a-half to save her from the stress of her celebrity lifestyle. The mad-eyed marsupial became a worldwide sensation from her enclosure at Leipzig Zoo, Germany, when pictures of her appeared on the internet. Hundreds of thousands signed up to become her Facebook friends and she even had a stint at co-hosting an Oscars show in a live TV link-up with Hollywood. Now keepers say she must withdraw from public life so she can enjoy what's left of her life in peace and quiet. "Opossums in the wild live for three years at the most but in captivity in the right conditions Heidi could make it to five," explained one keeper. Zoo spokesman Fabian Schmidt explained: "Heidi's lifestyle could have contributed to her problems so we have put her into retirement." Heidi is even to be separated from her breeding partner Teddy to save her from being bothered. "We do not want to give her any added stress. Due to her advancing age there were only very slim chances of offspring anyway and that chance has now passed," said Mr Schmidt. * Orange.co.uk

New Shark Species Found

It's unlikely anyone's ever complained, "Waiter, there's a new species in my soup." But the situation isn't as rare as you might think. A monkey, a lizard, and an "extinct" bird have all been discovered en route to the dinner plate, and now a new shark species joins their ranks, scientists report. Fish taxonomists found the previously unknown shark at a market in Taiwan—no big surprise, according to study co-author William White. "Most fish markets in the region will regularly contain sharks," White, of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Hobart, Australia, said via email. In fact, he and a colleague had headed to the Tashi Fish Market specifically to "collect some material and to see whether there were noticeable differences in the [shark] catches from previous decades," he said. "Amongst a number of other species, we collected a number of Squalus species—one of which was this new high-fin species." The new species, Squalus formosus, is a three-foot-long (one-meter-long) short-nosed dogfish. It's distinguished from other dogfish species in the Squalus genus by a particularly upright first fin on its back, a strong spine, and a very short, rounded head, White said. *U/W Times

Turtle Deaths

An environmentalist says the Queensland Government is underestimating the seriousness of green turtle deaths in Queensland. Environment Minister Vicky Darling says she is concerned more than 150 of the animals have washed up in Gladstone but that it would take the deaths of thousands before the entire species came under threat. However, Tim Harvey from the Sea Turtle Foundation says the turtles' future is uncertain. "We think it may take the deaths of quite a lot of turtles but the fact is a lot of turtles are actually dying," he said. "So we think she has not necessarily got her figures wrong but her interpretation is wrong." *ABC

Crocdiles

Northern Territory rangers have removed a large saltwater crocodile from a trap near Katherine. The 3.9-metre croc was found at Donkey Camp on the Katherine River on Monday. Earlier this year, a 4.6-metre saltie was caught in the same trap. More than 180 crocodiles have been caught by rangers so far this year. Parks and Wildlife Service senior ranger John Burke says the trap at Donkey Camp is located 15 kilometres upstream from the Katherine and 10 kilometres downstream from Nitmiluk National Park. "We think this crocodile has been in the area for a while but has evaded our traps until now, as crocodiles are usually less active during the colder months," he said. "As the weather heats up and temperatures rise, crocodiles become more active and more likely to move around looking for food. "This is another reminder to people to be extremely cautious about any waterways in the Top End, because estuarine crocodiles can and do move around throughout the year." *ABC

Snow Leopards Found

The Wildlife Conservation Society has discovered a surprisingly healthy population of rare snow leopards living in the mountainous reaches of north-eastern Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor, according to a new study.
The discovery gives hope to the world's most elusive big cat, which calls home to some of the world's tallest mountains. Between 4,500 and 7,500 snow leopards remain in the wild scattered across a dozen countries in Central Asia. WCS-trained community rangers used camera traps to document the presence of snow leopards at 16 different locations across a wide landscape. The images represent the first camera trap records of snow leopards in Afghanistan. WCS has been conserving wildlife and improving local livelihoods in the region since 2006 with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). "This is a wonderful discovery - it shows that there is real hope for snow leopards in Afghanistan," said Peter Zahler, WCS Deputy Director for Asia Programs. "Now our goal is to ensure that these magnificent animals have a secure future as a key part of Afghanistan's natural heritage." Wildlfie Extra

Koalas

A koala with a baby has been hit by car at Petrie in Queensland and transported to the Wildlife Hospital. Sadly the Mum was euthanised, but the baby Rupert has been adopted by another koala in care. Amazingly, Rupert has been ‘adopted’ by Augustine, a female koala with a joey of her own, named Gus, who are also currently in care at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Rupert and his adopted brother Gus will remain with Augustine throughout her treatment, and the three of them will be released together back into the wild once both joeys are weaned. AZWH Statistic: Over 70 orphaned koalas have arrived at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital so far this year, with many more to come as we head into spring. *

Fraser Island Dingoes

The LNP recognises the Fraser Island Dingo as an integral part of the distinctive ecology that makes the Fraser Island World Heritage Area unique. The Fraser Island Dingo is believed to be the purest strain of dingo remaining in Australia. Dingoes were once common on Fraser Island, but concerned locals report rapidly decreasing numbers. The management of Fraser Island’s iconic dingo population by the Bligh Labor government has raised serious questions about the preservation of the dingoes and the ability to ensure the safety of visitors to the Island experiencing this unique world-class destination. In recognition of the divergent views on the
management of dingoes on Fraser Island the LNP will conduct a full and scientific review of the Fraser Island Dingo Management Strategy. The current situation is not going away and Labor’s inaction to resolve it is
unacceptable. The LNP will use this review to provide greater certainty as well as a science based approach to ensuring the sustainability of this dingo population and its ongoing interaction with tourists who visit the island. A strategy that is too insular and not open to broader scientific debate could spell disaster for this iconic species. The LNP’s ambition is to manage a healthy and sustainable wild population of dingoes on Fraser Island while ensuring Fraser Island once again fulfils its potential as a sustainable tourism destination in this spectacular World Heritage Area. This Labor Government has focused on green party politics that come from dodgy Green Party preferences instead of on genuine environmental outcomes. The LNP will plan and deliver a sustainable future for Fraser Island and its dingoes. www.lnp.org.au *LNP Policy Commitment

Rhinos

Two Australians have been arrested for allegedly attempting to fly out of Portugal with six rhino horns valued at $538,000 in their luggage. The arrests last week came after a spate of rhino horn thefts from European museums this year. Police inspector Rui Almeida said the men are suspected of belonging to an international ring involved in the illegal trade of rhino horns to China. "We have indications they were not acting alone," Almeida told AP by phone. He declined to elaborate because foreign police forces, as well as Europol and Interpol, are continuing the investigation. He said "dozens" of European museums have reported the theft of the horns in recent months, including the Museum of Natural History at the University of Coimbra, in central Portugal, in April. Authorities say the horns, purported to have aphrodisiac and medicinal qualities, are more valuable than gold on the black market.

Rising demand, especially in Asia, and a crackdown on the illegal trade have made them extremely valuable. Rhino horn is commonly used in powdered form by people who believe they can help cure serious diseases, or boost sexual prowess. Rhino conservation activists dispute those claims. Almeida said the Australian men - a father and son, aged 63 and 31 - are not suspects in the University of Coimbra theft. He said those horns are still missing. Europol and Interpol are helping Portuguese authorities investigate where the six seized horns came from. Almeida said the men were intending to catch a plane to Ireland when they were detained and did not resist arrest. They cannot be named under Portuguese law. They appeared before a judge last week but were released on bail because smuggling carries a maximum jail term of five years and suspects can be held in jail awaiting trial only if the maximum sentence is longer than that. * WA News. Meanwhile South Africa has lost at least 193 rhinos during the first six months of 2011 with Kruger National Park continuing to be hardest hit. The world famous safari destination has already lost 126 rhinos to poaching this year in addition to 146 killed there in 2010. *

Butterflies

A stunning butterfly that emerged from its chrysalis as male on one side, female on the other, has astounded curators at the Natural History Museum in London. The peculiar nature of the freshly hatched great mormon butterfly was spotted when staff noticed a striking difference between its wing colourings and other features. The insect, which has a 10cm wingspan, is almost black on its male side, but the female side is much paler, with clearly visible flecks of blue, red and tortoiseshell. A closer inspection revealed the insect to have one antenna longer than the other, a single male clasp on its abdomen, and male and female reproductive organs that had fused down the middle. The butterfly hatched two weeks ago during the Sensational Butterflies exhibition that runs at the museum until September. "It's an amazing butterfly. The split is purely bilateral – even the colour of one side of its body is slightly different," said Luke Brown, manager of Sensational Butterflies. "It has half-male, half-female sexual organs welded together. So they don't work, it is infertile."

Insects can be born gynandromorphs – with male and female cells – when sex chromosomes fail properly to separate when the fertilised egg divides. Around one in ten thousand butterflies is a gynandromorph. Many dual-sex butterflies probably go unnoticed, because the males and females look alike. Brown, who has seen only two other gynandromorphs in his career, said the butterfly was feeding and flying well, and was expected to have a normal life expectancy of around one month. The specimen will become part of the museum's lepidoptera collection. In 2008, a half-male, half-female moth emerged at the museum. The insect had one bright yellow wing and another that looked brown and dusty. Crabs and lobsters can also be gynandromorphs. Blanca Huertas, curator of butterflies at the museum, said: "The gynandromorph butterfly is a fascinating scientific phenomenon, and is the product of complex evolutionary processes. It is fantastic to have discovered one hatching on museum grounds, particularly as they are so rare.' *Guardian


Flying Foxes

The Gayndah community is sharpening its chainsaws as it waits for the green light from government to move in and dispel a large bat colony on the banks of the Burnett River that has made life for some unliveable and cost local business thousands of dollars. North Burnett Council Mayor Joy Jensen revealed that volunteers, including the SES, with the appropriate tickets and safety training, would work side by side with council operatives in a three-week purge of bats that is estimated will cost about $150,000. The principal strategy aims to lop tree branches and reduce habitat, forcing the bats to seek shelter elsewhere. Asked if the North Burnett Council was acting responsibly toward adjoining councils by moving the bat colony knowing that it may end up in one of them, Cr Jensen said: "No one in Gayndah is a redneck, we appreciate the natural world but we have to be able to manage these bat populations. "They (Department of Resource and Environment Management and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) know all about the bats, have all the expertise, and manage the process and the research.";

Cr Jensen said there were reports that the bat colony had already started to dwindle, with numbers now estimated to have dropped to about 200,000. On August 11, DERM announced it had authorised the council to displace the bat colony and expected the operation to take place sometime in September after newborn bats would be learning how to fly. Cr Jensen said the council had called a meeting for tomorrow night in the Gayndah Town Hall to provide residents with the latest information. She said DERM had still to fix a date for action but were monitoring the situation. If the dispersal of the colony is successful, Gayndah residents will see the end of a bat invasion that has rendered life difficult for many living close to the river where the smell from the roosting bats is overpowering. It will also allow the Gayndah economy to fight back as businesses near the colony have lost thousands as people spend their money where the air is cleaner. The colony is located along the banks of the Burnett River in a strip of scrub estimated to be about 500m long and 50m deep.
* Fraser Coast Chronicle


The Queensland Government has initiated an online Flying foxes and Hendra virus - online information session. The live forum on Friday 23 September from 12:00 – 1:30 pm will be an online panel discussion to provide the public and industry stakeholders with expert advice on flying foxes and Hendra virus. The panel of experts will include: Department of Environment and Resource Management’s Senior Director - Clive Cook Queensland Health’s Acting Chief Health Officer - Dr Michael Cleary, Biosecurity Queensland’s Chief Veterinary Officer – Dr Rick Symons, Biosecurity Queensland’s Principal Scientist – Dr Hume Field. An independent moderator will host the forum and provide questions to the panel for a discussion on Hendra virus, flying foxes and human health. You can submit your questions to the panel online at http://www.qld.gov.au/flyingfoxforum. Submit your questions anytime from now until the question deadline - 5.00pm Tuesday 20 September 2011. Not all questions will be put to the panel due to time restrictions.
An independent moderator will select all questions to put to the panel. The forum will be filmed and streamed live online - you can watch via www.qld.gov.au/flyingfoxforum, the Biosecurity Queensland Facebook page or the DERM Facebook page. Further information and the opportunity to submit questions are available via http://www.premiers.qld.gov.au/government/flying-foxes.aspx Key dates and times are...submit questions online at anytime prior to 5.00pm Tuesday 20 September 2011 http://www.premiers.qld.gov.au/government/flying-foxes.aspx watch live online on Friday 23 September from 12:00 – 1:30 pm

Kangaroos

The relocation of kangaroos from Meadow Springs cannot come soon enough for resident Sam McDonald. He said the kangaroos were safe in the Meadow Springs Golf and Country Club, but they were getting out through a damaged fence in Bellavista Parade and subsequently chased by hoons or tormented by thugs. “One night, I had to intervene when half a dozen teenagers were terrorising about seven to eight kangaroos,” he said. “They were throwing rocks at them and chasing them with sticks.” Mr McDonald also fears for the safety of children in the neighbourhood. He said the bucks could be very dangerous when the does had joeys.
in an effort to keep the kangaroos safe, Mr McDonald contacted the golf course and City of Mandurah about the fence he claims is in a state of disrepair. Course superintendent Greg Simmonds said the fence had been an ongoing problem for residents, but it was not owned by the golf course. A City of Mandurah spokesman said a section of the fence was fixed eight months ago after Mr McDonald called. The Department of Environment and Conservation, council and developers are in the process developing a management plan for the kangaroos in Meadow Springs. *Mandura Coastal Times

The New South Wales Department of Industry and Investment says it is researching how to better manage young kangaroos that may become orphaned because of commercial harvesting. Department researcher Steve McLeod says management is justified in the far west where kangaroos are affecting valuable resources like sheep grazing areas, but an assessment of what happens to their young is needed. "Because they harvest at night and the young at foot might not be close to a mother that's shot they sometimes might not get seen," he said. "We don't know the extent of that problem and we don't know what actually happens to those young." The department says if done properly, current kangaroo management practices still remain the most humane way of harvesting the animal. *ABC


A female kangaroo's reign of terror at one of Australia's most exclusive golf courses is over, but not before she had attacked nine people and put two in hospital. Sanctuary Cove is arguably Australia's most prestigious residential golf community, set up by legendary property developer Mike Gore in the 1980s and famously opened in an extravaganza headlined by Frank Sinatra. It is also one of the most difficult places to get a tee time on the Gold Coast. Membership to the country club, that boasts two 18-hole layouts, is hugely expensive and used to be the only way to get a game. Recently the club opened up both courses to green fee players, but in the past few weeks as rumour of the angry roo grew, very few players were willing to stump up the $150 for a hit. Why? Well enter an angry female roo, who first attacked two course greenkeepers but in the days that followed, turned her attention to golfers as well.

In one incident, she menaced a foursome of Japanese golfers. When curiosity got the better of the visitors, she attacked two of them - a completely different souvenir from their trip Down Under. At first, club management in consultation with the RSPCA took the step of spray painting the roo's head blue, to make her stand out from the mob that inhabits the course - bringing with her moniker Blue Head. It's understood that there was also the threat of a $250,000 fine from the Queensland Department of Environment if the roo was injured or killed. At first, staff would warn golfers heading out to keep an eye out for her, and not to approach her under any circumstances. But in all, Blue Head got her claws on seven golfers as well as two staff. Even the burly men of the Scottish rugby union team - who are completing the World Cup preparations on the Gold Coast - were affected. "Been told to keep eyes peeled for Roo with blue paint on its head. Not so friendly & loves a scrap. Told this after golf. Thru unscathed," Scottish player Rory Lawson (@rorylawson9) tweeted after a round at the Palms course on Tuesday afternoon.

Later, he added: "Not keen on fighting "blue head" the rogue marsupial!" But by late last week, the club's accredited veterinarian had been called in to sort out the problem. Blue Head was shot with a tranquiliser dart and moved off the property. "The animal had been harassing some golf members and we felt it needed to be removed," a club spokesman The Courier Mail on the weekend. "We were very conscious that it be relocated and not destroyed, so it was moved to a new home." The gated community and golf course, is also a native sanctuary, is very proud of its native flora and fauna, boasting on its website: "One can only appreciate the beauty and tranquility that the wildlife instill after witnessing a flock of corellas in flight late afternoon or a group of kangaroos basking in the early morning sunlight." With the removal of Blue Head, residents will once against be able to do exactly that. A spokesman for the Department of Environment and Resource Management told The Courier Mail the department had been contacted by the club's veterinarian, who told them the kangaroo was sick or injured and needed to be relocated. The spokesman said DERM was satisfied with how the incident was handled. *Telegraph


A driver had a lucky escape after a kangaroo smashed through his windscreen and into the passenger seat, in Melbourne's east last night. Paramedic Gary Becker said the 23-year-old man was quite distressed after the 120kg, 183cm grey kangaroo launched through his windscreen on Boronia Road, Wantirna about 6pm. Mr Becker said a split second difference in impact could’ve seen the lone driver killed. "I suspect that if the roo had hit a passenger or if there had been a micro-second difference and the roo had have come through and hit the driver, we would’ve been dealing with a potentially a very critically unwell patient, and it may well had have even killed someone if it had have hit them, yes,” Mr Becker said. The man told paramedics that he was driving down Boronia Road when the kangaroo appeared suddenly in front of him, came straight across the road and into his windscreen. He suffered only minor cuts and abrasions and only the windscreen of the car was damaged. Mr Becker said that after treating the man, paramedics were surprised to see a large kangaroo sitting in the front seat. “I think he was wondering what was happened and I’m not sure who was more shocked, us or him,” Mr Becker said. The kangaroo was injured and was euthanased at the scene by wildlife officers. *News.com.au

Bandicoots

The chances of survival for Victoria’s critically endangered Eastern Barred Bandicoot (EBB) have been greatly lifted after today’s launch of the EBB Population Revival Program at Woodlands Historic Park Project. Headed by Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) in partnership with Parks Victoria, the launch showcased the 300-plus hectare nature reserve that will provide a safe habitat for the reintroduced bandicoots. Considered to be essentially extinct in the wild of Victoria, the Woodlands Historic Park reserve will provide one of only four reserves dedicated to the reintroduction of EBB’s in Victoria. First introduced for the EBB in 1989, the Woodlands reserve was successful in protection and growth of the species until the mid to late 1990s, where drought and fox predation saw a sharp decline in EBB population. A change to the obsolete and inadequate fencing surrounding the reserve is the key to ensuring the survival of the reintroduced species.

“We are amending the existing fence and improving its predator resistance with the floppy top design to stop predators from climbing over into the bandicoot’s habitat”, stated Travis Scicchitano, project officer of the CVA. Richard Hill, a senior biodiversity officer from the Department of Sustainability and Environment, offered his expertise on the new fencing design during a tour of the reserve. Mr Hill stated that the new fence has been tested extensively and proven to be extremely effective in keeping out predators at other reserves. Furthermore, Mr Hill stated that two full patrols of the 300ha reserve will be required weekly to identify any weakening or breaks in the fencing due to persistent, repeated encounters with predators looking to enter the reserve. Mr Hill is hopeful of the Woodlands Historic Park reserve being fox-free by Autumn 2012.

Speakers at the launch highlighted the importance of volunteer work in the development and maintenance required for the reserve to be a success. Each year, over 12,000 volunteers donate their time and efforts to the Conservation Volunteers organisation and their projects. Corporate sponsors including Kraft foods, Little Creatures Brewing and Parsons Brinckerhoff contribute funds directly to Conservation Volunteers and all funds received by the organisation go towards wildlife and on ground work. Colin Jackson, the Chief Executive Officer of Conservation Volunteers, was on hand at the launch and stated that the large number of people who made the effort to attend “exceeded what was expected” and made the event “very special”. Other speakers at the launch included, Gerry Morvell, Chairman of the Board, Conservation Volunteers AUS and NZ; Phil Ross, Chief Ranger for Northern Melbourne; Patrick O’Callaghan, Executive Director at Conservation Enterprises Unlimited; Travis Scicchitano, Australia project officer of Conservation Volunteers. *EcoNews

Elephants

There is one elephant for every 3,300 persons in Sri Lanka The numbers are out - there are 5,879 wild elephants including 1,107 babies in the country, the first-ever National Survey of jumbos has found. This figure is more or less correct, but you cannot count elephants siyayata siyayak (100%) like you would do in a population census where you go and knock on doors, Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S.M. Chandrasena told a crowded press conference on Friday at the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) at Battaramulla. Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation H.D. Ratnayake (R) hands over the report of the First National Survey of Elephants to Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife S.M. Chandrasena . Pix by M.A. Pashpa Kumara Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife S.M. Chandrasena shows the country map marked with the elephant quantity made from the detail collected from the First National Survey of Elephants on a provincial basis. The initial results are being released due to media requests from the time the survey was conducted from August 11-14, DWC Director-General H.D. Ratnayake said.

Media focus on the elephant survey heightened after Minister Chandrasena got embroiled in a controversy over alleged remarks, denied later, that the survey would help identify 300 baby tuskers for capture and domestication for use in peraheras. This resulted in most conservation groups which had agreed to extend their support in the counting pulling out. Referring to the controversy, Minister Chandrasena said on Friday that he loved elephants and will not allow the capture of tuskers from the wild. He would also never break the law which clearly prohibited such action. Among the wild elephants are 122 tuskers, the survey costing Rs. 23 million conducted in six of seven "wildlife regions" which comprise elephant habitat, has found. The number of baby tuskers found in the wild has not been specified yet. The survey used the "water-hole count method", a technique heavily questioned by many scientists and given up as unreliable in other countries. *

Cane Toads

Cane toads may one day be controlled using chemicals secreted by their offspring, new research has found. Scientists who exposed cane toad eggs to chemical “cues” from cane toad tadpoles, found that after the eggs hatched their larvae's growth was retarded by as much as half. They attributed the findings to natural selection, in which older tadpoles seek to destroy eggs in order to reduce competition. Richard Shine, professor of evolutionary biology at The University of Sydney and one of the researchers, said the next step would be to isolate the chemical responsible and find a way of distributing it safely. “You get that lovely night with a thunderstorm and every cane toad and its mate decide to lay eggs in the pond at the bottom of the garden - this could certainly reduce the number of cane toads that emerge from the pond several months later,” he said.

Professor Shine said cane toads had probably spent millions of years evolving. “If you wanted to design a perfect, silver bullet for invasive-species control, it would be something like this,” he said. “The eggs hatch but the larvae are small, and aren't likely to survive.” Professor Shine said a key benefit of the discovery was that Australian native frog species appeared to be unaffected. “Cane toads produce lots of chemicals that they use to connect with each other, and so far they don't seem to affect native frogs,” he said. However, he said it was critical to confirm Australian wildlife were unharmed before releasing any chemicals into the wild. The example of the cane toad itself tells us exactly what can happen when people decide they know enough to interfere with complex ecosystems,” he said. Cane toads, which are a highly toxic species native to South America, were first introduced into Australia in 1935 as a means of controlling cane beetles. Unfortunately, they proved ineffective, instead wreaking havoc with native wildlife across Australia's north-east. The research was published in Biology Letters this week. *

Cockatoos under Fire

Residents have tried everything to get rid of them: flashing lights, rubber snakes, spikes on sills, mirrors on windows, chilli oil on woodwork, even lying in wait with hoses or water pistols. But the sulphur-crested cockatoos of Potts Point, which have caused more than $40,000 in damage to one building alone, are absolutely incorrigible, say infuriated residents, whose plan for a cull is stuck in bureaucratic limbo. Many of the homes affected are in heritage-listed, art-deco buildings, with wooden windowframes eaten through by the birds. At Kingsclere, a 1912 building on Macleay Street, cockatoos have destroyed slate roof tiles, causing them to drop seven storeys to the street. The birds have also caused damage to Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay apartment buildings Werrington, Ikon, Villard, Byron Hall, Tara and the Devere Hotel, where a neon sign fell after cockatoo sabotage. Frustrated Kingsclere residents have applied to the National Parks and Wildlife Service for a licence to kill cockatoos. Asked how many birds would need to be culled to fix the problem, Kingsclere resident David Crompton said: ''I don't know. But it seems the same five or six keep coming.''

He conceded that more birds may return after a cull, but said it would at least halt the damage for a while. National Parks officers confirmed the damage and the public risk it posed, leaving residents optimistic of a solution. But the City of Sydney objected to a cull and suggested a trial of a shocktrack system, a non-lethal deterrent used successfully at Cook + Phillip Pool and Woolloomooloo wharves. 'Shocktrack is a thin plastic tape that can be easily adhered to windowsills … it puts a non-lethal shock through and the birds don't come back,'' Greens councillor Irene Doutney said. A cull of the native birds would be ''tragic'', she said. She was also concerned about safety risks, and the risk of domestic pets eating the poisoned carcasses. A petition to save the Potts Point cockatoos has gathered more than 500 signatures. ''The owners seemed to have made their minds up … that they wanted the birds killed,'' Cr Doutney said.

The shocktrack was not an option at this stage, a National Parks spokeswoman said, adding that a cull was a last resort. ''The NPWS and City of Sydney are exploring all the options available and are committed to working with the building owners to implement a management strategy to protect the safety of the public and property in the most humane way," she said. ''Meanwhile, we wait and get chewed to bits,'' Mr Crompton lamented. *Age

White Shark Numbers Disputed

The head of WA's shark fishing industry body says great white numbers have increased significantly since a ban on hunting them was imposed in the 1990s. As the Department of Fisheries revealed that a trial monitoring program had found no tagged white pointers near Perth in a year, the WA Shark Fishers' Association said there was "no doubt" the species' numbers were on the rise. Association president Neville Manstedsaid there was strong anecdotal evidence among the members that the population of white pointers had rebounded in the past 12 years. A veteran professional fisher with more than four decades experience, Mr Mansted said the change seemed most pronounced in waters off the State's south and southwest. He said the situation had become so disconcerting that he was now reluctant to go surfing at all, let alone by himself, in his home town of Esperance. "There's no doubt the population of the white pointer is a lot greater than anybody lets on," he said.

In a swipe at authorities, Mr Mansted said he could not understand why rangers invariably declined to hunt down and kill white pointers responsible for often-fatal attacks on humans. But Mr Mansted's claims were disputed by scientists, who said there was no quantifiable evidence to indicate whether recent attacks were linked to increased shark numbers or more human interaction with the ocean. The fisheries department said a $500,000 trial to track the movements of great white sharks in WA waters had painted the picture of an elusive creature whose travelling patterns were hard to predict. Electronic data from more than 100 white pointers tagged in waters off the Neptune Islands in South Australia in 2009 and another 12 in WA waters has revealed none of the sharks had ventured near the 20 "receiver" sites located off Perth beaches in the past year. Rory McAuley, a shark research scientist with the department, said the trial only reiterated how difficult it was to track and understand the behaviour and movements of great white sharks. Australian Institute of Marine Science researcher Mark Meekan said white pointers matured so slowly it was "biologically impossible for a population outburst". WA news

Whales

A Hong Kong theme park has dropped a contentious plan to buy and import rare wild-caught beluga whales, in a decision lauded Friday by conservationists who had protested against the bid. Activists opposed Ocean Park's plan to import the whales, classified as "near threatened", from Russia, saying they are often injured or killed during capture and mortality rates are high among those in captivity. The park had wanted to use the belugas, usually found around the Arctic circle, to raise public awareness of climate change through its new Polar Adventure attraction to open next year. "After due consideration, we have decided not to pursue an acquisition from the wild even though the removal of some beluga whales has been shown to be sustainable," Allan Zeman, Ocean Park's chairman, said in a statement. The popular 34-year-old theme park and aquarium is owned by the Hong Kong government and has set out ambitious plans to boost visitors. The park recorded five million tourists last year. The beluga, or white whale, is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) "red list" of "near threatened" species, while the US and Canada have effectively banned the whales' capture from their waters.

"The park did the right thing. We certainly welcome the decision," Samuel Hung, chairman of the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, told AFP. "It's not right to confine a large intelligent mammal inside a tank, this is harming their chance of survival and send a wrong message to the public -- that whenever we need them for entertainment purpose, we can go out to catch them." The park has previously come under the spotlight over its conservation and protection of rare animals. Last year, Washington-based Animal Welfare Institute has said Ocean Park was trying to capture some 30 dolphins in the Soloman Islands, possibly in breach of animal conservation rules -- a claim which was later rejected by the park. Any dolphin imports from the cluster of islands near Papua New Guinea would breach the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In 2009, three rare sturgeon -- which were among a group of 10 sturgeon donated to the theme park to mark China's hosting of the Olympics in 2008 -- died in the park. The endangered fish died because of different reasons including head injury, blood clotting, infection while one was killed by a bite from barracuda in the aquarium. Outside the park, conservation groups such as the WWF have consistently appealed to restaurants in Hong Kong -- the largest importer of shark fin globally in 2007 -- to stop using the fins in the popular soup delicacy. Scientists blame the practice of shark-finning for a worldwide collapse in shark populations. *U/W Times