Monday, December 19, 2011

Wildlfie Bytes 20/12/11

Whaling

In an odd twist, an American law firm that prides itself on supporting a local no-kill animal shelter has decided to represent the Japanese whaling fleet in their lawsuit against the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Miller Nash, with offices based in Portland and Seattle, will act on behalf of The Institute of Cetacean Research to seek a court order against the Sea Shepherd to prevent them from “engaging in activities at sea that could cause injuries to the crews and damage to the vessels.” SSCS founder Paul Watson dismissed the suit, calling the allegations just another form of harassment. “I don’t believe they have a case and I doubt a U.S. court would take this seriously,” he said in an earlier statement. “Unlike Japan, the courts in the United States don’t automatically do what the government demands that they do.” *Ecorazzi


Environmentalists Monday called on Yahoo! Japan to ban all sales of whale, dolphin and porpoise products on their fee based Store and Auction sites after discovering that whale products sold via the Yahoo! Japan sites were contaminated with toxic mercury pollution. Mercury can cause brain and neurological damage in humans. The Environmental Investigation Agency, a non-profit environmental group based in Washington and London released new results of eight whale products purchased recently from Yahoo! Japan Store sites and tested by a laboratory in Japan earlier this month. Five of the products exceeded the Government of Japan safety guidelines for mercury contamination in seafood for human consumption. The average concentration of mercury in the eight products was 1.78 parts per million, more than four times higher than the “safe” level of 0.4 set by the Government of Japan. One whale meat sample was more than 16 times the limit for mercury at 6.5ppm. The sample was sold as “dried whale from Taiji.” Taiji is the town where the Oscar winning documentary “The Cove” documented mass killing of dolphins in the nearby bay. *Read More .... http://championsforcetaceans.com/2011/10/28/yahoo-sells-risso-dolphin-meat-from-the-cove/

New Online Wildlfie Magazine

Check out this fabulous new FREE wildlife e-mag by Andrea Devos - http://www.taswildliferescue.com.au

North Stradbroke

The Queensland Government has declared one of its most visited tourist islands a National Park, but the move has angered local conservation groups. Environment Minister Vicky Darling says Sunday's announcement declaring 13,000 hectares on North Stradbroke Island a national park keeps an earlier promise by the State Government. "We remain committed to delivering on our promise to protect a further 30 per cent of North Stradbroke Island and end sand mining by 2026,'' she said in a statement. However, the island's conservation groups say two-thirds of the area that has been declared a national park has been degraded or destroyed by mining. Sand-mining company Sibelco had advocated the state government plan to stagger national park declarations to allow it to extract resources before moving on, Nikki Parker, spokeswoman for Friends of Stradbroke Island and Stradbroke Island Management Organisation, said. "This government has declared high conservation areas will be national park in the future but only after they have been irreversibly damaged and destroyed by sand mining,'' she said in a statement. The LNP says the announcement is a bid to win green votes before the state election, due in March. Opposition environment spokesman Andrew Powell says taxpayers will have to pay for rehabilitating land that Sibelco degraded. "The cost of rehabilitating local vegetation due to bad planning is estimated to be in the millions,'' he said in a statement. *Courier Mail

Kangaroos Shot

The senseless slaughter of kangaroos and livestock on a Booral acreage has shattered members of the close-knit neighbourhood who were forced to endure a weekend of terror. More than 20 kangaroos, mainly females with joeys, and at least one cow, were killed by rogue shooters on land they had no permission to be on. It was Friday night that residents of Wheeley St were first alerted to the shining of a spotlight and cracking sounds of gunfire in the paddocks backing onto their properties. Carmel and George Watson were among the first to sight the culprits who, they were shocked to discover, were allegedly a father and his two children. Police officers from the dog squad were called to confront the shooters and evict them from the land owned by a farmer from town, who had no idea the killing spree was taking place. Residents thought it was over, but on Saturday night the shooters returned, killing well into the night and yesterday morning. It was only when a group of local horse riders arrived on their Sunday morning trail ride that the extent of the carnage was finally discovered. Horrified residents banded together to check the kangaroos' pouches for joeys. Some were lying next to their mothers and had been shot at point blank range. Three were found alive and taken to a wildlife carer in Maryborough. The Watson's and their neighbours want justice for the creatures they have come to love. They say they would understand if the kangaroos were damaging a farmer's land, but could not understand why anyone would kill animals just for the fun of it. Police are investigating. * Fraser Coast Chronicle

Hunting can be Dangerous to your Health

A Florida man has become the second hunter in two weeks to be shot by his own dog. Billy E Brown, 78, was driving to go deer hunting when his bulldog, Eli, managed to discharged a rifle into his leg. He had been heading for a deer hunting spot in Pasco County with a friend when he was shot in the thigh, reports Fox News. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Gary Morse said: "His friend was riding next to him in the front seat, with the dog and the gun in between them." As the trio drove down a rough limestone road, Eli "got excited in the truck" and knocked against the rifle, firing off a round. Hit just above the right knee, Brown was rushed to hospital in Tampa where he underwent surgery. His condition is described as stable. Late last month, a Utah hunter was shot in the buttocks by his dog during a botched duck hunt. Doctors removbed 27 pellets of bird shot from the 46-year-old's body following the mishap. *Orange.co.uk

Kangaroo Industry

Kangaroo killiing enthusiast Professor Mike Archer has an interesting article in the online magazine "The Conversation". Of course he spouts a lot of nonsense, but if you read the article, dont forget to read all the comments. They are more entertaining than the article itself, most comments are from academics, and it gives an insight into the strange and weird attitudes to wildlife that some of these academics have. Unfortunately some of these people will eventually work in government departments, which may explain why the Government rarely gets it right!

Read the article here ... http://theconversation.edu.au/ordering-the-vegetarian-meal-theres-more-animal-blood-on-your-hands-4659

Fossil Wildlife

Fossils from a tusked, wombat-like creature as big as a cow have been identified in Tasmania for the first time. The dicynodont, similar to a mammal, lived about 250 million years ago, predating dinosaurs. The University of Tasmania unveiled the fossils and images yesterday for the first time, five years after bushwalkers Bob and Penny Tyson stumbled upon the fossil site on the Tasman Peninsula. Researchers from Queensland Museum and Latrobe University joined UTAS to describe the first dicynodont (pronounced de-sign-adont). "Dicynodont have been found everywhere else in the world, every other continent including Antarctica ... this fills an important gap in our knowledge of these mammal-like reptiles and where they lived," said Queensland Museum head of geosciences Andrew Rozefelds at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery yesterday. Dr Rozefelds, a former TMAG deputy director, said the bone was part of a skull and a partial tusk and was the largest to be found in Australia. It was only the second record in Australia of this age. *Mercury
Read more ... http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/12/20/285991_tasmania-news.html

Frogs

A group of critically endangered sunset frogs have been translocated to the South West in the hope that they will establish a new population there. A total of 31 frogs and 252 tadpoles will be moved from protective care at Perth Zoo to a peat swamp near Walpole. With only 30 known populations of the sunset frog in a small corner of the South West, it is hoped the zoo-bred frogs will successfully establish a new population outside the known distribution area of the species. The Department of Environment and Conservation project officer Dr Manda Page said the sunset frog had been identified as at risk of becoming extinct due to its very restricted distribution and dependence on a specific habitat — a habitat that is a relict of an ancient environment. “It lives in poorly drained peat-based swamps at the headwaters of drainage systems in a 300km2 area near Walpole and Nornalup and is vulnerable to environmental changes caused by a changing climate, as well as disturbances from feral animals, feral pigs in particular,” she said. “The release site for the frogs and tadpoles was chosen because it provides suitable habitat and extends the known range of the species. The West
Read more .... http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/12403860/hope-for-sunset-frog-population/

Crows

A new and extreme sport is sweeping coastal skies. "Crow gliding' is a risky and breezy answer to snowboarding and sees our black feathered friends hitching a ride on unsuspecting hang-gliders. So far there hasn't been many people able to capture these birds in action but Noosa's Mike Drinkwater was able to snap a shot (pictured) when he was photographing sea eagles at Sunshine Beach. Mr Drinkwater said at first he had no idea what the bird was trying to do but after he rode the hang-glider for a few seconds, flew off and then jumped on again, it was clear he was just having fun. "The crow was riding on the edge of the hang-glider," he said. "I grabbed my camera to take a closer look - I was amazed. "He was surfing the sky. He was probably thinking 'I reckon I can land on this'." The cartoonist who dabbles in photography said he never imagined he would snap such an unusual shot. "I was there to photograph a different type of bird," he said. "But the crow ended up stealing the show." *Sunshine Coast Daily

Water Birds

Talk about great weather for ducks. Scientists have counted the third highest number of water birds in eastern and central Australia in 29 years. Almost a million birds were counted in an area covering about a third of the continent and it's all down to two great rain-bringing La Nina seasons. One of Australia's longest-running wildlife surveys has found that widespread flooding across the Lake Eyre and Murray-Darling Basins has rejuvenated rivers and wetlands and produced an explosion in waterbird breeding. Survey leader and director of the Australian Wetlands and Rivers Centre at the University of NSW, Richard Kingsford, said yesterday he was astounded by the numbers. "This is all down to the factories of the Lake Eyre and Murray-Darling basins," Professor Kingsford said. "They have given us a tremendous bounce back in bird numbers after years of drought." Prof Kingsford said the richness of breeding species was also high and the floods had seen a turn around in a 30-year decline. Researchers saw 22 species, including black swan, Pacific black duck, Australasian shoveler, chestnut and grey teal, hardhead, freckled duck, plumed whistling-duck and Australian shelduck.

Each October since 1983 waterbirds are counted across 10 survey bands - each 30km wide - extending from the east coast to the NT border and from the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland to south of Melbourne. "We haven't reached the previous heights of the early 1980s but this result highlights the importance of a series of floods and environmental flows over a large part of the continent," he said. Wetland habitat was again extensive in the Cooper Creek catchment, as well as in the Diamantina and Georgina river systems, which state Environment Minister Vicky Darling announced last week would be protected under landmark wild rivers legislation. The nation's State of the Environment report, released last week by Environment Minister Tony Burke, said Australia faced challenges from the legacy of centuries of over-consumption and pollution of environmental resources. Australian Conservation Foundation spokeswoman Denise Boyd said the report sounded an alarm to all Australians about the health of the country's environment. "The report states in its findings that climate change poses 'the largest future threat to our inland water systems' and that land clearing averaged about one million hectares per year for the past decade," Ms Boyd said. *Courier Mail

Kangaroo Kill

The shooters who killed a number of animals and alarmed Booral residents over the weekend were on the property with permission. Garnet Bengston, the owner of the property, said there was a misunderstanding about the shooters. He said that when the incident was first reported to police on Friday he did not realise that shooters who had used his land for many years had arranged to come out for the weekend. Mr Bengston told the Chronicle that the person who was on the property had phoned his wife on Friday to ask permission to be there but she forgot to tell him they were coming. "But the shooter had previously been given permission to be on the property over the years," he said. Mr Bengston said the shooter "was a responsible member of society." As for the dozens of dead kangaroos and one dead cow, Mr Bengston said "there is just far too many of them (kangaroos) but I just don't know what to do about that."

He said the cow that was shot was already dying. "We lose cattle all the time because of plastic bags and rubbish," he said. The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) said the killing of kangaroos for recreation was legal under certain circumstances. The DERM website states the following about the issue: "You need a licence, permit or authority to harvest macropods, whether for recreation or commercial use. In Queensland, DERM issues these." "You cannot harvest macropods in protected areas, such as national parks or in state forests." "Recreational harvesters can only use the macropods that are taken for their personal use and have annual limits." At this stage it is unknown if the shooters had the required permit. *Fraser Coast Chronicle

Ed Comment; we have written to DERM to ask if these ratbags had Permits, because clearly they have breached the Code of Practice.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Wildlife Bytes 16/12/11

Kangaroos and Wallabies

An increase in kangaroos and wallabies on local roads around Young (NSW) could have something to do with the cherry harvest, according to a local wildlife carer. “Animals, particularly wallabies, hang out in the orchards, but when the pickers come in they take off to other areas,” said Sandra Latham from Wildcare. “They’re trying to keep away from people, but as a result they end up crossing a road at some point,” Ms Latham said. She has suggested drivers stick to the speed limit and install animal warning whistles on their vehicles, to avoid a collision. “If people do hit wildlife, by law they’re supposed to stop, they should never leave an injured animal on the side of the road.” It’s currently high season for joeys, so motorists who come across dead kangaroos or wallabies are being urged to check their pouches. “And if anyone sees an injured animal, or finds a joey, they should contact a wildlife group or a vet,” Ms Latham said. *Young Witness

Australia Zoo Patient of the Week, Rupert the Green Tree Frog

A green tree frog was found In a house at Mooloolah Valley with a gash near the left shoulder. Transported to: The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital by the concerned home owner. Dr Amber found that Rupert’s wound was an old one and in the early stages of healing. The 78g frog is otherwise very bright and active, and hopping around well. Dr Amber applied a topical antibotic cream to Rupert’s wound to help stave off any infections. The cream will be applied daily over the next week. Rupert will spend the next week in care at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, and will then be assessed for release back to the wild near where he was found. AZWH Statistic: No animal is too small for treatment at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital! We have treated over 29 native frogs so far in 2011. *

Gladstone Harbor

Almost 75,000 Australians have signed a petition calling on UNESCO to intervene and help put a stop to dredging in Queensland’s World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. Lobby group GetUp! presented the petition to a UNESCO official in the French capital, Paris, today on behalf of the 74,708 Australians who signed it. Their concerns centre on an approval to dredge 46 million cubic metres during the next 20 years within Gladstone Harbour, which is inside the World Heritage area of the reef. So far, 1.5 million cubic metres have been dredged to make way for two Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) projects, export hubs on Curtis Island and an expansion of the port itself. *Econews

Kangaroo Kill at Longreach

We were contacted today (thursday) by an ally from Longreach, who informed us that a non-commercial kangaroo kill was to undertaken at Isisford Airport, near Longreach. The shooting took place on the 14th and 15th of this month around the airport at Isisford which is about 115klms from Longreach. The reason given was 'safety' this airport has around 3-4 planes coming in each week some are medical planes the others are private aircraft owned by 4 loxcal graziers. The airport is partly enclosed with a fence but the Roos can come and go, the landing strip is tarmac and according to Longreach Council there has been a huge build up in Roo numbers putting the safety of the aircraft at risk. The Council is looking at other measures for control after this shoot, but the Council spokesperson didn't know what they were. Andrew McKenzie who is the Director for Corporate Service his details are.... ph. 07 465841111 and the switch will put you through or get him to ring back. The phone for the Isisford Council is 07 4658890 The notice about the kill was placed in the Longreach Leader, which is how our informer found out about it. Several of us on Thursday emailed the Longreach Council asking the the kill be cancelled for Thursday night, but we havent received a reply as yet. If you have time please contact the Longreach Regional Council and ask them to implement non-lethal kangaro control measures. Email: receipt@longreach.qld.gov.au *WPAA
PS As we go to mailout, we've heard that there are very bad storms in Longreach last night so teh kil was cancelled! We should also mention 4 graziers have properties at Isisford, largest is Isisford Downs owned by the Packers! *

Dingo Day

It was a rare opportunity for families to get up close and personal with wild animals at the annual Dingo Day in Apex Park. Several young dingoes mixed closely with the crowd, attracting attention and affection from young and old at the annual event, hosted by lobby group Save the Fraser Island Dingo. But the key message of the event was: "If you want to pat a dingo, do it here and not on Fraser Island." Hundreds of people stopped to check out the action, which included a bouncy castle, sausage sizzle and live music - and many left with a paw print painted on their faces. Group president Malcolm Kilpatrick said the annual Dingo Day aimed to raise awareness about the challenges faced by the dingoes, and to educate people about how to treat the wild animals. "With Christmas holidays coming up, a lot of people are going over to Fraser Island - it's a notoriously high-risk time for interactions with dingoes," Mr Kilpatrick said. "We are trying to educate people that they need to keep their children within arm's reach, and they need to stay well away from dingoes on the island." The two visiting animals, Honey and pup Coda, were brought by Durong Dingo Sanctuary owner Simon "Dingo" Stretton. "People have been really curious about them because they've never been allowed to pat a dingo before," Mr Stretton said. "Instead of thinking dingoes are mean or killers, people are walking away with a different attitude." *FC Chronicle

Numbats

Thirteen numbats from Perth Zoo are on their way to a new home at a NSW wildlife sanctuary. The numbats, five males and eight females, were selected from the zoo’s breeding program to be released at the Scotia Sanctuary south of Broken Hill. The sanctuary protects two wild populations of numbats from feral predators, Environment Minister Bill Marmion said. “All the numbats at Scotia Sanctuary are descended from the population at Dryandra Woodland near Narrogin, although half the original founders arrived via another Dryandra-descended population at AWC’s Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuary in South Australia,” he said. The numbats will be tracked via radio collars donated by community group Project Numbat, which raised the $250 for each collar via its membership. Feral foxes and cats have drastically reduced the numbat population and they are listed as an endangered species. PerthNow

Climate Change

The 190 nations that participated in extended UN climate change talks in Durban, South Africa, agreed to deal on Sunday that commits them to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within a decade. The result of over two weeks of discussions is a commitment period that effectively extends the Kyoto Protocol and maps out a path to a legally binding global agreement in 2015 to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a deadline of 2020 for all countries to begin taking action. Although Greenpeace called the deal a win for polluters and many were dismayed at the lengthy timeline for action, the deal (which now includes key players China, India and the United States) was broadly welcomed. ABC News / Reuters provides a good summary of the key measures agreed in Durban. *Network Item

Grebes Down

Thousands of migratory birds died on impact after apparently mistaking a Wal-Mart car park in the US and other areas of southern Utah for bodies of water and plummeting to the ground in what one wildlife expert has called the worst downing she has ever seen. Crews went to work cleaning up the dead birds and rescuing the survivors after the creatures crash-landed in the St George area on Monday night. By Tuesday evening, volunteers had rescued more than 2000 birds. "They're just everywhere," said Teresa Griffin, wildlife program manager for the Utah Department of Wildlife Resource's southern region. "It's been non-stop. All our employees are driving around picking them up, and we've got so many people coming to our office and dropping them off." Officials say stormy conditions probably confused the flock of grebes, a duck-like aquatic bird most likely making its way to Mexico for the winter. The birds tried to land in a Cedar City Wal-Mart car park and elsewhere. *Age
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/thousands-of-birds-make-fatal-crash-landing-in-walmart-car-park-20111215-1ovgw.html#ixzz1gZN0nzKc

Biodiversity Loss

Australia lacks the scientific data to deliver effective environment policies and track their impact, according to the latest federal State of the Environment report. The report's findings on the continuing decline of native wildlife has prompted Australian National University ecologist Professor David Lindenmayer to urge the Gillard Government to ''stop treating science as a luxury'' when funding environmental programs. 'We are seeing millions wasted on revegetation programs that will not, and cannot deliver because they are not underpinned by scientific programs that will tell us whether or not they are working,'' Professor Lindenmayer said. ''Can you imagine making a major business investment without the economic capability to measure the return on that investment.'' The co-director of the ANU's climate law and policy institute, Andrew Macintosh, has also called on governments to ''think beyond the press release'' when drafting environmental policy. ''Ministers must have the ticker to ask for, and take frank and fearless advice on the progress of the programs they announce,'' he said. *Canberra Times Read more .. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/gillard-urged-to-stop-treating-science-as-luxury/2390664.aspx?storypage=0

Pandas

Police in Tokyo have arrested a man accused of trying to sell a stuffed giant panda, an endangered species, to Chinese tourists for three million yen ($38,000). Shang Erqiang, 40, a Tokyo restaurant operator originally from China, was arrested last week, a police official told AFP. Reports dubbed the animal as an "80 per cent real giant panda" because its head and ears appeared to belong to another animal, possibly another type of bear. Television pictures showed the animal being displayed in a bamboo-decorated glass cage. Japanese law protects the trade in endangered animals and carries the threat of fines and imprisonment. Pandas are revered in China, and Beijing often uses the bears as diplomatic gifts to other countries. Just 1600 remain in the wild in China, with about 300 more in captivity. *AFP

Jungle Radio

Jungles Radio is a cutting edge Live Radio & Podcast Program that explores various topics in Reptile, Amphibian and Invertebrate care as well as important worldwide Wildlife Conservation issues. Join your host Danny Mendez, a Zoologist, Zookeeper, and Naturalist with a rich background in the professional zoological world as he explores various topics of interest and brings you the best interviews from all over the world and leading experts in the field. Urban Jungles Radio is LIVE every Friday night at 10pm EDT. or 1pm Queensland time at http://www.urbanjunglesradio.com/

Rats

Rats will free distressed cagemates from a trap, even when there’s no evident reward for the help—and even when it might cost them a little food, a study has found. Scientists say the phenomenon is an unusual finding of empathy in animals other than primates—humans and their evolutionary relatives, the apes and monkeys. Empathy has often been considered unique to primates, though a re­lated phenomenon dubbed “emotional contagion” has been identified among a wider variety of species. In that effect, an animal experiences the emotions of others. Read more ... http://www.world-science.net/othernews/111208_rats

Wildlife Carers Dictionary

The Wildlife Carers Dictionary is a free online resource full of words and phrases often used in the wildlife carers community. It would be a useful resource for first time carers and long time carers alike as well as vets, vet nurses, zoo and sanctuary keepers and just anybody who loves to learn about Australian native animals. The Wildlife Carers Dictionary can be downloaded at http://www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com/WildlifeCarersDictionary.htm

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
.
Wildlife Pets

South Australian police are on the lookout for Pinocchio, a freshwater crocodile stolen from a home in Snowtown over the weekend. Police said the 70cm croc was taken from a locked enclosure at the home in the mid-north town between Friday last week and Monday. The enclosure was in the rear yard of a home and was purpose-built to house various wildlife. Last week thieves also made off with two pythons and a crocodile from a reptile store in Adelaide. The two green tree pythons, both four years old, were 1.2 metres long and the two-year-old Johnston's freshwater crocodile was 60cm long. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) spokesman Glenn Sant said it was likely the reptiles would be exported or sold to collectors. "You can basically assume they will go into the illegal wildlife trade," he said last week. "They're worth a lot of money overseas." Police said they did not believe the two incidents were connected. *NineMSM

Ravens

Wild ravens purposefully show objects to their mating partners—the first time this behavior has been observed in the wild except in the closest relatives of humans, scientists report. The researchers consider these actions as part of a class of behaviors called deictic gestures, which include pointing and showing and which are aimed at drawing attention to an external object. Such gestures are thought to reflect complex intelligence and to represent the starting point for the use of symbols, and therefore language.
read more ... http://www.world-science.net/othernews/111129_ravens

Spiders

Golden orb spiders add a chemical to their webs to deter invading ants, scientists have discovered. Scientists from Australia and Singapore had set out to discover why ants were rarely found on the webs of the spiders, which are widespread in the warmer regions of the earth. "We found that large golden orb web spiders add a defensive alkaloid chemical onto the silk, which stops the ants from walking on to the web when they come into contact with it," team leader Associate Professor Daiqin Li, from the National University of Singapore, said in a statement on Wednesday. Professor Mark Elgar from the University of Melbourne said the team was impressed by the strength of the ant repellent used in the webs. "The orb spider is potentially vulnerable to attack from groups of ants while sitting in its web waiting for prey," he said. "So the chemical defence in web silk may have evolved to not only protect the spider, but to reduce the time and energy that would otherwise be required to chase away invading ants." The team also found that only the larger spiders produced the compound. The researchers hope the discovery may provide new opportunities for pesticide production. *Network Item

Green Politics

The State of the Environment report released yesterday reveals that most of Australia’s plants and animals are on the path to extinction, Australian Greens environment spokesperson Senator Larissa Waters said today. The report also acknowledged from the outset that the environment was a national issue that required national leadership. “The call for national leadership is completely at odds with the Federal Government’s intention to delegate many environmental protection powers to the states,” Senator Waters said. “This is why I’ve introduced my water bill, which would give the Federal Government the power to protect water from mining operations at the national level and demonstrate the greater environmental leadership which is so desperately needed. “I have also introduced a bill to allow newly discovered species to be emergency-listed as threatened, so they can receive immediate protection. “The report also recognised that port development and shipping accidents pose a major threat to our marine environments – a timely warning for the Government to stop treating the Great Barrier Reef as a coal and gas highway. “Australia’s unique and precious wildlife is daily sliding closer to extinction – if the Government has any intention at all of preventing this crisis, it will support my two bills and take the strong action necessary to protect our wildlife and our environment.” *Qld Greens Media Release

Koalas

Tens of thousands of trees planted to save southeast Queensland's dying koalas will save fewer than 30 animals, a lobbyist says. Environment Minister Vicki Darling this week planted the last of 30,000 trees on a property at Daisy Hill, south of Brisbane. It was part of a $48 million, six-year plan to purchase eight parcels of protected land around the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay regions to save the critically endangered animal. Australian Koala Foundation president Deborah Tabart told AAP the 379 hectares purchased would support approximately 30 koalas if well vegetated. ``It is really a drop in the ocean,'' Ms Tabart said. ``I would be much happier for her to say I have saved 30,000 hectares for koalas.'' Ms Tabart said the saplings would take five years to reach a maturity suitable for koalas. Koala numbers in the state's southeast corner have plummeted almost 60 per cent in the past three years. ``It's time for the average Australian to realise this is just a bandaid,'' Ms Tabart said. ``Those areas are where the Urban Land Development Authority have cut down a lot of trees.'' The koala has not been added to the list of fauna protected under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act despite lobbying from the Australian Greens and environmental groups. Koalas are considered critically endangered in southeast Queensland, which is one step away from extinct. *News.com.au

Wildlife Trafficking

Mine site workers in the North West are being recruited by environmental authorities to try to stop the trade in smuggled reptiles amid claims that many animals are being taken from the Pilbara and sold on the black market. Unlike mammals, reptiles are simple to transport because they can be easily immobilised and are able to survive for days without food or water. There is a lucrative domestic and international trade in Australian snakes and lizards with some fetching $20,000 overseas. Even bobtail lizards can bring in up to $7500 on the Asian black market. In the past two years, two fly-in, fly-out workers have been arrested for smuggling reptiles including a Pilbara mine site worker who was arrested at Perth Airport in September after carrying two Stimson's pythons and a sand swimmer skink on a flight from Newman. He was fined $3700 with $119 in court costs over the smuggled reptiles and a third Stimson's python and a pygmy python found at his house.

Department of Environment and Conservation wildlife officer Matt Swan said that 67 native animals had been seized by authorities this year with pygmy pythons, Pilbara olive pythons, banded knob tailed geckos and pygmy spiny tailed skinks among the most heavily targeted species. With illegal collecting taking place in remote locations, the DEC is turning to mine site workers to be the eyes and ears of the department. "Wildlife officers raise the issue of illegal reptile collecting in discussions with mine site staff whenever they visit a site," Mr Swan said. "DEC recently delivered a presentation to staff at the Perth headquarters of a mining company on smuggling and how to detect it. Smuggling can be a cruel practice depending on the way reptiles are handled and transported. "High mortality is associated with overcrowding, lack of ventilation and the use of tape or other materials to restrict the movement of animals, causing severe stress." Anyone with information about the removal of reptiles should call the DEC Wildcare hotline on 9474 9055 or the Customs hotline on 1800 061 800. *TheWest

Kangaroos

Roo shooter Rob Aspinall wants to assure Bulletin readers that no professional hunter would skin, disembowel and dump kangaroo carcasses at the side of the road. Rob, a commercial roo shooter for 15 years, says he was as shocked as anyone by the gruesome images of six skinned carcasses on the edge of a road at Kabra this week. "It makes no sense and I have no idea why someone would do it," he said. "But I know one thing; whoever it was is an idiot." Rob is one of about 830 licensed shooters in Queensland and says none of them would risk losing their accreditation by acting cruelly or inappropriately. "The regulations are very strict. There are limits on the numbers we can shoot, and the method of the kill. It has to be clean, one shot to the head so the animal doesn't suffer," said Rob who is based in Rockhampton and travels to properties as far away as Dingo, Emerald and Sarina. Shoots have to be conducted at night and the carcasses have to be taken to an approved wild-game chiller within a few hours of being killed. "All the kangaroos I harvest are for human consumption and they have to be at least 16kg before I shoot them."

Rob says while it might be possible to make a living as a professional shooter, the rewards are not great and the lifestyle is "not real good". "It's a lot of effort and at the moment roo carcasses are fetching 75 cents a kilo. Most shooters do it to supplement their income from another job." Rob decided to speak out fearing readers might think that a professional shooter was responsible for the carnage at Kabra. And Inspector for the RSPCA for the Rockhampton region Laurie Stageman said the killing of these kangaroos was most likely done by "yobs". "I doubt it very much that this was done by a professional shooter," Mr Stageman said. "They have a code of conduct that the professional roo shooters follow, they shoot them, tag them and they go to the chillers and are sold. It's against their profession, they already cop enough flak for what they do." Rob says he and a partner shot about 500 roos last year, but his total will be down this year. On a good night they kill about 30 roos. It makes no sense, whoever it was is an idiot. *Morning Bulletin



At least 26 kangaroos were shot and killed during the 12-month NMIT Eden Park cull, Freedom of Information documents show. But discrepancies between documents released by Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE and the Department of Sustainability and Environment make the exact number of animals killed unclear. NMIT reports say 27 kangaroos were shot, while department documents say it was 26. Several documents requested through FoI by the Australian Society for Kangaroos were not provided. In October last year, the department granted NMIT a permit to cull 300 kangaroos at its 320ha Northern Lodge stud farm. Despite numerous requests for information by the media and the public, the department and NMIT never publicly revealed how many kangaroos were killed. One document shows shooting began at Northern Lodge on March 10, with a department wildlife officer in attendance. Two kangaroos were shot on that day, with another 24 killed on March 17.

Two more shots were fired on March 19, but no kangaroos were killed. The document, approved by department secretary Greg Wilson on May 9, said “to date, no further shooting has taken place”. It is not known whether more shooting related to the cull occurred between May 9 and the day the permit expired on October 18. Nancy Worland reported hearing shots while visiting her daughter in Eden Park in January. Wildlife volunteers monitored the TAFE property from March 21 until the cull permit expired. Australian Society for Kangaroos spokeswoman Fiona Corke, who obtained the documents, said it was difficult to know exactly how many kangaroos were killed.“I don’t know what to believe; I don’t know if it was 27 or 100,” she said. The documents show that two joeys were euthanased after their mothers were killed. How do you think NMIT and the department have handled this issue? Tell us at whittlesealeader.com.au *Whittlesea News

Videos about the Kangaroo Kill

Australian Society for Kangaroos would like to thank Voiceless for the grant to fund this Community Service Advertisement and for their dedication, commitment and ongoing contribution towards saving the lives of millions of kangaroos. We would also like to thank Rob Thomas and management for allowing us to use his hauntingly beautiful song, Now Comes the Night in this Community Service Advertisement. Due to music licencing agreements our TV ad can only be seen in Australia, we apologise to overseas viewers however please feel free to browse our website to discover more about the plight of kangaroos. Big thanks to the production team: Moving Stills Production Company, Nick Carrafa and Szumai Anderson. Produced, written and directed by Fiona Corke and Nikki Sutterby. Watch the Advertisment http://www.australiansocietyforkangaroos.org/advertisement.html

And the VIVA! video, The Commercial Killing of Kangaroos for meat and leather - this video show the reality of the trade. Please visit www.viva.org.uk to order a free Go Veggie pack!
Watch Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSgxx4ijeMg&feature=share&mid=54

WA Fires

They are the forgotten victims of the bushfires in the South-West - species of native animals and birds that may have been completely wiped out. Conservationists and animal carers say populations of highly endangered possums, black cockatoos and other native species may now be locally extinct in the Margaret River, Nannup and Augusta regions. The wildlife disaster is a result of at least two fires that burned through more than 70,000 hectares and destroyed more than 40 properties after a series of prescribed burns by WA's Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) flared out of control in November. FAWNA president Jeff Falconer, who is in charge of animal rescue efforts in the region, told AAP this week the fires had wiped out almost entire populations in some areas. ``Probably 90 per cent of the wildlife in those areas where the fire was fairly bad would have been killed,'' he said. Mr Falconer said the combined Nannup-Augusta fire, which burnt about 50,000ha, was ``the biggest on record'' in WA's South-West. Conservationists have been scathing of the decision to hold the burns in spring, during the nesting and breeding seasons, saying young animals and birds wouldn't have stood a chance.

Busselton Possum Centre president Ute Wicke told AAP she had pleaded with the DEC two months ago not to conduct the burns during breeding season. ``We were particularly worried about the burns that get away - like we've just seen,'' she said. Ms Wicke said the fires had ``devastated'' some of WA's healthiest populations of endangered ringtail possums around Margaret River. ``At this time of the year, the possums have very vulnerable young with them - they are just out of the pouch - and they don't have a chance,'' she said. ``So not only the adult population dies, but so does the next generation. ``We really feel we might have lost the best habitats and ringtails will go locally extinct in those areas.'' Ms Wicke said the aftermath of the fires had been heartbreaking, after she found 25 dead possums and many other animals that were ``unrecognisable''. Margaret River Vet Clinic owner Michel Noey said she had treated about 20 possums for burns following the fire, and had been called out to euthanise a number of injured kangaroos.

She said possums were especially vulnerable to bushfires. ``They can't hop, they can't move fast,'' she said. ``I guess the (injured animals) that haven't been brought in by now would have died of their wounds or dehydration.'' Dr Noey said such was the ferocity of the fires, little would remain of any animals that had perished in the bush. Dave Patterson of the Nannup Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre said the DEC had been warned for many years not to carry out burns during the nesting season. ``But the DEC just keeps doing it and doing it - they don't listen,'' he said. ``It's in the middle of the breeding season for the red-tails (black cockatoos), so any chicks that were in a nest hollow would have been killed. ``These birds are critically endangered - the population can't sustain it. ``There will definitely be local extinctions here because the birds that have survived now can't find anything to eat. ``We're already getting a lot of birds in here that are really undernourished - they're starving.''

Mr Patterson said the biggest impact had been on endangered Baudin's red-tailed black cockatoos, which are only found WA's southwest and number fewer than 10,000. ``But it's been devastating for all native animals in the region,'' he said. Conservation Council of WA director Piers Verstegan said the long term impact would be deadly. ``The removal of a massive food source and potentially huge numbers of individuals is going to be a critical blow to endangered species in the area,'' he said. The main problem with prescribed burns, apart from the timing, was the ``arbitrary'' 200,000ha target the DEC tried to meet each year without any ecological basis, Mr Verstegan said. ``The DEC, which is supposed to be responsible for maintaining our natural environment and the species within it, is applying what we believe to be a completely reckless regime of prescribed burning,'' he said. ``The target approach needs to be scrapped.''

A DEC spokeswoman said prescribed burns were usually conducted in spring and autumn when weather was mild and fires were easier to manage. ``In southern parts of WA, spring burning is undertaken when fuels are still reasonably moist from winter rains,'' she said. `As the spring progresses and the effect of sun and wind continue to dry the fuels, it makes them more flammable and the opportunity to undertake safe burns decreases.'' Anyone wishing to donate to the southwest fire animal rescue and rehabilitation appeal can contact Mr Falconer at FAWNA on 0438 526 660 or visit www.fawna.com.au, or Ms Wicke at the Busselton Possum Centre on 0420 939 890 or visit www.possumcentre.com.au. * PerthNow

New Species

A wildly-coloured gecko, a fish that looks like a gherkin, and a monkey with an Elvis-like hairstyle are among the more than 200 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region last year, environmental group WWF has said. The area's diversity is so astonishing that a new species is found every two days, but regional cooperation and decision-making must take centre stage to preserve its richness, the group added. The dangers posed to local wildlife were highlighted earlier this year, when WWF said that Vietnam's Javan rhinos have been poached into extinction. "While the 2010 discoveries are new to science, many are already destined for the dinner table, struggling to survive in shrinking habitats and at risk of extinction," said Stuart Chapman, Conservation Director of WWF Greater Mekong, in a statement.

Among the new species highlighted in the report "Wild Mekong" is a gecko with bright orange legs, a yellow neck, and a blue-gray body with yellow bars on its bright orange sides, discovered on an island in southern Vietnam. Then there is a black and white snub-nosed monkey whose head sports an Elvis-like hairstyle, found in Myanmar's mountainous Kachin state. Locals say the animal can be spotted with its head between its knees in rainy weather as it tries to keep rain from running into its upturned nose. Other featured creatures among the 208 new finds include a lizard that reproduces via cloning without the need for male lizards, a fish that resembles a gherkin, and five species of carnivorous pitcher plant, some of which lure in and consume rats and even birds. "Mekong governments have to stop thinking about biodiversity protection as a cost and recognise it as an investment to ensure long-term stability," Mr Chapman said.

"The region's treasure trove of biodiversity will be lost if governments fail to invest in the conservation and maintenance of biodiversity, which is so fundamental to ensuring long-term sustainability in the face of global environmental change." Despite restrictions, trade in wildlife remains an active threat to a range of endangered animals in the region, with some hunted because body parts - such as rhinoceros horns - are coveted ingredients in traditional Asian medicine. Others, such as Mekong dolphins, face threats from fishing gear such as gill nets and illegal fishing methods, prompting the WWF in August to warn that one dolphin population in the river was at high risk of extinction. The Greater Mekong region covers Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the southern Chinese province of Yunnan. * Telegraph UK

Noxious Carp

The pest of many waterways in the southern Australian state of Victoria could soon be the toast of Europe’s fashionable dining tables. A European carp control program on the Lower Ovens River will see many of the higher quality fish sent overseas where their eggs, or roe, are seen as a tasty delicacy. Some food entusiasts say the roe from carp is just as delicious as the expensive Russian or Beluga caviar, which uses the roe from sturgeon. AAP newsagency says those fish that don’t make the grade will be sent to Baranduda, near Albury-Wodonga and will be worm-farm composted to produce an organic liquid fertiliser in a bid to clear the waters of the pest. Jarod Lyon, fish ecologist at the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Arthur Rylah Institute said cutting carp numbers is crucial to protect other species. “The program includes installing specially designed cage traps to protect two wetlands from the damage caused by carp, while nets protect other wetlands and electrofishing is used to back it all up by removing the carp from the river itself,” he said.

“The Lower Ovens Heritage River is a high conservation value aquatic ecosystem for threatened native fish species including the iconic Murray Cod and Trout Cod. “Cutting carp numbers is an important part of the effort to protect those species,” he added. Mr Lyon said professional fisherman Keith Bell is part of the integrated carp control program. “Whilst most carp caught are composted to produce an organic liquid fertiliser, Keith exports some of the higher quality fish and even their roe to Europe for human consumption.” The cages have been installed on the Lower Ovens River near Peechelba, between Bundalong and Wangaratta. Wetlands and billabongs connected to the Ovens are key carp breeding grounds and by preventing the carp from getting into the wetlands, ecologists are hoping to reduce their numbers. The fish are particularly targeted in October and November when they spawn in wetlands. *EcoNews

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Wildlife Bytes 9/12/11

Coal Seam Gas

The scale and speed of its growth has been nothing short of astonishing: billions of dollars have poured into regional areas; new jobs have been created; state and national coffers have swelled; export contracts have been signed and sealed; massive liquefied natural gas facilities have been approved for construction at regional ports. Farmers fear they are losing control of their land. Miners and some politicians say coal seam gas offers a much greener energy choice. Environmentalists and other politicians have cast doubt on those claims. The ABC's data journalism project has pulled together information from dozens of sources to provide an insight into the promise and the dangers inherent in the coal seam gas rush.
It is estimated there will be 40,000 coal seam gas wells in Australia, and it is believed the Industry will have a huge and devastating impact on wildlife habitat.....for many reasons.
See the map, and get more info........ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-24/coal-seam-gas-by-the-numbers-map/3664318


Some of the issues surrounding CSG are most alarming, as the major political parties throw their support unconditionally behind it. Breaches of conditions are ignored; protestor Drew Hutton, calmly sitting on the ground during a"lock-the-gate" campaign, is arrested and taken away in handcuffs; the arresting officer taken to the site in a mining company vehicle; Fed. Environment Minister Tony Broke (sorry, Tony Burke) sets up an environmental "oversight" advisory committee consisting of mining experts; Gladestone Harbor destroyed, and Curtis Island, which should have been National Park, targeted for more CSG loading facilities. Chinese, American, and British multinationals are buying up farms to convert to coal and CSG mines. Huge areas of Queensland and NSW are to be moonscaped, and the ground water polluted. A coal seam gas site in north-central New South Wales is already discharging water with high levels of ammonia into the Murray-Darling river system. The major political Parties all without reserve support the CSG Industry because of the money. It was interesting that at Drew Huttons trial in Dalby Court (not coverd by the media) supporters present included Larissa Waters and Bob Brown, from the Greens, Bob Katter, and someone from the Queensland party. Noone from the major Parties turned up. We should all be very worried. * WPAA

Whaling

Japan's whaling fleet has left its home port for another turbulent season in the Southern Ocean, this year courtesy of extra money from the nation's earthquake recovery fund. Three vessels have set sail from the port of Ishinomaki, in western Japan, with a mission to catch 900 whales over the next three months. The Japanese fleet will have beefed-up security this year after its last season was cut short by the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling group. The fleet did not get anywhere near its target last season and Sea Shepherd is hoping for a repeat performance. But there is anger in Japan and elsewhere this year about the source of new funds for the trip. The Japan Fisheries Agency says the trip's use of $28 million from the earthquake recovery fund is legitimate, because one of the towns devastated by the March earthquake and tsunami was a whaling port. Greenpeace Japan executive director Junichi Sato says it is a massive stretch to link whaling to the earthquake. "It's not related to the recovery at all," he said. "It is used to cover the deaths of the whaling program because the whaling program itself has been suffering from big financial problems." Three Sea Shepherd vessels are preparing to depart from Albany and Hobart in the next 10 days to disrupt the whaling. The group's founder, Paul Watson, says a lot of people should be angry that recovery money is going to whaling. "I know there's a lot of angry people who said 'look, I didn't send my money to help the victims of the tsunami only to have you use it to go down and kill some whales'," he said. *ABC
Read more http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-07/japan-whaling-fleet-embarks/3716546

Snails

A giant carnivorous albino snail has been found living in New Zealand bushland. A group of trampers stumbled across the white Powelliphanta - only the second recorded - during a trip though the Kahurangi National Park at the tip of the South Island. "Our group had seen three or four snails already that morning as it had rained and they'd come out in the wet conditions," said hiker Bill Brough, of Motueka. "Then I saw the white snail and went wow! We were excited to see it, knowing how extraordinary it was." Powelliphanta snails are found only in New Zealand and are the giants of the snail world. They are carnivores, with their favourite prey being earthworms. They also eat slugs. Photos taken by the Waimea Tramping Club show the Powelliphanta hochstetteri hochstetteri had a characteristic golden brown-spiralled shell but a body that was glowing white rather than the usual deep black colour. Department of Conservation Powelliphanta expert Kath Walker says in more than 30 years studying the native snails it is only the second albino she has seen. *Age
Read more, see photoes: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/giant-meateating-milky-bar-snail-stuns-hikers-20111201-1o7t3.html#ixzz1fddUbrG6

Development and Wildlife

Endangered animals would be moved from boom housing suburbs to a safe haven, under a plan to keep more land for housing. Property developers say that "frog and bandicoot nirvana" could be created for the species while ensuring that enough land was available to build homes, schools and playgrounds. The Herald Sun revealed last week that draft measures to protect the growling grass frog could stop up to 66,000 houses being built and prevent about $2.6 billion in development. Special no-go zones in growth corridors would be set aside for habitats used by the frog and for other species like the southern brown bandicoot. But Property Council of Australia state CEO Jennifer Cunich said yesterday the State Government plans would see 4400 ha of potential housing land locked up, based largely on questionable science and preconceived outcomes. Ms Cunich said that in the case of the frog, a better option was to keep only high-value habitats in growth areas and to set up alternative locations for frogs outside the urban growth boundary. "Why are we restricting opportunities for our future communities when we could be creating frog and bandicoot nirvana outside the boundary," she said. *Herald Sun
Read more; http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/frogs-in-a-place-where-they-wont-croak/story-fn7x8me2-1226214560801

Wildlife Trafficking

Officials have seized nearly 50 native reptiles being held at a remote property in south-western New South Wales. A tip-off led police and investigators from the state's Office of Environment and heritage to the house at Oxley, near Hay. In a bedroom of the house they found 34 shingleback lizards, five blue-tongue lizards, five eastern bearded dragons and two geckos. National Parks and Wildlife western region director Mark Peacock says the animals were in poor heath. "The animals were found with no food or water and no cages to protect them from each other," Mr Peacock said. "Many had been defecated on by other reptiles in the room." The animals were assessed and treated by a vet at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Officials also recovered a sand goanna lizard and lace monitor lizard from a home at nearby Maude. Mr Peacock says it is possible charges will be laid over the haul. "Intelligence received by investigators is that Australian native reptiles are highly sought after by overseas traders," he said. *ABC

Elephant Death

A 25-year-old Australian woman has died after being mauled by a pygmy elephant in a remote wildlife park on Borneo island in Malaysia. The woman, who has been identified as Sydney-based veterinarian Jenna O'Grady Donley by Malaysian newspaper The Star, was trekking with a friend and a local guide in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah state when the group were attacked by the rare pygmy elephant yesterday. While the guide and the other woman managed to get away, the elephant's tusk pierced Ms Donley's body and she died instantly, the state wildlife department director Laurentius Ambu told AFP. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed that a 25-year-old from NSW had died in Malaysia and that her death was believed to be the result of an elephant attack. *The Australian

No Wildlife Care Facility for Fraser Island

The Queensland Environment Minister Vicky Darling has refused a request by SFID to establish a Wildlife Care Facility on Fraser Island, saying the Rangers on the Island are welltrained and capable of handling any wildlife issues. * Network Item

GoldenBacked Rats

It was once so common it was considered a pest, found running through the rooftops of many houses in Broome. But in a narrow, rainforest-filled gorge, 350 kilometres from the West Australian pearling capital, ecologist Katherine Tuft has had no luck catching a golden-backed tree rat. And then, as she inspects the fifth cage she placed out the night before, Dr Tuft finds what she is looking for. ''These guys used to be across much of northern Australia but they've really contracted back and now the north-west Kimberley is the only place they are,'' Dr Tuft, from the non-profit conservation group the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, said. The unfortunate case of the native rodent is representative of the plight of more than half of northern Australia's small mammals, such as the northern quoll and golden bandicoot, whose ranges have contracted and whose populations have plummeted in the past 20 years. For these species, the north-west Kimberley is the last stand. *Age
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/got-you-you-little-rat--now-lets-save-you-20111202-1obgi.html#ixzz1fdeCXnKo

Flamingoes

Nearly 140 greater flamingos were killed in a wildlife sanctuary in western India when they were startled and flew into a string of high tension power lines, a forest official said on Friday. Tens of thousands of flamingos turn the flat, warm marshes of the Khadir region of Gujarat state into a sea of pink every year when they fly in from Siberia to breed. This year, their numbers were unusually high, with about 500,000 birds making the migratory flight from Siberia, district chief conservator of forests DK Sharma said. Sharma said the mass electrocution took place some 12 days ago, when a large flock of flamingos was startled at night by the noise of a vehicle. "The entire flock took off. Many of them flew straight into the electric wires and 139 were killed instantly," he said.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/electrocution-kills-140-flamingos-in-india-20111202-1ob3f.html#ixzz1fdedlYMX

New Crab Found

A species of crab found a thousand feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean near Costa Rica lives off the bacteria on its claws – bacteria that it fertilizes by waving them in methane and sulfide released from the seafloor. This "farming" behavior was described for the first time in detail by the scientists this week in the journal PLoS One. This new species of the Yeti crab, called Kiwa puravida, was first discovered in 2006, according to Andrew Thurber, a post-doctoral researcher at Oregon State University and lead author of the study. It is only the second member of the Yeti family of crabs – first discovered in 2005 – and illustrates how little scientists know about the deep ocean environment, the researchers say. * BBC
read More; http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=69753248110

Turtles Speared

The Queensland Government has ordered an investigation into reports Indigenous hunters are spearing turtles at Green Island, off Cairns in the far north, while tourists are swimming nearby. The Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO) says it has been sent photographs of the hunters in waters off the island last Friday morning. Traditional owners are allowed to hunt the protected animals under the Native Title Act but many local Aboriginal groups have imposed a moratorium on taking turtles because of their dwindling numbers. AMPTO spokesman Col McKenzie says he is outraged by the photos taken at Green Island. "They were taken at nine o'clock in the morning as boats were arriving with hundreds of tourists on board," he said. "This is not the message that we want to sell to the world about tourism and protection of the Great Barrier Reef. Queensland Environment Minister Vicky Darling says she is concerned by the reports and will ask her department to investigate. "I really believe most traditional owners are very sensitive to this and wouldn't be doing this sort of hunting in front of people," she said. "It's just a matter of finding out who these people are and talking to them about the appropriateness of it. "If it's a poaching case, then that's certainly something that the State Government can investigate. "In this case, having seen these images, I'll be asking my department to investigate this particular instance and see what's going on." *ABC

Kangaroos Killed and Dumped

A scene of six kangaroo carcases skinned, disembowelled and dumped on the side of a Kabra dirt road had wildlife and animal authorities in shock yesterday. Rockhampton region RSPCA inspector Laurie Stageman said it was a barbaric act if done for fun. "Even if it wasn't for fun, they've still breached the Native Conservation Act," Mr Stageman said. However, given the state the carcases were left in, a commercial roo shooter may have been responsible for the killings. Department of Environment and Resource Management spokesman Clive Cook said yesterday that as a native species, kangaroos were protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. "It is an offence to deliberately kill or injure a protected animal unless authorised to do so," he said. "The maximum penalty for deliberately killing a kangaroo without authority is $10,000. "In Queensland, there are currently 44 damage mitigation permits for the take of kangaroos and 1447 commercial wildlife harvesting licences for macropods (kangaroos)." Australian Society for Kangaroos president Nikki Sutterby said she wasn't surprised as the government condoned their killing due to the kangaroo meat industry. "The kangaroo is the largest land-based wildlife slaughter in the world because of the commercial kangaroo industry pet meat which is for profit." *Morning Bulletin


The kangaroo think tank have a really good webpage about the health risks of eating kangaroo meat here http://thinkkangaroos.uts.edu.au/issues/hygiene


Children in Ballarat East have discovered the remains of a dismembered kangaroo. The four children were riding bikes in bushland in Richards Street when they made the discovery on Sunday morning. The children’s father Glen Strange said a mob of 15 kangaroos were often seen around the area – known to locals as Sandy Banks – and he was shocked to see one had been treated with such brutality. Photos obtained by The Courier show the kangaroo with its legs and tail severed. Mr Strange said it was unclear how to the animal died, but he believed the limbs and tail had been cut with a saw. “I just hope the poor animal was dead before it happened,” Mr Strange said. “Whoever did it needs to be brought to justice or needs some help.” He said his four children, who range between 10 and 15 years old, weren’t too badly affected by the discovery. “They’re okay about it, they’ve grown up with nature and understand these things. It’s a bit perplexing why anybody would mutilate the body like that,” he said. RSPCA Victoria chief inspector Greg Boland said it was not uncommon for foxes to create a misleading picture that limbs had been sawn off. “Across the state we do get the odd similar case and most of the time it’s usually foxes. Of course, I don’t know how the animal actually died, whether it was sick or attacked or what the situation is,” he said. Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them on 5336 6000. *Courier

Climate Change

Pacific islands can expect more extremely hot and wet days, saltier oceans killing off coral reefs and rising sea levels, a new report on climate change reveals. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet released the report while attending the United Nations climate summit in Durban, South Africa. Regional warming is expected to be greatest near the equator, the report says. "Large increases in the incidence of extremely hot days and warm nights are also projected. "A widespread increase in the number of heavy and extreme rain days is projected." The report adds that conditions for coral reefs will become "increasingly marginal" due to further ocean acidification. It also warns Pacific islands of rising sea levels of around 18 centimetres by 2040 and 80 centimetres by 2100 in a worst-case scenario for emissions growth and ice cap melting, and around 30 centimetres by 2100 under the best case of emissions growth slowing.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/warning-on-climate-impact-on-pacific-20111207-1oiqu.html#ixzz1fyoHkiqy

A Defining Moment

Four deer were pulled from the icy waters of Stephens Passage, Alaska , by a group of locals on Tom Satre's 62-foot charter vessel. Four juvenile Sitka black-tailed deer swam directly toward the boat. Once the deer reached the boat, the four began to circle the boat, looking directly at the humans on board. Clearly, the bucks were distressed. With help, the typically skittish and absolutely wild animals came willingly onto the boat. Once onboard, they collapsed with exhaustion, shivering. All four deer were transported to Taku Harbour . Once the group reached the dock, the first buck that had been pulled from the water hopped onto the dock, looked back, then leapt into the Harbour, swam to shore, and disappeared into the forest. After a bit of prodding and assistance from the humans, two others followed suit, but one deer needed more help. She was wheeled down the jetty in wheelbarrow. They did not know how long the deer had been in the icy waters or if there had been others who did not survive. The good Samaritans (humans) describe their experience as "one of those defining moments in life." I'm sure it was for the deer, as well. *Network Item

Whaling

Byron locals and Australians generally are outraged that Japan used 28 million dollars from the Tsunami relief funds to go towards supporting the whaling fleet currently on its way to the antarctic to kill 900 whales. Byron whale activist Dean Jefferys who was involved in 2 local fundraisers that raised over $20000 for the tsunami relief fund said "I am outraged that money we raised in good faith to help the Japanese people recover from the devistating effects of the Tsunami would be used to help kill whales. I believe the people in the Tsunami effected areas would also be outraged that relief funds are being directed to supporting a dieing industry that the global community condemns instead of funding there recovery. This is a double betrayal to all those who gave money or time to the fund and to the Japanese people in need and I believe is the straw on the camels back that will be the down fall of corrupt elements the government controlled by the Japan Fisheries Agency and also the whaling industry. The Japan Fisheries Agency says the trip's use of $28 million from the earthquake recovery fund is legitimate, because one of the towns devastated by the March earthquake and tsunami was a whaling port.

To discuss this and other critical marine issues, whale activists, Howie Cooke, Madi Pip and Dean Jefferys will come together this week in Mullumimby and Byron to share stories, videos, information and music to support and celebrate the wonders of the ocean and its creatures. Highlights of the recent inspiring Byron presentation by the founder of Sea Shepherd, Paul Watson, will also be screened. Howie Cooke, recently returned from Transparent Seavoyage 2, down the coast of California with the Surfers for Cetaceans crew and will show photos and videos from the trip. The S4C crew sailed 5 double seater Hobie sailing kayak from the Gaviota coast north of Santa Barbara through to Mission Bay, San Diego meeting with coastal communities, hearing about local marine issues which were highlighted at events held in all four counties. Howie painted many whale murals on route and video clips show encounters with sea lions, dolphins and on one occasion, two Blue Whales. See http://transparentseavoyage.com. Howie will also show some clips and share some stories from his earlier trip to the Antarctic with Sea Shepherd.

Madi Pip will show some of her amazing footage swimming with tiger sharks and talk about the urgent action that is needed to protect sharks in Australia and worldwide. Dean Jefferys will show some footage of his sailing adventures in Migaloo 2 including the last two months in Hervey Bay with the whales and talk about his “2012 and Beyond” vision, sailing a fleet of boats along the east coast of OZ with the whales. Sea Shepherd stall will be there providing presents that help conserve and not cost the earth. Kevin James and Howie Cooke will sing some whale inspired songs. The events will be held at Byron Community Center Wednesday, 14th Dec at 5-30 pm and in Mullumbimby out the back of Santos, Thursday 15th Dec 7-30. $10 entry The Wednesday night event will be live streamed free on the internet at 5-30 pm on http://migaloo2.com/ To interview Howie Cooke 0422641664 and Dean Jefferys is 0467485903 or 02 66840246 reference see http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-07/japan-whaling-fleet-embarks/3716546 *Media Release

What Price Posterity ?

Expert opinions are like Biblical quotations, you can easily find one to contradict another. Mention conservation and opinions sprout like weeds in a veggie patch. So let’s apply common sense and the evidence of our own eyes instead. When land is developed for human use native bush and habitat are destroyed. Wildlife will be affected to a greater or lesser degree, this is a fact of life. To enjoy the convenience and comfort of the high tech existence we are used to we must accept such compromises.
However there are some places which we want to protect and preserve intact for posterity. The World Heritage Convention describes them as “Places important to and belonging to everyone” having “universal value that transcends the value they hold for a particular nation”.

Therefore the approach here must be very different. Expert opinion will vary, but there is also the wisdom of people living on the spot. These are descendants of white settlers, ‘incomers’ who enjoy a modern lifestyle yet are attuned and sensitive to the needs of their special environment. Also Aboriginal elders whose instinctive affinity with the natural world has evolved over thousands of years. They understand persecution and dispossession too. Ask them what works. When dealing with places which have looked after themselves pretty well for hundreds of thousands of years surely going Softly Softly is indicated? Minimum interference. Upset the balance of nature at your peril, remember rabbits and cane toads? Inhibiting predators and prey, chopping down habitat, imposing human demands, a recipe for disaster. Common sense.

Take World Heritage Listed Fraser Island with 700,000 years of recorded evolution. What goes on? 400,000 visitors and rising; all manner of group and individual outdoor pursuits, 8 campgrounds, 2 resort complexes and another planned, all with bars, restaurants, night clubs, every sports facility etc. “Eco friendly” maybe but still needing infrastructure and servicing. 80,000 hectares of destruction from an out of hand ‘controlled‘ burn. And all this won’t impact on the fragile environment? There’s more, the iconic dingoes facing extinction after 5,000 years, harried and abused, excluded from their hunting grounds and brutally cleared from the beaches. Meanwhile anyone can hire a 4WD and hammer off along the sand. The limit was reduced, repeat reduced to, not from, 80k because people were killing themselves! Recently a resident displayed 38 cardboard cutouts of dingoes, a telling symbol of the present and a warning for the future. Protecting the environment? Protecting the profit from the Tourist Dollar more likely. Do we want intact World Heritage Sites where it’s environment first and people second, or sterile but profitable Adventure Parks and Playgrounds? Can’t have both together. Common sense, but no doubt some expert will disagree. *Lin Sargent, letter to the Australian*

"Prescribed Burnoffs"

Former Federal police chief Mick Keelty will conduct his second WA fire inquiry in less than a year. Appointed yesterday to determine how a Department of Environment and Conservation controlled burn resulted in 40 homes and chalets being destroyed, Mr Keelty will meet those affected by the tragedy on Sunday. But the terms of reference Mr Keelty has been asked to work to exclude a separate DEC prescribed burn that wiped out almost 40,000ha of bush and threatened to destroy homes on Molloy Island and in Augusta. Colin Barnett said prescribed burning, for better or worse, was here to stay. "This is not a broad study or overview into the benefits or otherwise of prescribed burning," the Premier said. "Prescribed burning is absolutely essential to minimise the risk of catastrophic fire." Mr Keelty, who earlier this year came up with a damning assessment of the management of a fire in Perth Hills which destroyed 71 homes in February, has been asked to complete "short", "sharp" and "detailed" inquiry by the end of January.

He will examine: The causes of the November Margaret River fire, The basis for and circumstances leading up to the DEC prescribed burn BS520 within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. The extent to which this prescribed burn was consistent with departmental policy and standard operating procedures.

Mr Barnett said Mr Keelty also needed to determine if the DEC had high enough regard for the risks associated with weather conditions over the period of the burn. But conservation and forest protection groups described the terms of reference as a "script for a cover-up". "Looking at the Margaret River fire in isolation is a mistake," WA Forest Alliance spokeswoman Jess Beckerling said. "In the days leading up to the disaster, DEC lit fires near Margaret River, Denmark, Manjimup and Walpole. "This split the State's fire-fighting resources with disastrous consequences and showed up the systemic failure to prepare appropriately for extreme weather conditions." Conservation Council WA chief Piers Verstegen said that Mr Barnett had missed an opportunity to stop "the reckless burning practices currently employed by the DEC". *TheWest

Koalas

A new research project Conserving Koala Country has been established by Earthwatch Australia to look into the deteriorating habitat and tree condition in the Otway Ranges, Victoria.
Dr Desley Whisson a Wildlife and Conservation Biologist from Deakin University says, “so far we’ve been tracking the movement of 15 koalas (8 females/7 males) at Cape Otway and observed a high density of koalas in the area of up to 16 koalas per hectare”. In many parts of Australia Koala’s are in decline and at risk of extinction due to disease, land clearing and drought, however the high density of Koalas is posing a potential issue in The Otways. Historically Koalas were hunted for their fur and were driven to near extinction. To secure the species in Victoria, koalas were relocated to islands. The resulting populations were then used to restock mainland habitat. This has lead to low genetic diversity of the species in Victoria and has resulted in some high density populations where there are preferred food trees. At Cape Otway, these high density populations are overbrowsing Manna Gum and many trees are dying.

“It’s not unusual to see multiple koalas in the one tree in this area, and this is very unusual behaviour for koalas. The manna gum is like chocolate for the koalas”, says Dr Whisson.
Although there are a range of different trees in the area including blue gums, the research has so far assessed over 304 trees in total and found significant damage to the manna gum, the preferred browsing tree for Koala’s in this area. During the recent research trip during mating season the research team made up of Earthwatch volunteers recorded vocalisation of the koalas using a songmeter; a device set to record bellows for 5 minutes every hour. Volunteers recorded the number of bellows and whether it’s a male or female.
“We found a high number of koalas with young so it looks like a successful breeding year. The koalas are occupying very small home ranges where trees are still in good condition. They obviously don’t need to move far to find food or mates. A 3 legged female adult koala was also found, something very unusual to see and particularly for her to have survived to adulthood, ” says Dr Whisson.

Volunteers also ventured out at night with a spotlight to search for possums that could also be causing defoliation of trees. They saw lots of koalas but only found possums in one blue gum site. Richard Gilmore Earthwatch Executive Director says “It’s great to be able to be able to support research aimed at protecting the habitat of the iconic koala, and at the same time involve the general public in such a hands-on and interesting way.” The next team of Earthwatch volunteers will be heading out to do further research on the 18 April.
For more information or to sign up for an Earthwatch expedition call 03 9682 6828, email earth@earthwatch.org.au or visit http://www.earthwatch.org/australia/exped/whisson_booking.html *Network Item

Xmas Shopping to Help Wildlife

Wildwood Wildlife Shelter have their amazing wildlife calendars on sale again! The shelter for injured and orphaned wildlife recieves no other funding, and rather than thinking of just purchasing a calendar, they would like purchasers to think of it as a 'donation' to wildlife. These rescued Wildlife Calendars are beautiful. You can order now from Pam Turner at Wildwood Wildlife Shelter, PO Box 64, Glenthomson, Victoria, 3293, or phone 03 55774343. They are $25 each, plus postage. Postage costs are 1 calendar $8, 2 to 3, $10, 4 to 6, $12, 10 calendars for $15.

A very nice Christmas present, the new book "Kangaroo Footprints". Fun puzzles and activities and fascinating facts about Australia’s remarkable kangaroos. 75 pages of information and activities for students age 7 to 12.Every double page has an information page and an activity page. All pages are photocopy masters for teachers to use with HSIE /SOSE units and include cross curriculum activities. Read about it here http://www.kangaroofootprints.com.au/kangaroo-book.htm

Koala Foundation Gift Shop http://www.savethekoalashop.com/_catalog/All_Koala_Gift_Shop_Product

Dont forget the Australia Zoo Gift Shop at http://www.australiazoo.com.au

or buy "Kangaroos, Faces in the Mob" now!

http://www.kangaroo-protection-coalition.com/kangaroos-facesinthemob.html

or "Kangaroos, Myths and Realities" from http://www.awpc.org.au

Bat Conservation and Rescue online shop here http://www.wundurra.com/userimages/procart19.htm

Here is another Wildlife Group's web page with GREAT Christmas Gifts. The aim of the business is to provide an income and a mechanism to support wildlife welfare and education.
http://www.everythingwildlife.com.au

And Jennifer Parkhurst has kindly designed another beautiful dingo Christmas card.(copywrite Jennifer Parkhurst) If you would like to order please e-mail me on mkrail@bigpond.net.au. Cards are $12 for 10 or $1.50 each.

There are now many conservation group websites carrying gifts that put the profits back into wildlife protection, just do a Google search "gifts for wildlife lovers"