Thursday, November 8, 2012

New Website; This Blog Now Closed

In late August this year, we launched Bob Irwin Wildlife & Conservation Foundation Inc, to expand and continue the wildlife advocacy and conservation work or Bob Irwin. 

The website of the Foundation, www.bobirwinwildlife.com, includes a News/Blog section, replacing this one.

THIS BLOG IS NOW CLOSED. 

Please subscribe to our news and articles and join the discussion on the new website, join us as a supporter, and spread the word. 

Sincere thanks for your interest in Bob Irwin Wildlife & Conservation Inc.

Bob


Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Paddle Out for Whales 2012




Hervey Bay, the whale watch capital of the world, held the third annual Paddle Out for Whales on Saturday 23 June.  Australia's largest anti-whaling protest as part of IFAW's National Whale Day.  Even the bad weather didn't deter participants getting in the water and taking a stand against whaling.



Despite the weather, the Paddle Out for Whales 2012 was a great success! We had a sensational turn out despite the fact that it was absolutely freezing cold on the beach and in the water. 

Bob Irwin and Hayley Bateup, our event ambassadors, did a sensational job opening the day and had a great time themselves. We took all of the volunteers and event crew for a sunset sail on the Friday night before the paddle out to get to know each other and kick back before the manic day. It was lots of fun! Saw lots of dolphins and turtles from Blue Dolphin Marine Tours who kindly donated the trip for the event. 

I had people moved to tears on the beach as they watched on at the stunt. We had the sounds of Hervey Bay's humpbacks playing through the loudspeaker as the paddlers took to the water followed by a very moving one minute silence as we waited for the helicopter to do a fly over. We released 267 flowers into the water representing the whales slaughtered last hunting season and it was quite moving watching them all wash into shore. 

The paddlers that came back into shore after the stunt were buzzing with excitement. Everyone commented about the experience saying that it was exhilarating waiting for the helicopter to fly over and that the one minute silence was highly emotive. 

We noticed this year that "word of mouth" really was out there, with people coming from all around Australia to take part. The awareness about the event is spreading to more than just the local community. Really restores our faith that the support for the cause is out there and there is strong support towards putting an end to whaling. 

We had to cancel some of the outdoor entertainment due to the weather which was unfortunate but ended up moving the bands and movie screening inside and had a lovely little acoustic evening toasty warm inside Enzo's on the Beach. 

A huge shout out to Enzo and the crew from Enzo's on the Beach for hosting the event this year. They were seriously wonderful and donated so much of their time and services to us this year. Couldn't have pulled it off without them and we're going to bottle Enzo's passion for everyone next year! 

A BIG thank you to all of our volunteers, performers and paddlers for taking part in the 2012 event. Everything to put on the event is a donated service for the whales and we were so happy to see the support in 2012. 



































Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Bob Irwin Takes A Bite-Sized Bite Over Plan to Shoot Crocs


Bob Irwin Takes A Bite-Sized Bite Over Plan to Shoot Crocs 

Australia May Allow Crocodile Hunting Safaris in Northern Territory 

Let's Make a Killing, It'll Be Good for the Crocs 

Crocs in the Crosshairs 

Australia Mulls Crocodile Safari Hunts 

Territory Renews Push for Safari Crocodile Hunts 

Australia Considers Crocodile Hunting Safaris in Northern Territory 

Croc Safaris "Back on Agenda" 

It disgusts me that the Australian Government is considering allowing Crocodile hunting in the Northern Territory.  I've just written this letter to Tony Burke - Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water Population and Communities.  I would urge you to do the same.  His address is:  tony.burke.mp@aph.gov.au.

Tony Burke
Minister for Sustainable Population, Communities, Environment and Water, Canberra
 

Dear Mr Burke,
The issue of trophy hunting of crocodiles has once again been raised.  The apparent increase in croc numbers in the NT and spate of attacks on people are provided as justifications for allowing “safari-style” hunting of crocodiles.  Just to make the notion even more socially and politically palatable, a program that focuses on Indigenous participation and employment has been proposed. Who’s going to knock that – a lucrative, sustainable eco-venture that supports our indigenous compatriots?  But let’s get the issue into its proper context before we go any further. 
Trophy hunting is not going to stop unfortunate souls from getting killed by crocs – preventing that requires better education and awareness campaigns.  Neither will it be the economic salvation of local indigenous communities; the opportunities for less violent forms of ecotourism are far more lucrative.  This type of hunting is going to appeal to the type of folk (a small, rich and vocal minority) who get their kicks out of shooting other large and potentially dangerous wildlife, like rhinos, elephants and lions; great white hunters who often justify their blood-sport by arguing that they contribute to the conservation of the magnificent animals that they blow away. 
Now as far as the animal welfare considerations are concerned, crocs have a brain smaller than my pinkie finger, and I’m not a big bloke!  Imagine trying to hit that on a moving target submerged in water, encased in a big solid bone skull, and you get what I’m saying: there are going to be a lot of maimed crocodiles dying slow deaths if trophy hunting gets the green light.  There’s nothing humane about trophy hunting, particularly for animals like crocs.
In addition to the cruelty inflicted upon the target animal, taking an alpha croc out of the ecosystem significantly changes the population dynamics.  The big old boys control their river systems, keeping order amongst the smaller younger crocs.  When these animals are hunted and removed, anarchy breaks lose as the younger crocs aim to elevate their status in the hierarchy.  The younger crocs act just like teenagers playing up when there's a lack of authority, and in my opinion this disorder poses a considerable risk of increased attacks upon humans, with the youngsters pushing boundaries and testing their predation abilities.
In my mind, the question of whether trophy hunting of crocodiles should be allowed is a question of morality.  For me, it’s just not right to hunt and kill something for fun or greed. I thought in this country we had made enough moral progress to have put that one to bed years ago.  But here it is again, rearing its ugly head, under the guise of “sustainability” and helping indigenous communities, to boot. Too often now, the proponents of “sustainable wildlife use” seem to think that if they can argue that an activity is ecologically sustainable, then any ethical or moral concerns are irrelevant or redundant.  Developing an ecotourism venture with indigenous folk as the guides and beneficiaries is a great idea, but let the shooting be done with cameras, not guns.  Then it’s humane, sustainable and morally right, and I reckon will make a lot more money than the small, loud, safari hunting elite would ever have brought us.
I believe that if crocodile trophy hunting were to proceed it would have a very negative impact on Australia’s lucrative Tourism Industry and severely damage Australia’s image world wide as a friendly, caring country.
I would have thought that in our modern world where there is increased pressure on our wildlife to avoid extinction, that every decent human would find this proposal abhorrent.
Bob Irwin

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Get Up Australia! Save the Reef!



 
Hi Everyone,

When you join all the dots and see what the fossil fuel industry has planned for the Great Barrier Reef, you can't help but be outraged.

Coal and coal seam gas projects, dredging, pipelines and oil spills -- the threats to the Reef, and our land, are hard to believe.

Every Australian should know about this, so we've made this 3 minute video to put it all in context. Let's share it with workmates, neighbours, school-friends and send a simple message around Australia: save the Reef.

www.getup.org.au/savethereef

Thanks,
the GetUp team.