Bob Irwin Wildlife Fund

Bob Irwin and Earthrace Australia Join Forces to Save the Dugongs & Turtles

2012-02-09T09:22:00.000-08:00

A Letter from Kelvin Davies - CEO of Rainforest Rescue - Helping to Save the Cassowaries!

2011-12-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

I’m urging everyone to do their bit to help save the endangered Cassowary. It’s estimated there are only 1000 remaining in wild in

Australia

. If you are in the

Canada

please click this link to made a donation to support the purchase of rainforest that is important Cassowary habitat.

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/protect-rainforest-save-the-cassowary-australia/

This video helpfully explains how people in the

and

Canada

can help save the endangered Cassowary through the Global Giving. Please watch the video then ‘share’ this on Facebook. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GVDlspvLpA&feature=youtu.be

Rainforest Rescue has launched its appeal to buy a 16th Daintree rainforest property for the endangered Cassowary. They need your help to purchase Lot 8 Buchannan Creek Road as a special place. Each $5 will buy 1 sq metre of the rainforest and protect it forever. Please read this story.
http://www.rainforestrescue.org.au/Protect_Rainforest_Forever.html

How about giving something back to our wild things, this festive season. Plant a tree for the endangered Cassowary. Check out Rainforest Rescue for more information. http://www.rainforestrescue.org.au/shop/Gift_Card_CassowaryCare.html

New BOB IRWIN Videos Just Posted!

2011-11-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

Bob Irwin Wants a Khaki Army of Wildlife Warriors in London for Protest About Killing Sea Turtles and Dugongs in Australia! Get your CRIKEY gear on!

WATCH HERE

Dugong and Sea Turtle Campaign with BOB IRWIN

WATCH HERE

Bob Irwin is in South Australia to see why wombats are buried alive!

WATCH HERE!

FIND OUT MORE at SAVE AUSTRALIA'S DUGONGS AND TURTLES

Bob Irwin Shuns Animal Politics

2011-09-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

Bob Irwin has announced he will NOT be contesting the seat of Ashgrove. Click here to read more.

2011-09-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE

Bob Irwin has taken the rare step of appearing in a series of television commercials calling for an immediate moratorium on the hunting of endangered dugongs and sea turtles around the Australian coastline by Indigenous hunters under Native Title.

And in Queensland, the only state in Australia having no cruelty laws in relation to indigenous hunting, Bob has decided to speak out.

Hundreds of the endangered animals are washing up dead along our coastline from unknown causes, and uncontrolled and unmonitored hunting is a pressure they do not need.

The commercials will be aired in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland for two weeks beginning on Steve Irwin Day September 4^th.

James Epong, an Indigenous Australian and son of Elders and Sea Country people of the Mandubarra mob Henry and Nellie Epong, joins Bob's call for a moratorium.

Ben Cropp, world renowned marine documentary maker and diver, will also appear in separate commercials, calling for the same, over the two week period.

In light of Australia's opposition to Japan's whaling, they feel we should clean up our own backyard first.

Link to all three clips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9moinJ0TM8

Link to cruelty: http://youtu.be/6lT9QLrQITk

All media enquiries to be directed to Colin Riddell:
mobile 0427632208, home 07 40454034.

Email dugongman@gmail.com Website http://dugongandturtles.webs.com/

2011-05-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

Please understand that if we continue to destroy our natural world, we will destroy ourselves. Do you want our future generations to eat contaminated food and drink poisoned water?? There is not doubt this is the path that our corrupt governments and the mining industries are working towards.

Get off your bums NOW and please stand up and fight for our beautiful country. We've just been sent this article from 'Lock the Gates.'

Bob

Fellow Queenslanders, we desperately need your help.

Please circulate this to everyone you know – this has come from prominent Environmental Activists who know how to find where the permits have been granted.

You should be aware – and deeply concerned - that these stories are NOT being reported in the Queensland media – and Regional Councils like Toowoomba are not even telling their residents.

Mining of this magnitude will destroy our great state of Queensland as we know it – all to save two broken and busted Governments.

In 20 years we will be a slag heap, our waters will be polluted, our Artesian Basin sucked dry – and we will have nothing left to feed our people.

Please LOCK THE GATE and prepare to stand up and fight – our farmland and our way of life is worth it.

Virtually the entire Darling Downs is now covered by coal permits of one form or another. The South Burnett will be next, as well as the Brisbane Valley.

Ambre Energy has a mining lease application over 2000 ha of Felton Valley, as well as around 70,000 ha under exploration permits all the way from Toowoomba to Warwick.

Newmont has a mineral development license over 13000 ha south of Felton.

Acland (New Hope mine) is currently in Stage One which covers 2,2000 ha. By Stage Three – with the Environmental Impact Study now awaiting rubber-stamp approval – it will include an additional 5,400 ha, giving the mine a total area of 7,400 ha. New Hope Coal owns all the farmland almost to Oakey showground, and east out to Goombungee.

Other mining leases in the East Acland area amount to an area around 40 sq km.

· Haystack Plain: 13,000 ha of iconic Darling Downs farmland. Tarong Energy – which is wholly owned by the Queensland Government – owns the Mineral Development Licence for the coal deposit under the Haystack Plain.

Tarong Energy representatives have stated that they have more than enough coal to service the Tarong Power Station for its entire operating life (25years+) without using the Haystack coal deposit.
They are, however, now reviewing the asset with the intention to sell the Mineral Development Licence to another company. The Haystack coal deposit is export quality coal and is likely to be exported.’

There are exploration leases or applications for leases over the entire towns of

Warwick, Highfields, Meringandan, Gowrie, Kingsthorpe, Pittsworth, Oakey, Gowrie Mountain, Hodgson Vale and Cabarlah.

There are also applications for bauxite mines near Crows Nest and nearby Geham.

There are bauxite exploration permits for 7,000sq kms of Qld, focused around Kingaroy and Pittsworth in particular.

There is a permit granted for a coal mine in the Brisbane Valley only 5 kms upstream from Somerset Dam – Brisbane’s major water catchment area.

The Qld State Government, the Toowoomba Regional Shire Council and a local developer are currently forcing through the biggest noxious and dangerous toxic industrial estate ever seen in regional

Australia

on the famous old grain and thoroughbred farm Wellcamp Downs – only ten minutes from the centre of the city.

At 600ha, it is double the size of the heavy industrial area for the entire city of Brisbane. The site – a famous grain farm – is an old koala habitat crossed by a creek that flows into the Murray-Darling. When the south-westerly winds blow in winter, noxious fumes will settle on the roofs of Toowoomba – and straight into rainwater tanks.

Despite the fact that Toowoomba is a Garden City with an economy based on farming, tourism, education and retirees, there have been no environmental studies on the site or buffering to protect nearby farms. One of

Australia

’s leading Urban Planners has described the proposal as ‘simply unbelievable - a blight on the landscape”.

There are now exploration leases or applications for leases over almost every major grain farm, thoroughbred farm and beef farm on the Darling Downs.

Australian Society for Kangaroos TV Commercial

2011-05-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

As you know I've been speaking out against the Kangaroo Industry here in Australia for a number of years now - it is not sustainable - and soon we'll be hearing of the near-extinction of our beautiful kangaroos and wallaroos.

The Australian Society for Kangaroos has had a tv commercial produced speaking out against the industry and it's cruelty to our roos.

If you're in Australia, you'll be able to watch this commercial on the net, however, overseas people won't be able to watch it YET. This is because of restricted music rights on the song that is played during the commercial. Hopefully the problem will be resolved soon and then everyone will be able to watch the commercial.

The link below takes you directly to the TV ad and also the rest of their new website with lots of current information about the kangaroo industry and our other campaigns.

http://www.australiansocietyforkangaroos.org/advertisement.html

Thanks for watching!

Bob

Gas Coal Seam Fire Poison Horror

2011-05-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

COAL SEAM GAS INDUSTRY
What an absolute horror story! And all Australians should take note that this same gas industry has started in Australia. So far only 5,000 wells have been dug (in America over 250,000 wells have gone down) - with huge problems already - not to mention the amount of toxic chemicals that will eventually end up in the Great Artesian Basin - water source for much of our wildlife as well as our cattle and the country folk who rely on the Artesian basin for their water supply.
Every citizen in every country should WATCH THIS CLIP!
This video clip is 15 mins long - so take a look when you've got enough time.

And have a read of THIS ARTICLE too!

Our governments are totally corrupt and have no credibility whatsoever!

This link to the Four Corners Program aired on 21/2/2011 about the coal gas industry here and the problems it's produced already.

It's time EVERYONE had something to say about this disaster in the making!!!

Regards,
Bob Irwin

BOLIVIA'S MOTHER OF ALL LAWS ENSHRINES RIGHTS OF NATURE

2011-04-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

To all those who are holding an audacious faith in the future, please take the time to read the following article from

Bolivia

.

For a very long time I have been concerned for the well being of our Mother Earth and all the beautiful creatures that live on this planet.We must continue to strive to stop the greed and corruption within our governments and corporations as they continuing to destroy our country and our future.
We must all give the world the best we can.

It may never be enough - but give the best you have anyway.

Listen with your heart.

Bob

P.S. Words of wisdom from Denise Garrett and Kim Dale:

"The planet can survive without human life, but it cannot survive without animal life.

The animals are the keepers of the Earth - they pollinate it, fertilize it, prune it, aerate it and keep the Earth healthy.

They are life itself.

Without them we are the endangered species - and remember every time a species dies, we are ourselves one step closer to extinction."

Here's the article, that I'd like you all to read -

Thank you,
Bob Irwin

BOLIVIA

'S MOTHER OF ALL LAWS ENSHRINES RIGHTS OF NATURE
John Vidal
Guardian News & Media
April 12, 2011

LA PAZ:

Bolivia

is set to pass the world's first laws granting nature equal rights to humans. The Law of Mother Earth, now agreed by politicians and grassroots social groups, redefines the country's rich mineral deposits as "blessings" and is expected to bring radical new conservation and social measures to reduce pollution and control industry.

The country, which has been pilloried by the US and Britain in the United Nations climate talks for demanding steep carbon emission cuts, will establish 11 new rights for nature. They include: the right to life and to exist; the right to continue vital cycles and processes free from human alteration; the right to pure water and clean air; the right to balance; the right not to be polluted; and the right to not have cellular structure modified or genetically altered.

Controversially, it will also enshrine the right of nature "to not be affected by mega-infrastructure and development projects that affect the balance of ecosystems and the local inhabitant communities."

"It makes world history. Earth is the mother of all," said the Vice-President, Alvaro Garcia Linera.

The law has been heavily influenced by a resurgent indigenous Andean spiritual world view, which places the environment and the earth deity known as the Pachamama at the centre of all life. Humans are considered equal to all other entities.

Bolivia

has long suffered from serious environmental problems from the mining of tin, silver, gold and other raw materials.

www.facebook.com/TheLawofMotherEarth

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Legalrightsforeverylife/

2011-03-11T13:47:00.000-08:00

I would ask all those who care for our beautiful wildlife and the environment to read this email written by Justine Seymour to Mr. Curtis Pitt, elected Queensland State Labour Govt Member for Mulgrave in North Queensland.

This email (below) reinforces the incompetence and total lack of responsibility of our present Governments.

I commend Justine for the action she has taken in writing to the local state government member in North Queensland! If you would also like to write to him to express your views on the dugong situation - here is his email address: curtis.pitt@queenslandlabor.org

We have, occurring in north Queensland, one of the most serious abuses of endangered dugongs and yet our governments are turning a blind eye to the problem. No one knows how many are left in the wild.

The United Nations, in a report on the global dugong situation, said that the dugong will be extinct within 40 years.

Yet our governments continue to allow unlimited, unregulated and in my view unacceptable killing of these dugongs.

ColinWhoCares and I have been calling for a moratorium on the dugong hunting for over 12 months now.  Nothing has been done by the governments and the killing continues. Take a look at ColinWhoCares site: http://dugongandturtles.webs.com/.

And while you're on the net please take a look at www.marina.tincanbaydolphins.com.au.

Please sign their campaign to stop the proposed marinas being built in this near pristine dugong, turtle and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin habitat.  The development of the marinas in the Tin Can Bay area will kill the sea grass beds - which are the sole food source for the dugong.

The Tin Can Bay area which is a part of the Great Sandy Straits have the highest density of dugong in the world.  They have already been killed off in 3 other countries around the world.

Please help save the remaining dugong populations here in Australia.

Bob Irwin

***

Here is Justine's letter to Curtis Pitt:

Dear Mr. Pitt,

As the subject line of this emails states, I am writing to you on the ongoing issue of dugongs and sea turtles, specifically the abject cruelty they are subjected to.

Now, I heard your response to the item on Channel 7 about the turtle left upside down on its back outside a house in Yarrabah, and quite frankly, I am disgusted with the INACTION on your part as well as your party, in particular Kate Jones in her role as Environment Minister.

GBRMPA's plan along with the Queensland Government's for communities to self manage clearly is not working, otherwise we would not have this situation. There is also quite obviously - and unfortunately - no Elder respect in the communities so it needs tight Government control to make it effective. If there were Elder respect, again this would not be happening.

I, along with thousands of people around the world (yes, this issue does have global attention) are absolutely appalled that such an act of cruelty, such as a turtle being left on its back in searing heat, such as a turtle having its flippers hacked off one by one and its belly cut open WHILST STILL ALIVE is acceptable in Queensland.

To make this easier for you to understand - it makes no difference to the turtle whether its assailant is Indigenous or not! The pain is the same!

I would like now to take issue with the comments made by you on your website. On your website you said (my questions/comments are interspersed with **):

"Like most people, I found it very difficult to watch the footage on Seven News earlier this week of a turtle at Yarrabah left to bake in the sun.

From my perspective, this was a case of animal cruelty. Where it occurred or why is not the point. I don’t know anyone who condones the inhumane activity like this, especially Traditional Owners."

** An unbelievable statement considering it is those very Traditional Owners who are doing this!

"While I don’t agree with every aspect of the Opposition’s proposal for changes to animal cruelty regulations, I do agree with the general principles behind it."

** What part do you not like and why do you not recommend the immediate implementation of it?

"That’s why I support the work that our joint Commonwealth-State Dugong and Turtle Taskforce is doing. It has already committed to look at whether any occurrences of perceived animal cruelty during traditional hunting and gathering require tougher regulations."

** "perceived cruelty"?? What on earth does this mean? Are you suggesting the turtle was not in any way suffering? As I said, it makes no difference to the turtle whether its assailant is Indigneous or not! The pain is the same! As far as the work that the joint Commonwealth-State Dugong and Turtle Taskforce is doing - we can see the results of that taskforce and it seems to be similar to the results of community consultation. This must be simply lip service on the Government's part as the situation is continuing and turtles and dugongs are still suffering immeasurable cruelty.

"I understand that for this particular incident, there is a police investigation ongoing in conjunction with relevant authorities including GBRMPA (Great Barrier Reef and Marine Parks Authority)."

** But there is no LAW under which to act!!!! This is the stupidity of it! What are GBRMPA and the police going to do? The animal cruelty laws do NOT apply to Indigneous Australians, therefore the investigation will serve no purpose. We have already established that community consultation is not working. Tell me what the police and GBRMPA are going to achieve by investigating without any law under which to prosecute?

"Some people continue to make simplistic statements about what is clearly a complex issue – often as a means of scoring cheap political points or for other agendas. Making this a political issue will get us nowhere."

** It is as complicated as you make it. It is about killing an animal humanely versus an horrific, cruel and drawn out death. That is a very simple concept. I am concerned about the animals. I don't care who fixes it, I only care that it is fixed.

"However I’m very pleased to see the Opposition in Queensland have adopted the Government’s view and is quite sensibly no longer calling for moratorium on all traditional hunting. The one size fits all approach almost never works – particularly on a complex issue such as this one. Local solutions are what’s needed, in partnership with all stakeholders."

**This is INCORRECT and you know it. The Opposition has never stepped back from a moratorium, nor have they adopted your Government's position, which as we can see results in absolutely nothing. What hypocisy of you to mention political point scoring above and yet come out with this statement!

Tell me Mr. Pitt exactly how many dugongs and sea turtles are left and please also give me the number which represents a sustainable (per annum) hunting quota. I already know the answer to these questions because you cannot supply the data. THERE EXISTS NO DATA! Therefore, you cannot possibly know whether a moratorium is justified or not.

Furthermore, there is an increasing problem with the flood plume affecting sea grass which dugongs feed on and we are now dealing with the aftermath of TC Yasi. This adds yet more pressure to the existing ones, including traditional hunting as well as poaching for the illegal meat trade, making it more pertinent than ever to temporarily stop hunting so as to establish the situation and see what constitutes a sustainable take. See also the UN meda release from October 4: http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=649&ArticleID=6772 The relevant line here is: "Now the remaining populations of this seemingly clumsy sea mammal, commonly known as a sea cow, are at serious risk of becoming extinct within the next 40 years."

Considering that the vast majority of the world's dugong live in Australian waters, your party's - and especially Kate Jones' - statement that dugongs are NOT in danger of becoming extinct defies all logic, ESPECIALLY when the current numbers are not known!

Mark Baker wrote the article "Slaughter of the Innocents" for The Age in 1998 which quotes both Prof. Helene Marsh and Dr. Colin Limpus (see article: http://www.awpc.org.au/other_fauna/innocents.htm) (Prof Marsh) predicts that dugongs will disappear from all areas of the world apart from far north Queensland and the Torres Strait within the next century and that this last "dugong Serengeti" will also be endangered unless an effective scheme is implemented. "The future of coastal marine mammals is extremely bleak. If we can't get our act together those species are going to go, " she says. "In the Torres Strait the situation could be managed quite easily and it could be very empowering for the local people....Australia is a custodian of marine biodiversity. We have a responsibility to act."

Dr Colin Limpus, an expert on turtle conservation with the Queensland Department of Environment, estimates that about 10,000 of the migratory green turtles that nest in Australian waters are killed by fishermen each year. While most are captured in an expanding commercial trade in Indonesia and PNG, Dr Limpus reckons as many as 10,000 a year are hunted in and around the Torres Strait Peninsula Zone.

He believes this harvest is well in excess of sustainable levels for a species that takes between 30 and 50 years to mature and breeds only every five or six years. Traditional hunters - who also prey on pregnant dugongs for their foetuses and young calves - deliberately target mature female turtles for their eggs and supposedly superior meat. "Right now there are so many it's difficult for people to see the problem, but my crystal ball-gazing tells me we are losing them and we can't see it," says Dr Limpus. "I don't think we can afford to continue like this for more than, at best, another 15 or 20 years. We are hammering the hell out of them and when the crash comes it is probably going to be irretrievable." Dr Limpus is concerned at the lack of a conservation ethic among most Islanders. "They just see this as another food source that they can go and get whenever they like and that will be forever."

Now back to your comments:

"I’m prepared to work with anyone – including those with differing political views – to make

progress on this issue. I’d urge anyone who has a genuine interest in this issue to focus on where there is already agreement– by and large we are seeking the same outcome – sustainability of these majestic creatures."

** Seeing as you are prepared to work with anyone I suggest you support the proposal to have the Animal Cruelty Act ammended. To put it bluntly - put your money where your mouth is!

And when you say "focus on where there is agreement" what exactly do you mean? Can you please state exactly where there this agreement already exists? Agreement on what exactly and between whom? Who is not in agreement and why not? Why are you not addressing that as well?

"Now is the time for both the State and Federal governments to work with Traditional Owner groups on compliance action, including the training of Indigenous Rangers as inspectors equipped with prosecution powers to enable us to stamp out illegal poaching and trading."

** Your Government did not even investigate the claims and complaints made about eskies full of dugong and turtle meat coming through Cairns airport on a daily basis. NOT ONE PERSON bothered to make a trip out there. On a positive note, at least you now admit there is illegal poaching and trading going on.

"Rogue elements involved in a black market trade for their meat must be stopped and those caught should feel the full force of the law. I’d encourage anyone who can provide evidence of such activity to come forward to allow authorities to investigate."

**see above.

Your sincerely,

Justine Seymour

2011-02-11T12:43:00.000-08:00

THE FRASER ISLAND DINGO

Another Australian species faces extinction, and only through understanding and action can we stop the inevitable fate of the Fraser Island Dingo! Jennifer Parkhurst highlighted the need for such action with her photographs and articles:

"The cruel occurrence of starvation, hazing (aversive conditioning), collaring, destruction of pups, removal of territorial ground, fencing, electric grids, and uncontrolled burns, threatens to wipe out the dingoes on Fraser Island forever. Yet I am constantly inspired by the dingoes’ ability to survive despite this ongoing persecution. But they can’t survive indefinitely.’ (extract from Jennifer Parkhurst's Plea for the dingoes)

Save Fraser Island Dingoes Inc. was formed to protect and preserve this Iconic Australian species, especially in a World Heritage National Park that should be a natural sanctuary. Animals have the right to their territory, and the right to access their food, to live without fear of being hit by vehicles or harassed by people, and to belong to a pack that hasn't been torn apart by unnatural culling.

Dingo conservation can only happen through public support and education and by applying pressure on the government to change current management practices. For more Info please visit: www.fraserislandfootprints.com or Facebook sites ‘Save Fraser Island Dingoes’ and ‘Support Jennifer Parkhurst Wildlife Photographer’, or e-mail Save Fraser Island Dingoes Inc. at mkrail@bigpond.net.au.

For more, click on this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEGfLXRnW7Q

BOB’S MISSION CASSOWARY

2011-02-06T13:03:00.000-08:00

February 7, 2011: Bob Irwin launches BOB’S MISSION CASSOWARY to help Australia’s big birds of the rainforest get back on track after Cyclone Yasi shredded their habitat in Mission Beach and surrounds.

“The authorities and emergency services personnel are busy assiisting people in their cleanup operations, so it is up to us to do what we can to alleviate the suffering of these magnificent creatures," says Bob Irwin.

Cassowaries are already in danger of extinction. We need to act right now to preserve their habitat.”

Super storms grab headlines for destroying rainforests but without these unique ancient birds, that can turn fruit into trees, we won’t have a rainforest to protect.

The Bob Irwin Wildlife Fund will work with a variety of community and government organisations that are on the ground in affected areas.

The first priority is to establish temporary food stations and generate a driver awareness campaign to avoid a cassowary road toll in the post cyclone cleanup.

Donations can be made:

Online

http://www.bobirwinwildlife.com/

Direct Deposit

Account name: Bob Irwin Wildlife Fund

Westpac

BSB 034033

Account 169342

By Mail

Bob Irwin Wildlife Fund

C/- RSPCA QLD

PO Box 6177

Fairfield Gardens QLD 4103

For an interview with Bob Irwin or for more information please contact:

Emma Rusher emma.rusher@gmail.com | 0425 841 331

No more talk – We need action now!!

2011-02-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

With recent flooding across Queensland having a dramatic impact on our wildlife it is easy to blame Mother Nature for the damage she has caused. There is no doubt these floods have impacted on our marine wildlife as habitat and food sources suffer damage from pollution in flood plumes sent hurtling into some of our most precious marine environments, including the Great Barrier Reef.

However, it is important to remember that there is a much more insidious threat to our precious marine life which is being left largely unchecked along the Queensland coastline. Coastal development is listed as a threatening process in nearly all of the critically endangered marine species, including dugong, marine turtles and coastal dolphins such as the Indo Pacific humpback. We know it is impacting and yet we keep approving developments and our wildlife is paying the ultimate price.

Seagrass beds are likely to suffer the most damage from flooding. Seagrass is a food source for the critically endangered dugong and green turtles as well as providing shelter and habitat for many other marine species.

Flooding is a natural phenomenon and one which our marine ecosystems are designed to recover from. For example, the dugong population in the Great Sandy Strait was able to recover from the 1992 Mary River flood thanks to the sanctuary provided by the southern Great Sandy Strait where seagrass meadows were far enough away from the impacts to provide an alternate food source for the northern population. Whilst many dugong died in this flood the southern region was able to sustain sufficient dugong to enable the population in the entire Great Sandy Strait / Hervey Bay area to recover to now be the largest population in SE Queensland.

However, the resilience of the marine environment to recover from these natural events is being eroded by the impacts of coastal development. Development directly removes or damages mangroves and seagrass meadows as well as increasing the pollution and debris flowing into the marine environment.

The negative impacts of coastal development on our marine environment are permanent. Habitat destroyed by coastal development never comes back and marine species die. It is as simple as that.

But the good news is we have direct control over these impacts. We can make a choice to reject developments in areas recognised for their high biodiversity value and provide genuine long term protection for some of our most productive and diverse marine ecosystems and the wildlife that live there.

The southern Great Sandy Strait, Cooloola Coast area is the sand passage estuary lying between World Heritage listed Fraser Island and the mainland. It is home to the largest dugong population in SE Queensland with seagrass meadows in the area able to support dugong herds that are amongst the highest densities in the world. This diverse marine ecosystem also supports the endangered loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles, a wide diversity of birds, reptiles and fish species. It is a nursery for the marine life in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.

However, with two marina developments proposed for the southern Great Sandy Strait waterways we are in real danger of losing one of the last remaining pristine and diverse marine ecosystems on the Queensland coast.

Once the developments take place the slow erosion of the values continues. Pollution, vessel interaction with marine species, marine debris and further habitat destruction from the increased use of the waterways are the ongoing impacts that our wildlife will face. We have seen this in Moreton Bay and will continue to see it in highly developed areas.

There are now many Government reports and policy documents which recognise that

Australia

’s biodiversity is declining. Unfortunately these policies are only slowly taking hold, with the Queensland biodiversity strategy, coastal plan and other reviews all remaining in draft form. Our wildlife can no longer wait for policy to catch up.

The business as usual approach while these critical environmental policy documents are worked through is unacceptable. At the very least an embargo on developments in areas recognised for their high biodiversity is required immediately to allow the new policy direction to take hold. Protection at the ecosystem level is now widely recognised as the only way forward. An embargo will give short term protection while proper assessment at the ecosystem level can take place.

This is a matter of life and death for our wildlife. We cannot stop flooding, but we can stop development and mitigate other human related threats. Coastal development in the southern Great Sandy Strait and Cooloola region really is the greatest threat the dugong, marine turtles and many other species that live there face. We must speak up on their behalf to save their home.

The time for action for our threatened marine species is right now and I need your help to get this message through to our politicians. Talking is no longer an option.

I am calling on all Australians to make a real difference to endangered marine wildlife by getting behind the ‘Click and Save Tin Can Bay’ campaign. This is your chance to send a direct message to Minister Tony Burke that we want real action now. No more talking while our wildlife disappears.

Australians want a future that includes and cherishes the natural beauty and diversity of wildlife that we are known for worldwide. We are now asking our politicians to recognise this and take immediate action.

To send a clear message to Minister Burke and have your say head to www.marina.tincanbaydolphins.com.au . It will only take a few seconds out of your busy life but will make a lifetime of difference to our endangered marine wildlife.

TAIJI DOLPHINS as seen in THE COVE

2010-12-18T14:37:00.000-08:00

BLOOD DOLPHINS

A tiny seaside town in Taiji

Japan

is becoming famous for all of the wrong reasons. Taiji is renowned for the infamous dolphin killing cove, which turns red with the blood of 23, 000 dolphins slaughtered each year from September to March. Little is reported about this cruel practice here in

Australia

, and alarmingly our nation is connected to this town through a sister-city relationship with Broome

Australia

. Information on the annual dolphin hunt can be found below. We hope you can work with us to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.

We encourage you to please help the Bob Irwin Wildlife Fund and the Sea Shepherd raise awareness of this incredibly brutal slaughter and protect the world’s whales and dolphins. They might look cute as they perform tricks in theme parks and Swim with Dolphin programs, but if you take some time to understand how they got there, you will realise that these dolphins have suffered a very unfornate fate. A fate worse than death that is conntected to the brutal slaughter at places like Taiji's famous killing cove. Dolphins should swim free- be observered in the wild, in their natural environment where they belong.

DOLPHIN SLAUGHTER IN TAIJI- No survivors, no mercey, no humanity.

Dolphin drive hunting is a method of hunting dolphins and occasionally other small cetaceans, such as pilot and minke whales. Hunters drive the animals into a bay or onto a beach with their boats, their escape is then prevented by closing off the route to the open sea or ocean with boats and nets. This method of hunting is highly controversial and has been criticised internationally. Dolphins are hunted this way in several places around the world, with the largest number of dolphins hunted using this method in Japan, where dolphins are mostly hunted for their meat.

Some are captured and end up in dolphinariums around the world, and many thousands of dolphins are barbarically murdered in drive hunts each year. Additionally, there are possible health risks due to the extremely high levels of mercury and cadmium in the meat.

The Japanese town of Taiji on the Kii Peninsula is the largest scale drive hunting town in

Japan

with around 2,400 cetaceans being killed each year. 23,000 are killed annually throughout

Japan -

a permit to take this many dolphins is issued by the Japanese fisheries. These figures are open to debate as

Japan

tends to greatly under-estimate their catch. For example, they were found under-estimating their Bluefin tuna catch by 170,000 tonnes in the last twenty years!

Alarmingly dolphins are not protected by the agreement made by the International Whaling Commission as dolphins are not classified as whales. The whaling nations are free to hunt the world's oceans of dolphins as essentially they are not seen to belong to any nation. They are the world's dolphins and therefore protected by nobody.

THE COVE MOVIE - Uncovering the Truth

The story of the Taiji dolphins was made famous in 2009, with the release of the award-winning doco The Cove featuring renowned surfers from

Australia

, including Dave Rastovich and actress Isabelle Lucas who are strong campaigners against the dolphin hunt. The documentary brought to light the fact that 1. the dolphin meat is high in mercury and dangerous to the health of those who consume it and 2. the so called “tradition” of the hunt has actually only been going on for 40 years- a “tradition” that is believed to have commenced when there were no whales left in the oceans left to hunt, so they turned to dolphins.

The Japanese appear to be operating behind the term ‘tradition’- a cover-up for the economic benefits that the dolphin hunt brings where live dolphins are sold to aquariums and theme parks for around $130, 000 each animal and dolphin meat sells for a fraction of this price- often sold as “whale meat”. At the beginning of the annual hunt in 2010, 4 of the dolphins captured in Taiji, (that were spared their life) were sold to a wealthy Egyptian man who now has them inhabiting a tiny swimming pool in his backyard- Save Japan Dolphins are working tirelessly to have them released- an organisation headed by Ric O'Barry (renowned as the dolphin trainer from the television show Flipper now dolphin conservationist). It seems anything is possible with money! Anything that is except buying the dolphins off the Taiji fisherman. A conservation group recently offered to purchase the dolphins off them for release- but because of their pride in their “tradition” they refused the offer. The dolphins were killed.

CRUEL HUNTING METHODS

In Japan, the hunting is done by a select group of fishermen. When a pod of dolphins has been spotted, they're driven into a bay by the fishermen who bang on metal rods in the water to scare and confuse them. When the dolphins are in the bay, it is quickly closed off with nets so the dolphins cannot escape. The dolphins are then systematically slaughtered. The method used in Taiji - the only place in Japan to currently do this - is called oikomi, where dolphins are rounded up into shallow water and harpooned one by one, swimming for days in their fellow pod-member's blood.

The release of 'The Cove' documentary in 2009 has had a direct affect on changing barbaric methods used by the fisherman in Taiji whereby the dolphins are now captured and put into cages to calm down over night. However, the following day the dolphins are caught one by one and killed, usually behind closed doors so that activists and the media can not see what is going on.

The Japanese government states that 'dolphins now may only be killed by driving a metal pin into their neck, which causes them to die within seconds'. This law is not enforced however and throat cutting and harpooning is still witnessed. The numbers of dolphins and other cetaceans that are being murdered in Taiji is rapidly decreasing due to international pressure. The hunting is no longer financially viable and the only reason fisherman can continue to hunt is because large dolphinariums around the world are buying wild dolphins for thousands of dollars. They buy them to perform at their parks and in so doing are not only sealing the fate of thousands of other dolphins to an inhumane death, but are also incarcerating wild animals and enslaving them to a fate dictated by the amusement of human beings.

Often babies are released, and their mother's slain. The fate of the babies released is very grim. It is unlikely that the babies will survive in the wild without the guidance of their mothers to find food and be nurtured. We hope to bring the slaughter to an end once and for all!

DOLPHIN MEANT- Not Fit for Human Consumption

In 2010, hair samples from 1,137 Taiji residents was tested for mercury by the National Institute for Minamata Disease. The average amount of methyl mercury found in the hair samples was 11.0 parts per million for men and 6.63 ppm for women, compared with an average of 2.47 ppm for men and 1.64 ppm for women in tests conducted in 14 other locations in Japan. From the total population, 182 Taiji residents who were found with extremely high mercury levels underwent further medical testing to check for symptoms of mercury poisoning. None of the Taiji residents displayed any of the traditional symptoms of mercury poisoning, according to the Institute. However, Japan's National Institute of Population and Social Security Research reports that the mortality rate for Taiji and nearby Koazagawa, where dolphin meat is also consumed, is over 50% higher than the rate for similarly-sized villages throughout Japan, though no correlation between mortality rate and causal factor is implied in the report.

The chief of the NIMD, Misugisato Koji said, "We presume that the high mercury concentrations are due to the intake of dolphin and whale meat.”

COVE GUARDIANS- Giving a Voice to the Taiji Dolphins

The cove guardians are a group of dedicated, select volunteers from around the world. They give up their time to ensure that the terrible atrocities being committed in Taiji (the cove) come to an end by photographing, filming and exposing the killings there twenty four hours a day seven days a week. None of the Cove Guardians are looking for conflict with the citizens of Taiji, but are there to observe and document a piece of history which, without them, would otherwise never be recorded. Especially with the censorship of the media in

Japan

. On average around 23, 000 dolphins are brutally slain in Taiji each year, much of this takes place without the rest of the world knowing anything about it. These magnificent, intelligent animals need to be protected. The cove guardians make it their mission to expose the 'molesters' that brutally spear these animals to death. No animal is safe from the molesters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children are all their target.

One of the worst and most horrible truths to come out of 'the cove' is that the molesters are primarily funded by oceanariums and dolphinariums around the world. Trainers come from parks all over the world to select dolphins to train and perform at their parks. These men and women know what's going on in Taiji and yet still support it through paying thousands of dollars to keep these animals captive in their amusement parks. Without the support of these oceanariums the molesters would not be able to fund their murder.

By bringing these heart-wrenching events to the world media front and exposing these shameful men for what they are doing we hope to bring an end to this massacre once and for all!

For more information on how to become a Cove Guardian, head to www.seashepherd.org

Some eye-opening facts involving

Australia

’s support of the Taiji dolphin hunt:

· Broome Australia is the official sister-city of Taiji

· In 2009 Broome Shire Council made a public decision to disassociate from Taiji until the dolphin hunt ceased in light of international pressure placed on Broome

· Only months later the Broome Shire Council apologised to the Japanese community and reconnected with Taiji to reform the sister-city relationship

· To lessen the public reaction, Broome Shire Council have agreed to support Taiji by offering to facilitate alternative economic opportunities similar to those that have seen Broome flourish through tourism and promotion of its natural marine resources- to date nothing has been done

· Taiji Japan, seemingly have no affiliation of the sister-city relationship with Broome

Australia

as seen in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-J2r3geOz8

Bob Irwin Desperately Needs Your Help

2010-12-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

October 28, 2010

Hi Everyone

I need your help. I need to show the world the amazing biodiversity and beauty of the Great Sandy Strait and what we’ll be losing, should the [proposed] marinas go ahead; the mangroves and the sea grass beds and the dolphins, dugongs and turtles will all be gone.

I will fight as long and as hard as necessary to preserve this pristine environment for our future generations – BUT - I can’t do it alone.

I’d like to present the opinions of one million people, (who also feel that the building of this proposed marina will wreck the biodiversity of this magnificent environment forever) to our state and federal governments.

I’m writing to our friends, wildlife groups and conservation organizations to ask you to please forward this LINK to ALL your members and contacts: CLICK AND SAVE TIN CAN BAY.

Thank you for your support,

Bob Irwin

Bob's YOUTUBE Channel

2010-12-18T10:10:00.000-08:00

April 25, 2010

Check out the BobIrwinWildlife Channel on YOUTUBE

I was honoured recently to be invited to attend the Australian Society for Kangaroos, fundraiser. This is such a great cause with its members, working tirelessly to bring the plight of the kangaroo to the attention of all Australians. I wanted to lend my support to their efforts, as they need all the help they can get in their endeavours to stop the slaughter of our roos in the kangaroo industry.

Due to my medical hiccup, I was unable to attend their event, but instead, I was able, with the help of some IT friends, to put a message onto a video. Here is the youtube link -

This is their report on the extremely successful afternoon.

An Afternoon with Australian Icons Report, an event for the Australian Society for Kangaroos, May 23rd, 2010, at the Revesby Workers Club, Sydney.

I am so happy to announce that our Afternoon with Australian Icons was a roaring success!!! The Australian Society for Kangaroos (ASK) made $6,850 in profit. Nikki Sutterby, President of ASK has stated that one third of the funds be distributed to the administrative side, such as printing, Freedom of Information Requests from the Government, and legal costs.The second third to be used for educational materials such as flyers about what is happening to the kangaroos, stickers and business cards, to reach the public further afield, The final third to be invested for future campaign costs.

An attendance of around 200 people were impressed with the line up and programme, Lynda Stoner and Johnny Pace were fabulous with their introductions and auction skills.The vocalists from the Advance Talent Programme were sensational in singing the National Anthem to begin the show. Lucky Starr and Frankie Davidson had everyone clapping, swaying with arms in the air, and singing to Australian songs, and the tap dancers "The Next Step" were brilliant with their enthusiastic performance. The bush poet Kevin Campbell, had the audiece laughing at his humerous emu and kangaroo poem.

The Speakers were dynamic, they produced much emotion and passion during all of their speeches, the audience were wonderful, they listened intently to every word. Fiona Corke and Nikki Sutterby introduced the ASK with so much feeling and many descriptions of the lobbying and various work they have done over the years in helping kangaroos. Bob Irwin's DVD message was very deep and moving, spoken with true passion. Lee Rhiannon, Mark Pearson were mesmorizing giving much information, and John Lyle, the kangaroo carer from Oberon, was so impressive with 2 talks. Dr Howard Ralph also came up for a short but meaningful talk about wildlife.

Carol Maroun did a fantastic job of setting the stage up as an Australiana feel, which set the atmosphere ready for an afternoon full of entertainment, serious talks about the kangaroo's alarming situation, and heart felt reactions from both celebrities and the audience were both suprising and encouraging.

I'm sure everyone enjoyed the day as much as I, and took away a huge amount of information with them, to continue to do their best to help our Australian National Icon, the Kangaroo.

It was truly an inspiring afternoon with Australian Icons.

Australian Society for Kangaroos

Koala Diaries Blog

2010-12-18T10:06:00.000-08:00

April 25, 2010

This is such a brilliant piece of writing, I wanted to share it with you:

WHY BOTHER? by Alex Harris

Save the Daintree & Help the Cassowaries

2010-12-18T09:58:00.001-08:00

March 3, 2010

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Rainforest Rescue is trying to buy their 12th Daintree Rainforest property to set aside for the cassowaries. While working with Steve to catch and relocate crocodiles involved in human conflicts, Bob and Steve came across all kinds of wildlife. Of particular interest to Bob was the Southern Cassowary. When Bob heard about Rainforest Rescue's latest endeavors, he sent this letter to Kelvin Davies who is spearheading the project:

Dear Kelvin,

I wanted to pass on an important message to your supporters as you embark on your campaign to buy back your twelfth property in the Daintree. Unfortunately, with the mindset in Australia at the moment, too many people seem to be more concerned with progress and greed than with our natural environment.

With only a thousand Cassowaries left in that part of Australia, I think that the Australian people must decide whether they really want to save the cassowary or not. Right now, Cassowaries are regarded as being endangered. I think that should be changed to critically endangered. Because when you get down to those low numbers it doesn’t take a great deal to tip them over the edge.

On my last trip to Far North Queensland, I was fortunate to see a female Cassowary feeding naturally in the rainforest, just near Mission Beach. It’s an amazing experience and I’d recommend it to any of your supporters who have the opportunity to see something so special.

Cassowaries are so important to our rainforest. They are the ones that spread the seeds and help to regenerate the rainforest after cyclones and fires and floods. If they disappear the rainforest will suffer the consequences and won’t regenerate the way it does at the moment. For me, that’s the role that the Cassowary plays.

We’ve got to give serious thought to further development and the destruction of Cassowary habitat and we’ve got to come to practical solutions for the animals that are getting hit and killed on the roads.

People have got to stop and think what they want to leave for their children. Do they want to see this land devastated and somebody stick up some motel unit? Or do we really want to leave them a future with all our beautiful native wildlife.

The wildlife we have here is unique to this country, you won’t find it anywhere else in the world, yet too many people seem to be losing respect for our environment. That’s a real worry.

You know, mate, that’s why I think that buying back the Daintree is our best option at the moment. Once that land is secured, then we give the Cassowaries and other animals corridors to go safely from one part of the forest to another.
That’s why I think you, Kelvin, and your supporters at Rainforest Rescue are the answer to many of the problems up at the Daintree. So I'd encourage people to get one hundred per cent behind Rainforest Rescue because you’re doing so much great work.

And I think we've got to stay positive. You know, that’s the answer. It's no good throwing up your hands and saying, “Oh, I can't do this”. We've got to bite the bullet, get off our bums and actually get out there and do something ourselves. And that's what Rainforest Rescue and your supporters are doing. Good on you.

All the best, mate, with your campaign to raise money to buy back Lot 10 Milky Pine Road. I look forward to visiting it one day, and hopefully seeing a Cassowary enjoying that special part of the rainforest.

Good luck,

Bob Irwin

Koala Diaries

2010-12-18T09:56:00.000-08:00

February 14, 2010

If you care about saving our koalas, as I do, you will be very interested in a new website – http://www.koaladiaries.com.au/. Judy and I accepted an invitation to attend the launch in Noosa this week.

Koaladiaries.com.au is founded entirely on the premise of participation. It is a hub for koala carers and the community at large - to join in the conversation, to share photos and stories and, importantly, sightings.

Its initial member project, Project Location - Koala Sighting Census, is a first in terms of integrating technology with community engagement to record the occurrence of a single species in Queensland. It introduces world-leading GIS technology from ESRI Australia to plot the points of koala sightings contributed by members of the public on a dynamic map. It’s such a simple concept, I don’t know why it hadn’t been thought of earlier.

I can see that the site will empower individuals and groups not already involved in koala conservation efforts, but want to be, and also validate the efforts and concerns of those who are. As the site compiles more and more data the koala conservation community, in particular, will have at their disposal a very powerful presentation on what’s really going on with our koalas.

The information gathered is available to all members - including government agencies and other stakeholders - to assist with policy making, programs and activities such as scientific research.

The site sets a great precedent – I am hopeful that we might be able to follow its lead with similar efforts for cassowaries and the southern hairy-nosed wombat too.

Please join so that you too can participate. If you are a carer, note that there is a national koala carers’ forum on http://www.koaladiaries.com.au/, and we recommend that too.

Traveston NO DAM VICTORY PARTY

2010-12-18T09:49:00.000-08:00

December 12, 2009

Did you miss the Traveston NO DAM VICTORY PARTY? No worries - you can read my speech below!

I wanted to come here today to thank every one of you for the campaign that you have waged over the last 3 years to save your beautiful Mary River Valley. I know that you have all lived through terrible trauma imposed by the State Labor Govt and no one should have to endure the stress and heartache that the Labor government has put you all through.

My heart goes out to those of you who have already given up your land, to make way for this proposed environmental disaster. I can't imagine what you people have gone through in recent years.

I also wanted to thank you for your dedication and passion that has resulted in a positive outcome. Because now you have managed to save the Mary River System and its flora and fauna for future generations to enjoy.

I could never understand how this debate eventuated in the first place. How could anyone even consider contemplating this proposed dam, knowing that it was going to mean the end of at least 3 endangered species.

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving the species of animals that call the Mary River home!! Because, as you know, this dam would have been the last straw for the River's wildlife.

And I want to thank you for saving the fauna of the Mary River...especially those magnificent ancient fig trees. Gabrielle and Craig took me to see some of these majestic trees in my last visit here.

I would also again like to thank Peter Garrett and the Commonwealth Government for making the right decision here. Garrett showed courage and true leadership in preserving this beautiful environment and protecting its endangered animals.

Now there's one other thing I'd like to mention here! You know our koalas are just about extinct in the Southeast due to land clearing, and disease caused by the stress of having their trees cleared, by dog attacks, and by car accidents.

You have a beautiful valley here! How about keeping this group going now? Turn it into a Mary River Lets Bring the Tourists in Group or the Mary River Koala Reestablishment Group.

Let's plant the habitat for the koalas! They'll come back, providing the planting is not left too late.

Let's re-establish a healthy population of our beautiful koalas here. And I think you should consider bringing the world here to visit the koalas. At the rate the Labour Government is going, it will be the only wild population of koalas in the Southeast.

I know some of you won't want to do the tourist thing!! And that's fine with me! But I'd really like you to consider the re-establishment of a healthy koala population here in the Mary River Valley.

These koalas of ours, the few that are left in the Southeast now, are running out of room. Their habitat has been all but destroyed by land clearing. Our koalas desperately need areas like the Mary River Valley if they are to have any chance of survival in the Southeast.

And who knows? The Mary River Valley might be the only habitat left relatively untouched, for the survival of our koalas in the Southeast.

Research is showing that koalas in parts of the SE will be extinct in 2 years.

We unfortunately cannot count on the Labour government to "save" our koalas. The survival of our koalas, I believe, is dependent on private land holders, re-establishing suitable koala habitat.

You only have to look at the Bligh Government's take on our kangaroos (a resource to be killed and sold to foreign markets) to realize that we can't afford to leave our wildlife's future in the hands of our governments.

And speaking of kangaroos I would ask you to join me in a total boycott of all kangaroo products. The kangaroo industry is cruel and inhumane and is not only destroying our most famous tourist symbol, but is also damaging

Australia

's image around the world.

If we all work together, we can stop this cruelty.

May I also make a suggestion and that is that you form a small group whose duty it would be to keep an eye on development of any sort along the Mary or its tributaries. Stay vigilant. The Mary River cod, turtles, lung fish and frogs will only survive in this system if it stays clean...free of pollutants!!

And please do keep in touch with me on your progress via my website: BobIrwinWildlife.com. I'd only be too happy to help save koalas and other animals in your beautiful valley.

So I would like to leave you with that thought!!

And once again thank you for your monumental efforts in saving all of my little friends and the Mary River Valley from destruction!!

I envy you all for being able to live in peace now in this most beautiful part of the world!

Goomeri State School Visits Camp Chilli

2010-12-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

December 8, 2009

This September, the Year 2/3 Class of Goomeri State School paid a visit to Camp Chilli. Click HERE to see the pictures. Here is their report:

OUR VISIT TO CAMP CHILLI

On Tuesday 15 September 2009, we (the Year 2/3 Class of Goomeri State School) went to Camp Chilli. We saw lots of amazing Australian Animals like a goanna camouflaged on a tree and very cute baby koalas. When we got to Camp Chilli we saw a kangaroo called Skippy, a koala called Hayley and her baby. There was also another koala in the tree. We met Steve Irwin’s parents and lots of other special people.

Bob spoke to us first and introduced us to the following special people.

Ellie from the RSPCA spoke to us about all the great work the RSPCA does for the animals. Ellie also spoke to us about the “5 Freedoms”. These are: Freedom from hunger and thirst, Freedom from discomfort, Freedom from pain, distress and disease, Freedom to exercise, Freedom from being frightened and worried. If you ever see an injured animal, call 1300animal.

Gabrielle showed us some very rare turtles, like the Mary River Turtle (his name is Travis), the Irwin Turtle and turtles that weren’t rare like the long neck and snake necked turtle.

Clare (a carer), showed us a Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat. It lives in South Australia. Clare went a long way to get the wombat. The wombats name is Wally. Clare fed the baby koalas and Wally. She fed them with tiny bottles with special milk. Wally was very shy. We saw a tiny koala that was an orphan, so it was in a small pillow case. There were also two other baby koalas. The baby koalas were so cute that when we saw them we all said “Ahhhhhhhh!!” Clare had a basket for the baby koalas. In the basket were two big teddy bears to keep the baby koalas company.

We read our brochures on Australian Animals that we researched during Term 3. Everyone loved them. We sang our songs, “Home Among The Gum Trees” and “Old Man Emu”.

Thanks everyone who made this excursion possible.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL:

Bob and Judy,

Thank you for making Bob Irwin’s Environment Facility at Camp Chilli available to the Year 2 and Year 3 students of Goomeri State School on 15 September 2009.

The students thoroughly enjoyed their visit. They were rewarded with a fountain of knowledge and are our future Wildlife Ambassadors. Upon reflection, the students’ learning has been greatly enhanced with your contribution.

Your dedication to conservation and being an advocate for our environment and native wildlife is vital for our present and future generations.

I would also like to thank the following organisations and people for their contribution to the students learning on the day:

Ellie from the RSPCA – discussing and explaining about the “5 Freedoms”;Gabrielle for showing and explaining about the various turtles and their habitats;
Clare – a wildlife carer - for sharing her Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat and the koalas that were in her care;
and Sergeant Lohmann – Adopt-a-Cop for Goomeri State School – for his time and assistance.

As Principal of Goomeri State School P-10, I look forward to having further contact with you.

Leon Doorackers, Principal
Goomeri State School, Queensland

Boycott All Kangaroo Products

2010-12-18T09:41:00.000-08:00

December 3, 2009
Public Health at Risk

Irrespective of moral, ethical and heritage values, the health risk to the public in the consumption of kangaroo meat is unacceptable. Dangerous levels of salmonella and E.coli have been found in kangaroo meat destined for human consumption.

A former Senior Food Inspector Dr Sibraa has stated that humans and pets also risk contracting toxoplasmosis, which can result in foetal death or birth defects in pregnant women.

An ecotoxicology expert Dr David Obendorf recently said the kangaroo industry had been covering up problems for years and public health would continue to be put at risk.

Kangaroos are slaughtered usually at night, dragged through the dirt and hung on a truck, quite often covered in blow flies. Then transported to a ‘chiller box’ which may or may not have been hygienically cleaned.

Leaked memos and internal documents seen by the Herald Nov 18^th 2009, showed evidence that trucks were being ‘loaded hot’ exposing the carcasses to temperatures above 25 deg for extended periods. Chiller boxes in remote areas regularly malfunction.

This is a disgusting cruel industry.

Do not poison yourselves or your pets.

Please, boycott all kangaroo products.

Damn To Worsen Our Terrible Legacy

2010-12-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

November 2, 2009

Research shows that Australia is cited as having the worst rate of animal extinction in the world. We have the dubious honour of being accountable for almost 40 per cent of mammal extinctions globally in the last 200 years. This is a figure that we should be ashamed of.
If the proposed Traveston Dam is approved, our extinction rate may very well increase.

The area proposed for destruction on the Mary River has very significant ecological and environmental values. Included amongst the rich biodiversity which can be found in the area are at least five endangered species including the Mary River Turtle and the Mary River Cod.

The Mary River turtle, has evolved over thousands of years to live only in the Mary River system. Due to its biology the turtle requires flowing, well-oxygenated streams and rivers for survival. The stagnant, low quality water of dams cannot provide the required habitat for this specialist species.

Imagine if we knowingly completely destroy the turtles' remaining habitat by approving this dam proposal? If the Traveston Dam is approved, it will certainly push the Mary River turtle to extinction.

Another species of grave concern is the Queensland lungfish, one of the world’s most ancient species with individuals reaching an age in excess of 100 years. Queensland lungfish only live naturally in one other river system - the Burnett, and are classified as vulnerable. With the construction of the Paradise Dam, the survival of our incredibly unique lungfish is in more doubt than ever.

This species, together with the Mary River Turtle, has existed from the dinosaur times, with fossil records dating back 380 million years! Can you imagine putting at risk one of the oldest living creatures on earth?

Another iconic Australian animal species which has been in the news recently is our koala. It has been well documented that the koala which is critically endangered in South East Queensland will become extinct in certain areas of the south-east within a few years, without immediate and drastic intervention. I cannot believe that any government would support a proposal that will destroy more koala habitat when this species is already at a grave risk of localized extinction.

I have only mentioned but a small part of the amazing biodiversity of this Mary River system.

I find it absolutely astonishing that in a time when our environment is in such jeopardy, that we should be discussing again, the issue of building a dam in such an ecologically sensitive area, when this same proposal in the past has already been twice rejected as being unviable.

We have more than 1700 species under threat of extinction and the Federal Government has also identified 3000 ecosystems also facing extinction.
In the past, nature has been turned into a commodity for us to buy, sell, destroy or consume as we please.

We must change our attitude for the benefit of our future generations. We do not own this planet! We are simply caretakers.

The approval of the Traveston Dam will destroy the Mary River Valley and create major environmental problems for the future. Please listen to the people Mr. Garrett, and oppose this ill-conceived dam.

--Bob Irwin

Media Release: BOB IRWIN PLEADS WITH CHINA: DON’T EAT OUR KANGAROOS - COME AND SEE THEM

2010-12-18T09:26:00.001-08:00

Bob Irwin, wildlife conservationist and father of the late Steve Irwin, is pleading with China and the world not to eat our kangaroos, but to come and see them. Bob Irwin claims that if China agrees to buy kangaroo meat it will push our kangaroos even closer to extinction, with Red Kangaroos, Wallaroos and Grey kangaroos already at critical minimum densities across most of Australia.

Alternatively, Bob says “We should be promoting our kangaroos for their touristic value. Kangaroos are worth billions of dollars to Australia annually in tourism. The kangaroo killing industry on the other hand is cruel, unhygenic, and unsustainable with kangaroo numbers now critical.”

Kangaroos are the second most recognised tourist icon in the world, and the second most popular attraction for international tourists. Research by the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) showed that Australian wildlife, and in particular kangaroos are worth between $2.7 and $ 5 billion dollars annually to the Australian economy in tourism.

“The Chinese are one of our biggest visitors and kangaroos are one of their favourite attractions. If they were to start eating kangaroos, we predict that within a few years there wont be any left in the wild for them to see", says Bob.

Bob is pleading with China, Australia and the world to “Please consider how kangaroos are killed. If people could see what happens to baby joeys when their mother is killed by this industry, they would think twice about buying kangaroo meat and kangaroo leather shoes.”

“The current push to eat kangaroo meat is a fallacy. It takes 120 kangaroos to produce the same amount of meat you get from one cow. You would have to kill the entire kangaroo population many times over evey year to replace beef. Our kangaroos cannot even sustain the current level of killing by the industry”, said Nikki Sutterby, Co-Ordinator, Australian Society for Kangaroos.

Bob makes his plea to China and the world, “Please stop and think before you purchase any kangaroo products (meat, leather etc), as you are not only supporting a disgusting industry but also contributing to the eventual extinction of an iconic species of Australian wildlife.”

Bobs final plea to China: “We wouldn’t eat your pandas, so please don’t eat our kangaroos. Come and see them.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

NIKKI SUTTERBY
CO-ORDINATOR
AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY FOR KANGAROOS
PH 0417354408

FOR FOOTAGE OF BABY JOEYS BEING BASHED TO DEATH GO TO:
http://suprememastertv.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=Stop_Cruelty&wr_id=19&goto_url=

PLEASE VISIT THE SITES BELOW FOR INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS MEDIA RELEASE:

http://www.rootourism.com/fback10.html

http://www.kangaroo-protection-coalition.com/kangaroo-tourism.html

http://www.australiansocietyforkangaroos.org/

Game and Feral Control Amendment Bill 2009

2010-12-18T08:47:00.000-08:00

July 31, 2009

Recently a state politician in New South Wales introduced a private member’s bill – the Game and Feral Control Amendment Bill 2009 – that would, if adopted by the New South Wales Government, allow for the shooting of native animals in national parks and the creation of private game parks right here in Australia! I join thousands of angered Australians in dismissing this proposal by the ‘Shooters Party’ as not only disastrous for both animal and public safety but also offensive! That a gun-toting minority would be allowed by an Australian state government to shoot defenceless native animals within the national parks where they seek sanctuary is appalling.

Listed amongst the native animals that this bill would permit to be shot include:

·       Australian Shelduck (or Mountain Duck)
·         Australian Wood Duck (or Maned Duck)
·         Black Duck (or Pacific Black Duck)
·         Blue-winged Shoveler
·         Chestnut Teal
·         Grass Duck
·         Grey Teal
·         Hardhead Duck
·         Pink-eared Duck
·         Water Whistling Duck
·         Brown Quail
·         Stubble Quail
·         Australian White Ibis
·         Black Swan
·         Common Bronze-wing Pigeon
·         Galah
·         Little Corella
·         Purple Swamphen
·         Straw-necked ibis
·         Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
·         Topknot Pigeon
·         Eastern Grey Kangaroos
·         Euro
·         Red Kangaroo
·         Western Grey Kangaroo

The following is a letter that I sent to the NSWs environmental minister expressing my concerns regarding the proposal. I hope you that are as angered by this bill as I am, and I urge you to express your concern by writing to the NSW and federal environmental ministers, in addition to signing the following petitions:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/Stop-Hunting-of-Australian-wildlife

http://www.gopetition.com/online/29233.html

The Hon. Carmel Tebbutt
Minister for Climate Change and the Environment
Level 30,
Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW     2000

dpoffice@tebbutt.minister.nsw.gov.au

Dear Madam,

Re: Proposal to allow recreation shooting in New South Wales National Parks

I write in reference to the recent proposal by the NSWs Shooters Party to allow hunting by recreational shooters in New South Wales’ National Parks. I find the proposal absolutely disgusting and join in supporting the thousands of outraged community members who believe the bill to be not only repulsive, but also ridiculous.

That the Shooters Party have attempted to pass off what is blatantly recreational hunting as ‘conservation’ and ‘wildlife management’ is absurd. Slaughtering wildlife for sport is NOT conservation. With increasing urbanisation and habitat encroachment, oftentimes National Parks are the only strongholds left for wildlife that have been otherwise displaced. If the NSW government pass the bill amendments proposed by Shooters Party, what will be left for our wildlife? Where will they have sanctuary?? Not to mention who is going to monitor the proposed ghastly destruction of our wildlife, and ensure that the hunting is carried out in a quick and humane manner so that the animals don’t suffer long and torturous deaths.

Not only have national parks long been remnant strongholds for wildlife, but for generations the Australian public have enjoyed the peace and quiet of the escape that national parks provide. If the amendments to the bill are passed then how do we guarantee safety for the visitors to our national parks? National Park Rangers are already few and far between, and nationwide the department of environments are understaffed. Surely National Park Employees cannot be expected to monitor the bleak activities of the shooters? The National Parks of NSW and indeed Australia are for the enjoyment of all members of the general public; not just a minority of murderous hunters who wish to destroy our wildlife for recreation.

I trust that the NSW government will realise the magnitude of the ramifications of their decision in relation to these proposed amendments, and act to make conservation, biodiversity education and public safety their priority, and not be swayed by a gun toting minority!

Bob Irwin

Below are emails from concerned groups. In the final email below, you'll notice the list of our beautiful native animals, whose lives will be lost or mamed, if this bill goes ahead.

Email 1 from Wildlife Protection Assoc. of Australia Inc,

From the NSW Nature Conservation Council
This is to inform you of a number of meetings that are taking place around the threats to our NSW National Parks and Wildlife, particularly the threats posed by the NSW Shooters Party's proposed changes to the Game and Feral Animal Control Act, not least of which is opening up National Parks to hunters.

If this of particular interest to you and your associates please consider whether your group has the capacity to hold a public meeting in your local area and if you would like assistance from the NCC to do this. We are being told that the threats are very real with the Shooters Party pushing hard for more access to parks and the establishment of game reserves.

The NCC is coordinating a big town hall meeting on the proposed Shooters Bill in Ku-ring-gai on Tuesday 25th August. I will send another email in the next couple of days with links to a webpage we're currently setting up with information on this meeting, the Bill and relevant downloads.

Email 2 from Melanie @ Ecoterrestrial (melanie@ecoterrestrial.com)

Rally to reject the Shooters Party Bill in NSW - before someone is killed‏.http://www.gopetition.com/online/29233.html

Email 3 from RSPCA Australia

National parks are for everyone, not just a select few.
If you enjoy the freedom of walking in a national park in (especially in NSW) then please sign this petition. Soon people who wander into national parks risk being shot by stray bullets from hunters.

Hunters in New South Wales could soon be allowed to go into national parks and kill native animals including black swans, sulphur crested cockatoos and kangaroos if the NSW Labor party supports a Bill currently before parliament.

RSPCA NSW has condemned the Shooters Party Bill saying it's a blatant attempt to disguise recreational hunting as conservation.

"There is no possible conservation benefit to be derived from letting untrained shooters loose in our national parks," said the RSPCA's Chief Scientist, Dr Bidda Jones.

PLEASE PASS ON.

Email 4 from Ozark:

Dear fellow OZARK members

I have only recently rejoined the OZARK forum so please accept my apologies if the following message has already been discussed at length in my absence.

For those of you who are not aware, the Hon. Robert Brown (Shooters Party) has introduced into the NSW parliament a private member's bill - the Game and Feral Control Amendment Bill 2009 - that would, if adopted, allow for the shooting of native animals in national parks and to allow the creation of private game parks. Listed amongst the native animals this bill would permit to be shot include:

- Australian Shelduck (or Maountain Duck)
- Australian Wood Duck (or Maned Duck)
- Black Duck (or Pacific Black Duck)
- Blue-winged Shoveler
- Chestnut Teal
- Grass Duck
- Grey Teal
- Hardhead Duck
- Pink-eared Duck
- Water Whistling Duck
- Brown Quali
- Stubble Quali
- Australian White Ibis
- Black Swan
- Common Bronzewing Pidgeon
- Galah
- Little Corella
- Purple Swamphen
- Staw-necked ibis
- Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
- Topknot Pigeon
- Eastern Grey Kangaroos
- Euro
- Red Kangaroo
- Western Grey Kangaroo

Wildlife Advocate Inc, a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to representing the needs of our Australian native wildlife, would like to work with like-minded organisations and individuals to oppose this bill.

To this end, Wildlife Advocate has established an on-line petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/Stop-Hunting-of-Australian-wildlife

We encourage you to visit that site and, if you so desire, register your opposition to the Hon Robert Brown's plans to amend the law to permit the hunting of native Australian wildlife in NSW national parks.

Yours sincerely

Guy Wilmington
President
Wildlife Advocate Inc.

Ph: 0413 591762
Email: wildlife@wildlifeadvocate.com
Web: www.wildlifeadvocate.com

Australia's Kangaroo Carnage

2010-12-18T08:45:00.000-08:00

July 21, 2009

Australia’s kangaroos are in trouble – real trouble! Not only do they have to compete with devastating droughts, urban encroachment and habitat destruction of all sorts, they also have to contend with farmers, shooters, and governments legally and illegally -all immorally- killing them with little thought for their welfare and species survival. The most sickening part of it all is that the Australian kangaroo industry – responsible for slaughtering 3.6 million roo’s in 2008 alone – is sanctioned by our very own government… The very same government that uses an image of the kangaroo in its coat of arms!

Every night in Australia, kangaroos are maimed and injured – many non-lethally – by amateur and professional shooters. The meat from these brutally murdered kangaroos is then sold for human consumption both within Australia and overseas, as well as for the pet food trade. Roo pelts are also sold to shoe making companies.

For more information on the repulsive nature of the kangaroo industry please check out these photos…

The Australian kangaroo industry has become the world’s largest land massacre of wildlife and as Australians we should all be ashamed! I find the kangaroo industry and its standards of animal welfare absolutely appalling and believe it is criminal that it is allowed to exist in a country that supposedly prides itself on animal welfare practices. It is my utmost belief that the Australian Government (both past and existing) together with those responsible for the kangaroo industry have failed to address basic animal welfare issues… The government and industry recommended method of killing joeys remaining in the pouch of their slaughtered mothers is to club them to death or cut their heads off.

This is a prime example of the barbaric nature of the industry and is a truly disgusting and cruel practice which must not be allowed to continue!

It seems that the government is able to overlook the abhorrent acts of animal cruelty that occur on a nightly basis under the banner of the Australian kangaroo industry, but I can guarantee that international (and most domestic) tourists visiting our country would be absolutely revolted if they knew the details of the barbaric acts performed against these iconic and magnificent animals. Not only is the industry itself detrimental to Australia’s tourism appeal, but the effects that the nightly slaughter is having on Australia’s kangaroo populations is devastating!

Contrary to popular belief, Australia’s outback is no longer teeming with large mobs of kangaroos – in fact, if you travel to what were once prime kangaroo habitats, you’ll now be lucky to see even a single roo. With no monitoring or education in population dynamics, shooters are targeting the largest kangaroos (as on a per kilogram basis they provide the most profit) and are thus slaughtering the biggest, healthiest males in the mob. As a result, shooters are responsible for detrimentally, and dramatically altering the natural evolution of kangaroo populations.

The Australian kangaroo industry is barbarically slaughtering our Australian icon to the point of extinction, and obviously has no interest in our future generations. I would ask all of Steve’s friends both in Australia and around the world to join with me in boycotting all products derived from these unique and beautiful animals. To voice your disgust at the Australian kangaroo industry, please write to the Australian Prime Minister or the Minister for the Environment:

The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Tel: 07 3899 4031
http://www.alp.org.au/action/feedback.php

MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT:

Mr Peter Garrett
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Tel: (02) 6277 7640
Fax: (02) 6273 6101Peter.Garrett.MP@aph.gov.au

For more information on the repulsive nature of the kangaroo industry please check out the following websites:

The Australian Society for Kangaroos:    http://www.australiansocietyforkangaroos.com/

The Kangaroo Protection Coalition:   http://www.kangaroo-protection-coalition.com/

Wildlife Protection of Australia Inc:    http://www.wildlifeprotectaust.org.au/

Australian Wildlife Protection Council:    http://www.awpc.org.au/

and you might like to sign the petition at
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/kangaroo-extinction.html

Yalata Visit

2010-12-18T08:36:00.000-08:00

June 2009

I have long been an admirer of the RSPCA and the commendable work that they do and as such was honoured to recently be invited to visit a remote aboriginal community with the RSPCA of South Australia, to talk to the children about animal welfare.

Yalata is an indigenous community approximately two and a half hours from Ceduna, close to the Great Australian Bight and the Nullarbor desert in South Australia. Whilst the population is always fluctuating as its members move between nearby communities, a core population of around 250 people live in the community, and most maintain many of the traditions of their ancestors. The RSPCA attended the community to talk to the children about looking after their dogs and responsible pet ownership, and asked me to talk about respecting the local wildlife with which they share their land. Being given the opportunity to enter the community and meet with the wonderful children and adults of the community was a fantastic experience and I feel very privileged to have had the attention of the children (and their school teachers) as I spoke about respecting all forms of life and appreciating its inherent value. To be able to talk with the residents and be given the chance to understand the connection between the indigenous people and the wildlife with which they have co-existed over many generations was enlightening. The community members’ perspectives and opinions of native wildlife were very different from the attitudes in our more western societies, but I appreciated the opportunity to understand the communities’ point of view and I have no doubt the experience was worthwhile for all concerned.

Whilst in the community I also helped the RSPCA staff deliver an anti-parasite program to the dogs of the community which involved making ‘ivermectin sandwiches’ to feed to each dog that we came across. These medicated sandwiches were highly appetizing (due to the anchovy spread in their centre) and were fed out to help reduce the incidence of intestinal worms and mange affecting many of the dogs. Communities such as Yalata have no permanent vets or animal carers, and without regular visits from the likes of the RSPCA the animals in remote indigenous communities unfortunately often go without any veterinary treatment. The residents of Yalata certainly appreciated the efforts of the RSPCA and their vet and I’m sure the RSPCA will continue to have thriving relationship with Yalata and the animals of the community.

Being given the opportunity to work with the RSPCA in the field was of great benefit to me – and hopefully also the RSPCA. I certainly look forward to continuing to work with the RSPCA in the future.

--Bob Irwin

Photos courtesy of Nalika and Ben

"Steve Irwin Reserve" Article in Saturday's Courier Mail - Letter to Des Houghton regarding June 20th Article in the Courier Mail

2010-12-18T08:33:00.001-08:00

June 19, 2009

Des,

I read with great interest your article on the 'Steve Irwin Reserve' in Saturday's Courier Mail.

I would like you to correct a couple of very important errors.

(1) I am not and never have been a director or part owner of 'Silverback Properties'.

(2) I was never invited to be part of the negotiations in regards to 'Steve Irwin Reserve' in Cape York, and have no involvement with it. To the best of my knowledge this property was given to Terri Irwin by the Australian Government.

(3) Given the circumstances outlined above, I take exception to the term 'the Irwins' in your article. The Bob Irwin Wildlife Fund and Conservation Projects are managed with honesty and integrity. I do not wish to be associated with any conservation issues with which I have no involvement and about which I have no knowledge.

I would appreciate a correction of these errors as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Bob Irwin

CROCODILE TROPHY HUNTING - Letter to The Honorable Peter Garrett MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600

2010-12-18T08:32:00.000-08:00

May 25, 2009

RE: Crocodile Trophy Hunting

Dear Sir,

Predictably, the issue of trophy hunting of crocodiles has been raised in the context of recent attacks on humans and the release of the Northern Territory's Draft Croc Management Program. 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, it's going to be a program "…that focuses on Indigenous participation, employment and enterprise….". Who's going to knock that – a lucrative, sustainable eco-venture that supports our indigenous brothers?

But let's get the issue into its proper context before we go any further. Trophy hunting is not seriously going to stop unfortunate souls from getting killed by crocs – that just needs better education and awareness campaigns. Neither will it be the economic salvation of local indigenous communities; their 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. If you want to get a taste for the industry get on to Google and search "trophy hunting", or try this one: www.africatrophyhunting.com/Trophies.asp?sf=8 for a list of all the animals in Africa you can hunt and kill. Follow the links for some disturbing photos of giraffes, hippos, vervet monkeys and some endangered wildlife with the brave hunters who shot them. (By the way, there's not a single species of endangered animal that has ever been saved from extinction by virtue of its attraction for trophy hunters.) On the topic of whether shooting crocs is humane: They've got 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 this gets the green light. There's nothing humane about trophy hunting, particularly for animals like crocs.

There will be animal cruelty issues!

In my mind, the question of whether trophy hunting of crocodiles should be allowed is a question of morality. For me, it it's just not right to hunt and kill something for fun. 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 this proposal 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.

Let us not go back to Medieval times.

Reject the Northern Territory Government's proposal.

--Bob Irwin

Click on the links below to see other articles written against the proposal. If you would like to write the Government Minister regarding the croc proposal, click here.

RSPCA Article

International Fund for Animal Welfare article

Humane Society International Article

WHY WE CAN'T CONSERVE KOALAS - Letter to the Editor, Courier Mail

2010-12-18T08:30:00.000-08:00

May 23, 2009

Koalas are rapidly marching down the path to extinction, along with a host of our other forest-dwelling wildlife. Do not think for one moment that I am being alarmist or exaggerating: losing nearly 50% of a koala population every 5-15 years (that's based on the figures from a bureaucratic and conservative Queensland EPA) is not a statistic that is conducive to long-term survival.

The simplistic reason for this dramatic decline in koala numbers is that people like to live, work and farm land in the same areas that koalas like to live. So we bulldoze and cut down their forests to make way for our houses, factories and agriculture, then slice up any remaining habitat with highways, roads and other infrastructure, which koalas either cannot cross, or die in their attempts to do so. If you're the type of person who thinks that wildlife should just be protected in national parks and reserves, then here's something to think about: The proportion of koala habitat actually contained and protected in national parks and reserves is not enough to ensure their survival. It's as simple as that.

Dig a little deeper into the koala issue and you find that the more complex and disgusting truth is that the real conservation of koalas is a very low priority for our state and federal governments. What is more important for them is the appearance of wanting to conserve koalas, because that can win votes, but from a political standpoint, koalas are nothing more than an irritation, albeit an irritation that can occasionally have significant political consequences.

The demise of the Goss government in Queensland in the 1995 election is partly attributed to their keenness to put a highway smack in the middle of a major koala habitat. They lost power and the road did not go ahead. However, they did learn that a brazen disregard for koalas might not be a good public image -- better to appear to care for the iconic animal. Then followed a number of State Planning Policies for koala conservation and the much anticipated "Koala Plan" of 2006. Although appearing to do so, none of these documents ever seriously addressed the issues causing the decline of koalas. It is apparent now that they were never intended to: the perceived consequences of ratifying a document that had real intent and the teeth to enforce it was not really in the best political interests of the government of the day. The result is obvious: koala populations are still in dramatic decline, particularly in south east Queensland.

The koala populations of the Darling Downs and brigalow belt out west were dealt their final blow with Peter Beattie's announcement of the impending "ban" on broad-scale land-clearing. He gave landholders nearly three years notice of the intention of the Vegetation Management Act to regulate the clearing of remnant vegetation. So they got busy. D9s dragging massive chains worked around the clock clearing land as fast as the machinery could go. Very few animals survive this brutal and destructive process -- those that do are generally fatally maimed and die slow deaths from their injuries, dehydration and starvation. The 100,000 or so koalas that once lived in these areas were not immune. A few still hang on in remnants of habitat, but their days are numbered -- the population so sparse and scattered that it cannot maintain itself.

The ecological term for the point of no return is "the tipping point". Even though koalas are still relatively widespread in distribution, many of the remaining populations are small, isolated and have passed their tipping points -- they are doomed to extirpation (localised extinction).

Unfortunately tipping points are hard to predict and slip by unnoticed by us, the stewards of the land: the tragic and inevitable consequences may not manifest sometimes for years.

As if loss of habitat, plummeting numbers and political indifference (or even malevolence) were not enough, koalas are not a healthy bunch either. We've known for years of their susceptibility to chlamydial infection, the bacterial scourge that causes blindness, infertility and urinary infections. The recent discovery of an even more sinister and devastating bug, the koala retrovirus, seems just too much for the poor things to bear. This AIDS-like virus causes leukaemia, cancer and immunodeficiency syndromes at levels tens of times higher than in the human population. It probably makes koalas much more susceptible to severe chlamydial disease as well.

As it has done with the other major threats to koala survival, the Queensland Government has treated this discovery with indifference and inaction. Unlike the Tasmanian government, that has spent over $1 million researching facial tumour disease in Tassie devils, our State government has spent nothing.

Why do our governments care so little about the issues facing our wildlife? Why is it that one of the world's most critically endangered mammals, the northern hairy-nosed wombat, found only in Queensland, has had so little money spent on its recovery that it is just plain embarrassing? Why is it that when the koala is racing towards extinction, our state and federal governments react by putting up a smoke screen of rhetoric and feigned concern without any intention of meaningful action? The answer is: I just don't know, and I just don't understand. All I know is that our descendents, our grandchildren and theirs, will never forgive our inaction at the very time in history when we knew what we were doing, knew the consequences, knew the simple solutions, but failed to act.

--Bob Irwin

SUSTAINABLE USE - Letter to the Editor, Courier Mail

2010-12-18T08:05:00.000-08:00

April 3, 2009

Australia's already gravely endangered wildlife faces a new and lethal threat, one that is spreading rapidly - the lie of "sustainable use".

That phrase, increasingly put about by greedy commercial operators hellbent on exploiting what's left of our native fauna, is a cruel hoax given that our unique wildlife is literally disappearing before our eyes.

"Sustainable use" sounds reasonable enough, but given the reality on the ground for wildlife around the country, it is empty and meaningless spin designed to con the public into accepting what should be unacceptable.

The most recent example is the proposal from crocodile farmers to harvest crocodile eggs from wild salt water crocodile populations in Far North Queensland.

Not only does the proposal disgust me as an animal lover and conservationist but also, as a researcher who has worked closely with these apex predators for over 30 years, it gives me real concern that it would drive crocodiles to extinction.

At first glance the idea might seem sensible, but only if you accept the widespread misconception that crocodile numbers are on the increase and on the march, posing an ever greater threat to people living in coastal areas of northern Australia.

But it is humans who are encroaching into croc country in increasing numbers, which makes it inevitable that there will be more, and sometimes tragic encounters between these magnificent reptiles and people.

Understandably given the public fear and fascination with crocodiles, even a sighting of one of them near a residential area gets front page media coverage, which is inevitably followed by the call that "something must be done about this growing menace".

Back in the real world, crocodile habitat is being reduced and their numbers are falling, with detrimental flow-on affects down the food chain.

Another claim put forward by the crocodile industry is it's alright to steal a few eggs because female salt-water crocodiles produce up to 2500 eggs over their lifetime. It's another claim that sounds fine until you subject it to scientific scrutiny. Of these 2500 eggs produced over approximately 40 years, only 1% survive to breeding age. This means that over 40 years, a breeding female salt water crocodile will only produce 25 adult crocodiles. And bear in mind, salties are already classified by the Queensland Government’s own Environmental Protection Agency as a vulnerable species.

Then would come the problem of policing such a scheme to make sure that so-called "sustainable use" did not become no-holds barred plunder, and unfortunately the Environmental Protection Agency does not have the funding and staff to do the job.
If it were ever introduced, the future of these magnificent creatures who have survived for millennia would left in the hands of an industry for whom they are nothing more than a way to make money.

Another species threatened by the deadly combination of "sustainable use" and widespread ignorance is the kangaroo. Yes, that's right, the kangaroo.
Most people think they are present in huge numbers "out west"; that they wipe out crops, and are a menace to anyone who has to drive through the area at night, especially if you don't have a "bull bar".

Even people sympathetic to the cause of wildlife protection can be convinced that allowing commercial shooters to kill a few roos for their skins and meat is a good move.

Think again. The traditional kangaroo mob has all but disappeared in Australia. Understandably, shooters target the biggest, healthiest roos they come across. Unfortunately, these are also the most prolific breeders and the leaders of the mob.

When they are taken out, the results are devastating for the kangaroo population. Already the eastern grey and the red kangaroo are threatened species.

Australia’s record of extinct, endangered and threatened species is amongst the worst in the world.

Let us never be dismissive of compassion and altruism when it is directed at helping animals.
Species and landscapes are important, but species are made up of living, breathing, feeling individuals, just like us, so let us conserve and care for them, as well as their landscapes.
And 'sustainability' is a fine word and a good concept, but not if it is attached to an exploitative industry.

It is now time for urgent action, focused research and a sustained public effort from all Australians to save our unique wildlife before it is too late.

--Bob Irwin

VICTORIAN BUSH FIRE AND WILDLIFE REPORT

2010-12-18T08:03:00.000-08:00

March 22, 2009

To find out how best to help and support the people and wildlife involved in the Victorian bush fires, I went down to Victoria, accompanied by Dr. Zali and another friend, to meet those affected and to see the devastation first hand. In particular, I met with the wildlife carers and vets in these areas who dedicate their lives to wildlife.

On the first day, we went into one of the worst affected areas. Very little could have prepared us for what we saw. We were surrounded by the blackened remains of what was once eucalypt forest and had been home to countless wildlife. There was nothing left except ash and burnt-out trees for as far as the eye could see and the bush was so quiet.

We spent four days traveling to many of the affected regions, meeting people and wildlife. We were told unbelievable stories of survival and saw heartbreaking scenes of destruction and desolation.

But amidst all the tragedy and devastation there was a lot of hope and I had the privilege to meet some very special and caring people. Some of them were left with only the clothes on their back yet despite all they had lost, they did not lose their incredible passion and commitment to wildlife. Several had already begun rebuilding; all spoke of their plans to start again and to continue their life’s work, of caring for and protecting wildlife. I was inspired by their courage, their hope and their unfailing belief in themselves and the bush to begin again.

It is going to take many years to recover, during which time the people of Victoria and the wildlife will require our ongoing support and understanding. My trip reassured me that the wildlife is getting the help it needs from very caring and committed people. Although much of the wildlife in these areas perished, those that survived are being given every chance at rehabilitation. I will be providing my support wherever needed and will be paying particular attention to the plight of the Strzelecki koalas in the South Gippsland region, whose numbers and habitat have been drastically diminished by the fires. I will update you with more information about this situation in the upcoming months.

I would like to thank Lyppard Australia for their support of Dr Zali Brookes in her organising the Victorian Wildlife Bushfire Relief Fund. I thank them all for their generosity and wish them well with their excellent work in continuing to help the vets and wildlife carers of the bushfire affected areas. With the help of donations from very generous and caring people, the fund has been successful in providing much needed veterinary supplies to these dedicated vets and carers. In this way the fund has played an invaluable role in providing specific support to where it is most needed, ensuring the wildlife are given as much help as possible.

I’d also like to give a special thanks to Avis and Qantas, whose generous support ensured our trip to Victoria was a positive one.

--Bob

During our trip to Victoria a network station filmed and broadcast a segment which contained some incorrect information which I would now like to rectify. At the end of the segment it was incorrectly stated I was affiliated with one particular wildlife group and was raising funds for this group. Despite my request for a correction, this was not done, so I would like to make it clear that my trip to Victoria was to visit ALL wildlife groups, vets and carers involved in the bushfire response, to see how best I could offer my support. I was not and am not associated with any one particular group. I support any wildlife carer whether they are an individual or belong to a larger group, as long as they are humanely and responsibly caring for wildlife. We met all of our own costs with the support of some generous sponsorship.

TURTLE REPORT

2010-12-18T08:01:00.000-08:00

January 29, 2009

I have recently become involved with a wonderful and dedicated group of people who are the founders of the Australian Freshwater Turtle Conservation and Research Association (AFTCRA Inc.), a not-for-profit organization devoted to the conservation of our wonderful freshwater turtle species. With little support, Craig and Gabrielle Latta and their family have generously funded the successful breeding of several species of freshwater turtle for many years, including endangered species such as the Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus) and the Irwins Turtle (Elseya irwini).

Up until recently, captive bred turtles were not allowed to be re-released into the wild due to strict environmental legislation; however with special permission from the Queensland EPA and with the wild population of Mary River Turtles diminishing, the Latta's have been able to breed and release this important species back into its natural environment. On Australia day this year, I was fortunate to be able to take part in a release ceremony in which 53 juvenile Mary River Turtles were released back into the wild. This is a great step for the conservation of this species and the Latta's have assured me that they will endeavour to continue this important work.

More information on volunteering or donating and becoming a member of AFTCRA can be found on their website http://www.aftcra.org.au/.

SOUTHERN HAIRY NOSE WOMBAT REPORT

2010-12-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

Having been affiliated with the Wombat Awareness Organisation since its beginnings in 2007 I have followed its progress keenly. In early January of 2009, together with Kenton Campbell owner of Zarraffa's Coffee and dedicated conservationist I revisited the project in the arid Murraylands of South Australia.

Founded by Brigitte Stevens and Frank Mikula, the Wombat Awareness Organisation works within communities providing relief and rehabilitation to the Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat now listed as a threatened species due to the persistent drought and the devastating effects of Sarcoptic Mange.

The influx of over 200 wombats within a 12 month period has instigated the construction of Australia’s first ‘Wombat Intensive Care Unit’. This 'ICU' is the only facility catering for the care of adult Southern Hairy Nosed Wombats and is an essential tool in this conservation effort. During our stay we worked on the construction of this unique, privately funded facility which is due to be officially opened in the coming months.

Funding is desperately needed to source essential specialised equipment such as customised housing, wombat bedding and recovery enclosures and to maintain the services this organisation is providing to conserve these beautiful animals.

--Bob