State by state Archives - Australian Wildlife Protection Council

Esperance (WA) Kookaburra Sighting Raises Questions About Native Wildlife Management

AWPC — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 06:55:48 +0000

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THE NATION’S LARGEST bird organisation has logged its first ever record of a kookaburra in the West Australian south coast town of Esperance.

But given it is the “king of the bush”, one expert has suggested a kookaburra cull could be an idea worth exploring.

Sean Dooley, the national public affairs manager for BirdLife Australia, said kookaburras were introduced to WA from the east coast back in 1896 and records show they had reached Albany by the 1960s.

But BirdLife had no record of a kookaburra ever being in Esperance before, until local resident Barbara Jones took a drive with her husband this week.

“Out the corner of my eye I saw a bird and I thought, ‘That’s a kookaburra!’ ” she told the ABC.

“[But my husband’s] comment to me was, ‘Well, in the 22 years that I’ve been here I’ve never seen a kookaburra.’ ”

… CONTINUE READING
By Emily Smith, ABC News

The post Esperance (WA) Kookaburra Sighting Raises Questions About Native Wildlife Management appeared first on Australian Wildlife Protection Council.

Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park (SA) With 400 Koala Fire Victims

AWPC — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 06:41:46 +0000

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No habitat to return to; generous funds raised.

“Originally when we asked for the $15,000 about 50 percent of the koala habitat was burned, so we did have plans on releasing

them into the remaining 50 …
[Sam Mitchell of Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park told the ABC].

“Since then, another 30 — maybe even more — percent of the habitat has gone, so now we have to house them for quite some time until we know we can release them, because we have to wait for the forests to regrow.”

Mr Mitchell said not only koalas but other marsupials and reptiles needed care. (gofundme)

Park ‘working flat out’ to house injured animals

Mr Mitchell said his business employed 12 staff but would slow down “dramatically” as a result of the fires.

He said he had been “overwhelmed” with medical supplies and the park was continuing to receive up to 50 new koalas per day, as well as other injured animals.

“I’ve always dedicated my life to saving animals and I’m doing everything I can for these guys,” he said.

“Every day we’re seeing more and more animals, we’re building more and more infrastructure, we’re going through a lot more medical supplies.”

Mr Mitchell said a final decision had not yet been made on how all of the money raised would be spent.

“People keep saying ‘what are you going to do with these koalas in a year’s time? What are you going to do with all these supplies?’ That’s tomorrow’s problem,” he said.

READ THE FULL STORY:
Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park owner featured in viral drop bear video says he is facing backlash for donation deluge
By Daniel Keane, ABC Radio Adelaide

MAIN IMAGE: A Humane Society worker gives water to a koala on Kangaroo Island.
SOURCE: Humane Society

AROUND THE WEB: RELATED STORY
RSPCA calls for Kangaroo Island volunteers amid fears of ‘second wave of mass wildlife deaths’ (due to starvation)
By ABC News

The post Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park (SA) With 400 Koala Fire Victims appeared first on Australian Wildlife Protection Council.

Shooting Australian Native Ducks Starts Again In SA

AWPC — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 06:35:50 +0000

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IMAGERY: Pacific Black Duck, Coorong National Park. Creative Cowboy.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA and Victoria continue post-colonial killing of many native wildlife species, and encourage wild-bird shooting seasons in the states’ wetlands. Peter Hylands explores the wonders of the Coorong (link here) where the guns will be blasting as of Saturday 20 March 2021.

AWPC members can support local wildlife groups to say ‘enough’.

The post Shooting Australian Native Ducks Starts Again In SA appeared first on Australian Wildlife Protection Council.

Another Tasmanian Devil Death — What You Can Do

AWPC — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 06:26:29 +0000

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“Thank you to all 22,000 of you for standing up to protect the Tasmanian Devils. Only yesterday, I found another young dead

devil along the road, bringing the death toll to 114 since January 2021.” — Alice Carson, 1 March 2022. change.org

I HAVE BEEN contacting Ministers and representatives trying to get some real commitment from our leaders to protect one of the last remaining health devil populations in our state. But I haven’t received any support from Liberal or Labour leaders.

In fact, when I spoke to a lady in Premier Gutwein’s office, I was shocked to hear she didn’t even know that our precious devils are a threatened species. This is why it’s important for our leaders to hear from us. We need to show we care about the devils, and they must too.

Can you share the above photo on their social media pages as comments to grab their attention?

Simply right click on the image to save it, and post as a comment under Ministers’ Facebook posts with the following comment:

“114 healthy Tasmanian Devils have died on Woollnorth road since January 2021. We need urgent action to address the roadkill Change.org/TassieDevils”

Post the photo as comments under posts on the following Facebook pages:

VIEW ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE

The post Another Tasmanian Devil Death — What You Can Do appeared first on Australian Wildlife Protection Council.

Wildlife Carers Quitting After 30 Years Due To Delwp’s Hostility Towards Kangaroos

AWPC — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 06:15:00 +0000

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Kangaroos nursed back to health after a planned fire escalated out of control now face a cull on the orders of the same department that ordered the burn. The very same department, DELWP, responsible for the care of wildlife, actually turned tail and permitted a “cull” of kangaroos, despite being tirelessly and lovingly nursed back to health by wildlife carers!

After a planned burn that started the Lancefield fire, they approved a six-month culling permit for the owner of a property that borders the shelter – because of “damage caused by the kangaroos to the land”, where he runs sheep, and fences. Surely more “damage” would be done by sheep than kangaroos? However, the latter animals are economic assets, whereas kangaroos only have economic value when dead – for the pet meat trade!

The Authority to Control Wildlife permit application was approved, thanks to the farmer citing his desire to repasturise the land. So, he can’t live harmoniously with native animals than have a minimal impact on grasslands? This farmer got the go ahead to kill kangaroos on his property, which neighbours the Macedon Ranges (Victoria) Pastoria East Wildlife Shelter. “All of the wild kangaroos here have been through that fire, they’ve all been impacted by it. They’ve lost habitat and food, they’ve been traumatised,” owner Christine Litchfield said.

Wildlife carers Ms Litchfield and Mr Ward say they are bemused by the department’s “heartbreaking” decision, considering DELWP formerly praised the work of the pair and wanted photos for an internal magazine!

“… Keep in mind we’re in a conservation zone, we are up against a large crown land forest. The idea that you’re going to kill kangaroos to stop this problem is unlikely to work completely,” Marcus Ward said. What part of “conservation” do DELWP not understand? What sort of Department, except an Orwellian one, would endorse the care and protection of wildlife – injured by their own “controlled burn” that got out of control – and also permit their “cull”?

Wildlife carers say they cannot continue to nurse injured kangaroos back to health only to risk having them shot by a neighbouring farmer once they are released. These amazing people spend their own time and money on compassion and care for injured animals, only to

have them lethally “managed”! Marcus Ward, owner of the Pastoria East Wild Life Shelter, says he will have to close his doors

after 30 years.

Under such a contradictory and twisted State government Department, presumably meant to be responsible for our wildlife, administer the Wildlife Act 1975, but at the same time approve of “culls” and the kangaroo meat industry in Victoria! They can’t be the carers, conservationists and the killers at the same time – they are deeply embedded in conflicts of interests.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) decided not to prosecute the neighbouring property owner for animal cruelty, after kangaroos were shot in the body and left to bleed to death. So, what and when do they actually do to protect wildlife in Victoria?

“We can’t continue… knowing any animal that comes here is under risk,” Mr Ward said.

PETITION: Call of plan to “cull” kangaroos

“That won’t change until we’re confident the culling won’t proceed.” Without Macedon Ranges’ Pastoria East Wildlife Shelter, Mr Ward said rescuers had few local options for shelters to take kangaroos.

“The shelter in Kilmore is overloaded from the area, and the one in Hepburn that we rely on a lot closed their doors to any new animals last week,” he said.

Native animals, especially kangaroos, are enemies of Victoria, and land-holders – apparently. The facade that DELWP have any care of responsibility for native animals is becoming thinner and they are being exposed as more interested in commercial kangaroo meat – and cleansing the State of our iconic native animals – in the name of “progress” and profits!

The post Wildlife Carers Quitting After 30 Years Due To Delwp’s Hostility Towards Kangaroos appeared first on Australian Wildlife Protection Council.

Victoria Is Definitely Not The Place To Be If You Are A Bird Or A Kangaroo!

AWPC — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 05:18:58 +0000

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KILLING COUNTRY

Taken from https://www.creativecowboyfilms.com/blog_posts/killing-country

In Australia’s State of Victoria, ATCWs are authorities to control wildlife, for the majority of permits issued and for the majority of animals, control means kill.

“In a place where nature does not count, counting nature can be a grim business. The reality is that the Victorian Government knows very little about the outcomes for the animals they issue these permits for. Most of course will be killed, just how many (more or less) is a matter for speculation. What has occurred regarding Macropod species for example is a complete disgrace”

CLIMATE CHANGE

What is also particularly disgraceful, the usual head in the sand stuff we get from Australia, is that no account at all is taken of the impacts of climate change, which are severe. So instead of taking the plight of numerous species into account, the numbers of ATCWs granted and the numbers of animals involved have increased at scale.

The most basic applied logic would give you an understanding that increasing the numbers of animals subject to so called control will only result in one outcome – that is putting more species at risk. We are also disrupting the web of life.

“The reality is that most people do not have a clue about what is going on in relation to these matters – the spin from all Australian governments makes it look as if all Australian wildlife is protected and so that is what they believe. And what I find another big problem is that this story is believed around the world. We have done something to dispel this myth in Australia, but not nearly enough”. Peter Hylands

There are gross acts of cruelty involved here too.

Duck shooting has continued despite the most dire climate conditions including the condition of wetlands and associated breeding sites.

In Victoria, tens of thousands of waterbirds are shot on internationally significant wetlands, Ramsar sites, each year.

NUMBER CRUNCH – COMPARISONS

In Victoria in the ten-year period 2009-2018 inclusive a total of 32,147 ATCWs were issued for Australian species covering 1,513,605 animals.
In Victoria, the total number of animals subject to ATCWs in the period 2016-2018 was 2.3 times higher than the number of animals subject to ATCWs 2009-2011.
The number of ATCWs (permits) issued in 2016-2018 was 1.66 times higher than the number of ATCWs issued in the period 2009-2011.
Victoria is also not the place to be if you happen to be a bird, 73 per cent of species subject to control in Victoria were bird species with a total of 397,549 birds, of which 182,721 or 45 per cent were from a range of parrot species. We also need to remember that ATCWs are not the only way animals in Victoria die, so we can add another 4 million dead water birds (I am being modest in my calculations) in the last ten years to the tally in Victoria because of duck shooting in the state. So all up, that is around 4.5 million birds in the state in the last ten years.
Politics and nature: The Victorian Labor Government was elected in November 2014 and has increased the number of animals killed across a range of mechanisms. The Labor tally in relation to ATCWs in the years 2015 – 2018 totals 16,010 ATCW permits covering 844,625 animals. In the previous four-year period the Liberal- National Coalition Government in Victoria (a government described to me by friend Dr Hugh Wirth, President of the RSPCA and WSPA (the world body) as extremely cruel) issued 11,146 ATCW permits covering 461,593 animals, 54 per cent of the Labor total.

IMPACT OF KANGAROO PET FOOD TRIAL AND SUBSEQUENT TRADE IN WILDLIFE

In Victoria, 750,000 Kangaroos were authorised to be killed by ATCW / KPFT permits in the years 2014 – 2018. The number of Kangaroos authorised roughly doubled once the pet food trial really got underway despite government statements that there would be no increase in killing rates once the trial commenced. 390,886 of these animals were authorised under KPFT of which around 212,000 were actually processed.

There was a marked step change in the killing rates of all species in 2013, the number again increased significantly after the year the Victorian Labor Party won government in the state. What was going to happen was always very obvious, and when it did occur, little was done to moderate the situation. The numbers tell us that story.

ATCWS FOR AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE IN VICTORIA

The first number in bold is the number of ATCWs issued, the second number is the number of individuals of the species subject to control. The period covered is for ten years, from 2009 – 2018 inclusive. For a number of species on the list the number subject to control has increased rapidly in the last few years.

Australian King-parrot Alisterus scapularis –2/10
Australian Fur Seal Pusillus doriferus – 8 / 258
Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen – 195 / 3,565
Australian Magpie Lark Grallina cyanoleuca – 52 / 460
Australian Raven Corvus coronoides – 862 / 25,163
Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides – 120 / 4,978
Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus – 41 / 2,411
Bell Miner Manorina melanophrys – 7 / 570
Black Kite Milvus migrans – 9 / 185
Black Swan Cygnus atratus – 17 / 530
Black Wallaby Wallabia bicolor – 1,337 / 17,682
Black-tailed Native-hen Tribonyx ventralis – 10 / 240
Broad-shelled River Turtle Chelodina expansa –1 / 100
Brolga Grus rubicunda – 2 / 51
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae – 15 / 155
Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae – 31 / 1,890
Chestnut Teal Anas castanea – 7 / 90
Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecular – 56 / 1,850
Common Long-necked Tortoise Chelodina longicollis – 4 / 10,119*
Common Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus –19 / 324
Common Wombat Vombatus ursinus – 2,044 / 26,507
Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans – 180 / 4,702
Dingo Canis lupus dingo – 14 / 134
Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa – 4 / 270
Eastern Banjo Frog Limnodynastes dumerilii – 1 / 10
Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis – 29 / 387
Eastern Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus – 18,715 / 889,488
Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius – 74 / 1,535
Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae – 756 / 9,961 Landing image
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra – 30 / 1,271
Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel – 3 / 320
Rose-breasted Cockatoo (Galah) Eolophus roseicapilla – 422 / 32,082
Gang-gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum – 1 / 30
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo – 32 / 719
Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus – 22 / 243
Grey Teal Anas gracilis – 39 / 4,492
Grey-headed Flying-Fox Pteropus poliocephalus – 38 / 52,160
Hardhead Aythya Australis – 1 / 15
Highland Copperhead Austrelaps ramsayi – 8 / 65
Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae – 25 / 187
Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea – 390 / 31,930

Little Crow Corvus bennetti– 1 / 15
Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris – 41 / 632
Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos – 37 / 452
Little Raven Corvus mellori – 77 / 1,974
Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris – 433 / 53,238
Lowland Copperhead Austrelaps superbus – 13 / 246
Mallee Ringneck Barnardius zonarius – 10 / 50
Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata – 2 / 1,510
Maned (Wood) Duck Chenonetta jubata – 1,098 / 36,206
Murray Turtle Emydura macquarii – 1 /100
Masked Lapwing (Plover) Vanellus miles – 130 / 1,607
Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna – 291 / 17,015
Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus – 90 /2,110
Noisy Minor Manorina melanocephala – 78 / 2,526
Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa – 105 / 2,480
Pacific Heron (White-necked) Ardea pacifica – 1 / 2
Pied Currawong Strepera graculina – 238 / 5,956
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyria – 23 / 370
Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus – 186 / 9,855 Image just above
Red Kangaroo Macropus rufus – 70 / 49,141
Red-bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphyriacus – 20 / 226
Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata – 123 / 3,747
Red-necked (Bennett’s) Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus – 184 / 7,863
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi – 1 / 10
Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus – 8 / 70
Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus – 45 / 840
Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae – 160 / 88,702
Silvereye Zosterops lateralis – 142 / 3,860
Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis – 16 / 495
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita – 565 / 31,675
Tammar Wallaby Macropus eugenii 3/30
Tiger Snake Notechis scutatus – 28 / 407
Wedged-tailed Eagle Aquila audax – 3 / 7
Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena – 46 / 3,271
Western Brown Snake Pseudonaja nuchalis – 1 / 1
Western Grey Kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus – 708 / 55,700
White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae – 7 / 70
White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos – 5 / 50
Yellow Rosella Platycercus flaveolus – 1 / 10
Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereus – 9 / 599
Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula – 3 / 90

VICTORIA: COMMENTS ON SPECIES
MACROPODS

Remember that in Victoria, out of 16 species of Macropod that existed in the state in the 19^th century, 7 are now extinct, three more species, if you include the Red Kangaroo, look as if they are in deep trouble, and I am starting to think about the Western Grey Kangaroo in similar terms, I will be correct if things do not change.

Macropods species have been a focus of the ATCW system and in the ten-year period from 2009 – 2018 ATCWs were issued covering 1,019,904 animals across 6 species. The numbers killed increasing rapidly in the last five years.

We also need to remember that the slaughter of Kangaroos and Wallabies also takes in the young, which are not counted by the ATCW system (these are joeys in-pouch and joeys at-foot, these animals are killed by blunt force and discarded unless they escape to die elsewhere). Roughly, because of mortality rates, 70 per cent of Kangaroo populations are female, any claims that males are the only animals targeted is untrue, females are also killed on mass. Because of size, it is also likely that the larger females, that is those of young bearing age, are the most likely to be shot. So let us say here that a modest 65 per cent of females who were killed had young (this is understated but a rough estimate), so that is, another 464,056 young animals at various stages of joeyhood.

RED KANGAROO

The number of Red Kangaroos subject to ATCWs 2016-2018 (at 33,118) in Victoria was 15.6 times the number of Red Kangaroos subject to ATCWs in 2009-2011 (at 2,120). I have expressed my concerns to Victoria’s environment minister regarding what is occurring to the magnificent Red Kangaroo in Victoria, that is, ATCWs are being issued to cover numbers of animals that exceed the species entire population in Victoria. They have taken absolutely no notice of my concerns and just kept going. In their 2017 aerial survey the Victorian Government managed to account for just 23 Red Kangaroos so they know there is a problem here.

EASTERN GREY KANGAROO

The number of Eastern Grey Kangaroos subject to ATCWs 2016-2018 (at 456,712) in Victoria was 3.5 times the number of Eastern Grey Kangaroos subject to ATCWs in 2009-2011 (at 129,195). These poor animals have taken the brunt of the expansion of the trade in wildlife in Victoria and killing rates will decimate population numbers.

WESTERN GREY KANGAROO

The number of Western Grey Kangaroos subject to ATCWs 2016-2018 (at 37,792) in Victoria was 5.3 times the number of Western Grey Kangaroos subject to ATCWs in 2009-2011 (at 7,117). I am now also becoming extremely concerned about the Western Grey Kangaroo, as it is being slaughtered in numbers that are clearly unsustainable.

WALLAROO

The story from the Victorian Government regarding the Wallaroo was as follows – “It is important to note that Victoria is the edge of the Wallaroo’s range and although it is listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act in Victoria, the species is found throughout other eastern Australian states”.

This is a classic case of redefining the distribution and range of species, that is, as the Wallaroo is almost now gone (it is listed as endangered in Victoria) from Victoria, it no longer matters as the species still exists in other states (where its populations are also being shot out). The geographic distribution of the Wallaroo in Victoria was far greater than the Victorian Government pretends. Early settlers in the Melbourne region describe Wallaroos occupying the gullies and steeper country in the vicinity of the early settlement. Museum records indicate the species persisted in the Yan Yean area until the 1960s, today Wallaroos persist only in the far north-eastern corner of Victoria and this represents a tiny fraction of their former distribution, occupying possibly as little as 2 per cent of their former range.

The sedentary habits of the Wallaroo and consequently its poor capacity for dispersal, mass shooting of animals and vast scale clearing of land in the east of the state has occurred in its habitats, further restricting the opportunities for remaining animals to disperse, populations were fargmented beyond repair, now leaving the Wallaroo clinging to its remaining and diminishing range in the east of the state.

Note: How the Tammar Wallaby got onto the list is a mystery, this might relate to captive populations.

FLYING FOXES

The Grey-headed Flying-Fox is listed as vulnerable in Victoria. 38 ATCWs covering 52,160 animals for this species were issued in the years 2009 – 2018. Flying Fox species in Australia are in trouble, particularly from mass die offs caused by heat events, sometimes involving tens of thousands of individuals, so numbers are declining fast. The use of ATCWs here is to scare off colonies, in the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, the Victorian Government attempted to kill the Flying Foxes but because of the fuss this caused, these animals are now moved on but with fewer and fewer places to go.

In New South Wales and Queensland, where there has also been a dramatic decline in Flying Fox populations, these animals are still shot. The outcome of the killing and harassment of these animals can only end one way, and that is further extinctions, to add to Australia’s already long list of such things.

“Heat stress has killed almost a third of an eastern Victorian town’s native flying fox population (more than 2,000 animals), after extreme weather on Friday”. ABC 29 January 2019.

Colonies of Flying Foxes continue to be harassed, current examples are in Cairns, Queensland and in Colac Victoria. You can read more about Flying Foxes in Australia here.

PARROTS

Parrots are a long lived group of animals, their breeding habitat, through the continual clearing of old trees with nesting hollows, is under great threat and the birds also face the challenges of climate change, some birds dying on wing from severe heat events. The likelihood is therefore that we are going to see significant reductions in Parrot numbers as birds find it harder to raise young, and as the older birds die, they will not be replaced in similar numbers.

Parrots are the most wonderful of animals and the fact that a government can contemplate killing them is such vast numbers is disgraceful.

WOMBATS

The wonderful Coarse-haired Wombat is being killed on mass, unprotected in much of the State of Victoria, you will note from the ATCW list above that permits to kill 26,507 animals in the ten-year period. Wombat species are facing serious issues in relation to the parasitic infestation caused by mites, sarcoptic mange.

WHAT THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS TO THE PUBLIC

The number of ATCWs represents the total number of authorisations issued for both lethal and non-lethal methods (e.g. scare or trap). Lethal control of wildlife is only considered when practical non-lethal methods were unsuccessful at resolving the program or are impractical to implement. ATCWs are sometimes issued for the non-lethal control of some threatened species as follows:

Brolga: issued to scare brolgas away from airports in order to protect the birds from aircrafts.
Grey-headed Flying Fox: issued to scare flying foxes from inappropriate areas where they can cause damage to the environment or property.
Magpie Goose: issued to scare magpie geese that are causing damage to crops.

WHAT THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE SAID TO ME IN VARIOUS CORRESPONDENCES

Last year I raised a series of questions with the Department of Environment in Victoria (DELWP). Here are those questions and the department’s answers to them.

1) In the listing of ATCWs 2009-2017 what is the split between lethal and non-lethal methods over this period – my research indicates that the department is against moving wildlife, preferring it to be destroyed. I do not understand entries such as the one for the Long-necked tortoise 9999 animals – is this a relocation relating to climate change for example?

DELWP is unable to provide the split between authorisations for lethal and non-lethal control as our current permit database does not have the function to be able to produce a report on this. A new database is being developed which will address this limitation.

The figure regarding Long-necked Tortoises was a data entry error at the time of the ATCW being issued. The ATCW was issued to trap and hold Common Long-necked Tortoise that may have been encountered during contraction works undertaken to an artificial water body. No tortoises were actually encountered during construction so the ATCW was not acted on.

2) I note there are no Koalas on any of the listings – under what authority have these been culled? For example 686 Koala in 2013/4. Is the government providing other different types of permits, which allow landholders to destroy wildlife?

The euthanasia of Koalas in 2013/2014 was undertaken by veterinarians on welfare grounds, as the Koalas were suffering from starvation and disease. Veterinarians are exempt from the requirement to obtain an authorisation under the Wildlife Act if they are euthanising wildlife on welfare grounds.

3) How are the activities supervised and followed up? How many officers are involved in this process?

DELWP has 52 Forest and Wildlife Officers operating across the state. DELWP Forest and Wildlife Officers monitor compliance with the ATCW system and investigate reports of non-compliance made by the public.

DELWP applies a risk-based, intelligence-led compliance approach and uses a range of compliance activities to encourage compliance and deter non-compliance. The activities undertaken to achieve compliance are selected based on a risk assessment, with consideration being given to the risk posed by the non-compliance and the cost and benefit of different compliance activities. Examples of compliance activities that may be undertaken include:

Providing education and guidance on the compliance obligations, the negative impacts of non-compliance and the best practice ways of complying.
Requesting that voluntary corrective action is undertaken to address non-compliance, if request for corrective action is ignored then compliance action can be escalated
Imposing additional licence and authorisation conditions
Audits and inspections (random or targeted)
Official warnings or notices to comply
Suspension or cancellation of licence or authorisation
Formal prosecution

4) How many prosecutions have there been for non-compliance and acts of cruelty?

DELWP takes matters of non-compliance seriously and is often successful at prosecuting offenders for non-compliance with the Wildlife Act 1975 and regulations, and associated legislation such as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.

For example, in 2016 there were 27 charges laid for offences under the Wildlife Act, with two of these being major prosecutions relating to animal cruelty (two accused in each case) that resulted in convictions.

For 2017, there were 11 charges laid for offences under the Wildlife Act, one of which is a major prosecution involving one individual with over 100 charges of alleged cruelty to animals. This matter resulted in a conviction.

5) How many ATCW applications have been rejected in the period 2009-2017?

Our current permit database does not have the function to able to produce a report on this. A new database is currently being developed which will address this limitation.

6) Why has the annual rate risen so sharply?

Wildlife population numbers fluctuate as availability of food and water changes in response to variations in temperature and rainfall. This means that the number of ATCWs sought by landholders also fluctuates year by year. For example, if there are dry conditions then landholders are more likely to seek an ATCW to reduce the competition between wildlife and their stock for feed.

7) What species are off the list in terms of not requiring an ATCW to destroy them?

Under section 7A of the Wildlife Act, the Minister can recommend to the Governor in Council to declare a species of wildlife unprotected in a specified area. Whilst this means that the unprotected species of wildlife may be controlled without an ATCW,

8) Are there any regional differences in Victoria relating to the control of wildlife?

The control of wildlife varies across the landscape. As stated earlier, wildlife population numbers fluctuate depending on availability of food and water changes in response to variations in temperature and rainfall. Similarly, the number of ATCWs issued for the control of wildlife varies.

it does not mean that control is not regulated. The unprotection order will specify the period and area to which the Order applies, in what circumstances the species is unprotected, and the conditions that must be met, such as who may control the species and the methods they may use.

There are currently unprotection orders in place for the Common Wombat in certain parishes of Victoria, Brushtail Possums living in buildings and municipal parks, Dingos on or within a certain distance from private land for the protection of livestock, and Long-billed Corellas, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Galahs causing damage to property.

9) In the recent Macropod survey why was the Wallaroo, given its status, not included in the survey – surely it is critical to monitor the circumstances of this species? Or did this species just get caught up in the general count?

The survey was undertaken to survey Victoria’s three Kangaroo species, as they are the species often subject to control under ATCWs. No other macropods were included in the survey. In addition, the area of the state that the Wallaroo inhabits was excluded from the survey due to the difficulty surveying forested areas from the air.

It is important to note that Victoria is the edge of the Wallaroo’s range and although it is listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act in Victoria, the species is found throughout other eastern Australian states.

10) On the matter of abundance I note that your fire ground guide in relation to wildlife rescue says ‘Rehabilitation of orphaned milk dependent young for common species such as Macropods and Koalas is not supported’. Given that both Macropods (7 species now extinct in Victoria with two more on the brink) and Koalas (down to a fraction of one per cent of their Australian population 200 years ago), who has and why are these species described as common. I note this issue of abundance arises in the recent efforts to stop wild life carers in Victoria rescuing certain species. I challenge the descriptions of abundance here, given the very significant decline in species, both in number and distribution of a significant range of species in Victoria.

Although Koala populations in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory were listed as ‘vulnerable’ under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 in 2012, the conservation status of the Koala in Victoria is considered to be secure. Koalas are considered overabundant in some areas of Victoria and impact on native flora through overbrowsing. Kangaroo species in Victoria are also considered secure.

DELWP is undertaking a review of the ATCW system and is seeking feedback from the community on ways to improve the system. DELWP recognises that there are often divergent views relating to wildlife management, and these views have been acknowledged in the ATCW review discussion paper.

The broader issues section of the discussion paper outlines concerns that stakeholders have raised during early consultation that relate to wildlife management, including restricting rehabilitation of overabundant wildlife that are often subject to control, such as Kangaroos.

DELWP does not have a plan to restrict the rehabilitation of overabundant species. Restricting rehabilitation of overabundant species is outside the scope of the ATCW review and not under consideration.

Note: Since writing these questions and further investigations and analysis of the findings we have now added the Red Kangaroo to the in danger of extinction group within the state. That is 7 species extinct, 3 more on the brink.

Written and copyrighted by Creative cowboy films https://www.creativecowboyfilms.com/

The post Victoria Is Definitely Not The Place To Be If You Are A Bird Or A Kangaroo! appeared first on Australian Wildlife Protection Council.

Urban Sprawl Threatens Southern Brown Bandicoots — Western Port Bay, VIC

AWPC — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 04:48:52 +0000

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Ecologist Hans Brunner:

Bandicoots, the problems and the answer.

MY CONCERN IS the survival of Southern Brown Bandicoots (SBB) east of Melbourne and especially within the biosphere region around Western Port Bay. This is the site where during the last twenty odd years 95% of them were lost. The reason for the loss of the SBBs was the combination of incompetent and unwillingness by the then governments of Department of Environment and Sustainability, and Parks Victoria, failure to properly protect them there.

(So the very government agencies we expect to uphold the protection of wildlife and habitats are actually failing! Promoting urban sprawl now is endemic to our culture, our economy? Editor)

And now, the new Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP) plans to create a large new urban estate adjacent to the Royal Botanical Gardens Cranbourne (RBGC) called the Botanic Ridge & Devon Meadows. This area was previously covered with prime bandicoot habitat land — and now have to be somehow compensated for.

(Strange how the names of some streets and housing estates take on names that represent exactly some of the natural features lost under concrete — “botanic” and “meadows”, editor.)

Since then. I have attended four workshops with DELWP, SBB experts, public servants and environment consultants, about 25 people per session.

IMAGES: Used with permission from Reiner Richter.

I was extremely disappointed that DELWP still insists in the continued use of only narrow corridors as a compensation for the loss of all the SBB habitat. I have earlier explained to them in great detail why these narrow corridors will definitely not be suitable for SBBs. Unfortunately, there seems to be absolutely nothing that I could do to change their mind. They were also not prepared to apply an actual Population Viability Assessment (PVA) to the area. All they did was talk about the use of it, but did not apply it, in order to prove that SBBs could safely survive in these conditions for at least the next hundred years! To me, this looked like 90% of political overbearing and only 10% of environmental input.

No way could a PVA pass a test here and neither can artificial and narrow corridors be used for SBBs.

I have therefore consistently insisted that SBBs can now only be properly secured within large reserves surrounded by a predator proof fence. There are several such reserves suitable for this purpose such as the Pines, the Langwarrin Reserve and the Briars. SBBs can then be safely protected from dogs, foxes, feral cats and from competition from rabbits. Why has so much gone wrong with DELWP? Is there not one person among them who understands and loves SBBs enough to give them the deservedly highest protection available?

I now urge DELWP to urgently carry out their obligation and to put those SBBs safely into some large reserves the same way they are protected in the RBGC. I will be extremely frustrated if this is not done. Only the highest possible protection for them can now do.

— Hans Brunner

The post Urban Sprawl Threatens Southern Brown Bandicoots — Western Port Bay, VIC appeared first on Australian Wildlife Protection Council.

Breaking News: VIC Govt Lifts Moratorium

AWPC — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 04:40:08 +0000

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AS THE BUSHFIRES continue to kill kangaroos, The Victorian State Government has lifted their emergency moratorium of the commercial killing of kangaroos.

No wildlife assessment has been completed.
The number of surviving kangaroos is unknown.

Write directly to the Victorian Premier Daniel Andres today to voice your concerns
daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au
Or phone directly (03) 9651 5000

#ShameAustralia
#KangaroosAlive
#AnimalWelfare

The post Breaking News: VIC Govt Lifts Moratorium appeared first on Australian Wildlife Protection Council.

Three Days At A Border Fireground (VIC, NSW)

AWPC — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 04:31:27 +0000

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AWPC committee member and long-time wildlife rescuer Chris Lehmann spent three days on the post-fire ground between between Victoria and NSW around Albury and Corryong in early February. Here is his first hand initial report and also a youtube clip from that journey.

The new AWPC committee supports all community efforts to help bring emergency assistance, including food and water drops, to fire survivors as well as to areas that are so dry that animals have lost their natural sustenance (and that might burn next!)

State governments in Victoria and NSW have yet to take leadership or action on helping the wildlife survivors bar a few well-publiced food drops to endangered wallabies.

Landholders and the wider community, including volunteers from overseas are leading the way with generosity and dedication.

My first expression of what I saw at Corryong:

A 2nd report from the Corryong Fire Grounds, February 2020.

(Click above text to link to the written post on the Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter Inc. Facebook page.)

Longing for life

We spent 3 days in the fire grounds of Corryong, some 30 days after Corryong was evacuated because of the fire storms that had destroyed Woormargama, Burrowa, Pine, and Mittamatite Forests plus much of the farmland and many homes around.

We were searching for life.

Mt Mittamatite is a local mountain forest covering about 100 square kms. There might have been 100,000+ furred and feathered animals living on just Mt Mittamatite. Now, 30 days later, as a result of daily searches (over the last few weeks) well into the early hours of the morning, a local wildlife carer estimates there is 50–100 animals surviving there.

He has identified the very few patches of forest that have enough cover and dregs of food for survival and has committed to providing water and food for those few survivors. Those 50–100 kangaroos, wallabies and wombats will be the genesis of the recovery of the mountain.

Life is there, we found it — but the lack of water and good food is too real.

We need to support these animals for a few months. On Tuesday we [sent] 30–40 bags of carrots up to Bellaboo Wildlife Shelter who will lead the water station and food drop effort.

The post Three Days At A Border Fireground (VIC, NSW) appeared first on Australian Wildlife Protection Council.

Sometimes Sad And Unfair Things Happen (VIC)

AWPC — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 04:26:49 +0000

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I HAVE BEEN TREATING this wombat for sarcoptic mange since early June. The 2nd major treatment was yesterday afternoon, when myself and the local landowners were enjoying seeing the improved condition and alertness of this animal. She was definitely on the road back to normal.

Julie, who is the landowner, contacted me this afternoon because she found our dear wombat dead on the grass. Someone had deliberately run over her while she was eating grass. The tyre tracks are pretty obvious.

— Chris Lehmann, Facebook post. 23 July 2020

The post Sometimes Sad And Unfair Things Happen (VIC) appeared first on Australian Wildlife Protection Council.

State by state Archives - Australian Wildlife Protection Council

Esperance (WA) Kookaburra Sighting Raises Questions About Native Wildlife Management

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Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park (SA) With 400 Koala Fire Victims

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No habitat to return to; generous funds raised.

“Since then, another 30 — maybe even more — percent of the habitat has gone, so now we have to house them for quite some time until we know we can release them, because we have to wait for the forests to regrow.”

Park ‘working flat out’ to house injured animals

Shooting Australian Native Ducks Starts Again In SA

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Another Tasmanian Devil Death — What You Can Do

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Can you share the above photo on their social media pages as comments to grab their attention?

Wildlife Carers Quitting After 30 Years Due To Delwp’s Hostility Towards Kangaroos

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PETITION: Call of plan to “cull” kangaroos

Victoria Is Definitely Not The Place To Be If You Are A Bird Or A Kangaroo!

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CLIMATE CHANGE

NUMBER CRUNCH – COMPARISONS

IMPACT OF KANGAROO PET FOOD TRIAL AND SUBSEQUENT TRADE IN WILDLIFE

ATCWS FOR AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE IN VICTORIA

VICTORIA: COMMENTS ON SPECIES MACROPODS

RED KANGAROO

EASTERN GREY KANGAROO

WESTERN GREY KANGAROO

WALLAROO

FLYING FOXES

PARROTS

WOMBATS

WHAT THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS TO THE PUBLIC

WHAT THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE SAID TO ME IN VARIOUS CORRESPONDENCES

2) I note there are no Koalas on any of the listings – under what authority have these been culled? For example 686 Koala in 2013/4. Is the government providing other different types of permits, which allow landholders to destroy wildlife?

3) How are the activities supervised and followed up? How many officers are involved in this process?

4) How many prosecutions have there been for non-compliance and acts of cruelty?

5) How many ATCW applications have been rejected in the period 2009-2017?

6) Why has the annual rate risen so sharply?

7) What species are off the list in terms of not requiring an ATCW to destroy them?

8) Are there any regional differences in Victoria relating to the control of wildlife?

9) In the recent Macropod survey why was the Wallaroo, given its status, not included in the survey – surely it is critical to monitor the circumstances of this species? Or did this species just get caught up in the general count?

Urban Sprawl Threatens Southern Brown Bandicoots — Western Port Bay, VIC

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Ecologist Hans Brunner:

Bandicoots, the problems and the answer.

Breaking News: VIC Govt Lifts Moratorium

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Three Days At A Border Fireground (VIC, NSW)

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My first expression of what I saw at Corryong:

Longing for life

Sometimes Sad And Unfair Things Happen (VIC)

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VICTORIA: COMMENTS ON SPECIES
MACROPODS