Wildlife Australia - Winter 2022

54 Pages·2022·14 MB·English

WINTER 2022 VOL. 59 NO. 2
Takeoff
… but please don’t go, curlews
Platypus reintroduced in NSW Sun shines on glider habitat Saving drum-playing ‘palmies’
Bring the vibrancy of native birds into
your home

with unique artwork by Pam McGrath
2
Artist Pam McGrath expresses her lifetime concern
for wildlife conservation through these acrylic paintings
of Australian birds. While celebrating avian beauty and
diversity, the birds are presented in abstract design
with straight lines, rather than the delicate curves of
their natural form, to suggest the challenges of their
adaption to environmental change.
5
Each of these framed, one-of-a-kind original artworks
is available for purchase from $100 (plus $50 postage
and handling).
The perfect gift for the nature-lover
or art-lover in your life, you’ll also be
generously gifting Wildlife Queensland, With upcycled
as 50% of the purchase price goes frames!
towards helping WPSQ continue its
important work.
4 1
3
From only $100 + $50 p&h. ORDER TODAY!
Email [email protected] or phone [phone]
Title Size (W x H) Medium Price
1. Little penguins greet. 17cm x 22cm X2 Acrylics $80
2. Golden-headed Cisticola in the Golden Sun. 35cm x 30 cm Acrylics $100
3. Willie wagtail on the flower pot. 30cm x 35cm Acrylics $100
4. A Stradbroke afternoon. 50cm x 40cm Acrylics $120
5. King parrots parking. 49cm x 39cm Acrylics $100
2
Bring the vibrancy of native birds into IN THIS ISSUE
WINTER 2022 – VOLUME 59 NO.2
your home
with unique artwork by Pam McGrath 03 First Word
Saving wildlife is saving ourselves: Mike Sullivan
04 Dispatches
Keep up with the latest in wildlife news and research.
2
FEATURES
10 H UMANS AND OTHER WILDLIFE: Unlocking the mystery of
Artist Pam McGrath expresses her lifetime concern the tawny frogmouth.
Befriending our neighbourhood tawny
for wildlife conservation through these acrylic paintings frogmouth family helped us to survive lockdowns: Kane Thornton.
12 H UMANS AND OTHER WILDLIFE: Captivated by curlews.
of Australian birds. While celebrating avian beauty and
A fascination with wading birds, especially curlews, highlights the
diversity, the birds are presented in abstract design 12 interdependence and responsibilities of humans: Peter Lindenmayer.
15 E NDANGERED SPECIES: Saving Australia's drum-playing
An eastern curlew (Numenius
with straight lines, rather than the delicate curves of palm cockatoos.
madagascariensis) on the Cairns The ‘Ringo Starr’ of birds is now an endangered
their natural form, to suggest the challenges of their Esplanade, Queensland. species: Christina N. Zdenek and Rob Heinsohn.
Photo: Graham Winterflood.
18 S PECIES RECOVERY: Can the platypus return to Royal National
adaption to environmental change. Park?
UNSW CES collaborates with WWF-Australia, Taronga
Conservation Society and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
to reintroduce platypuses to Royal National Park streams.
20 5 7th Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition comes
5
to Sydney.
Each of these framed, one-of-a-kind original artworks The world’s greatest annual collection of wildlife
photographs includes Australian winners Juergen Freund, Douglas
is available for purchase from $100 (plus $50 postage
Gimesy, Justin Gilligan and Adam Oswell: Natural History Museum,
and handling). London and Australian Maritime Museum, Sydney.
24 T HREATENED SPECIES: Recovering our gliders. The only way
The perfect gift for the nature-lover forward is back.
A new project in Southern Queensland is
or art-lover in your life, you’ll also be rejuvenating habitat on a major scale to save gliders: Karin Cox.
generously gifting Wildlife Queensland, With upcycled 28 Tb HenReEfAitT mENosEtD f rSoPmE CCISEISR:O S ewae sepdu brgioe-c soenetsro pl uinrgnoe.v aLtititolen .p enguins
as 50% of the purchase price goes frames! 29 T HREATENED SPECIES: Feral massacres.
Research shows
towards helping WPSQ continue its
2.6 billion mammals, birds and reptiles are killed annually by
important work. wild cats and foxes across Australia.
18 30 O CEANIA: Treaties we live by. Antarctic Treaty is a model for
international co-operation. How New Zealand’s climate response
4 1 Taronga platypus, Annie, 2021.
Photo: Taronga Conservation Society is driven by Antarctica:Henricus Peters.
Australia – Rick Stevens. 34 O CEANIA: Dark trade in international wildlife.
Why the
criminal act of international wildlife smuggling is on the increase
and how the CITES convention combats it: Henricus Peters.
35 O CEANIA: Ramsar aims to protect wetlands of global
importance.
Australia has many of the world’s most important
wetland areas, many protected as Ramsar sites: Henricus Peters.
36 B UZZ ON BEES: Native bees fight a parasite 'arms race'.
Bee parasite that has co-existed harmlessly now poses a threat.
38 B UZZ ON BEES: Bushfire bees may be on the brink of
extinction.
Threatened bee species up by 500 percent since fires?
40 R ESEARCH | MARINE: A whale of a tale... straight from the
whale's mouth.
Once hunted for their baleen plates as ‘whale bone’,
3 now these are studied to determine long-term feeding health.
From only $100 + $50 p&h. ORDER TODAY! 42 S PECIAL REPORT: How saving the bilby means marketing
the bilby.
Is bilby marketing a model for others?: Mike Sullivan.
Email [email protected] or phone [phone] R EVIEW: Listen. Everything is connected. Sounding out
24 David Haskell’s latest book, Sounds Wild & Broken: Saren Starbridge.
44 W ILD CHILD: Wild on screen. Clever wildlife stories.
Title Size (W x H) Medium Price Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis). 46 CLASSIFIEDS:
Ideal marketplace for quality products and services.
Photo: © Bruce Thomson.
48 W ILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS: Networks | WPSQ.
1. Little penguins greet. 17cm x 22cm X2 Acrylics $80 Yurol Ringtail State
Forest to be revegetated and join Tewantin National Park.
2. Golden-headed Cisticola in the Golden Sun. 35cm x 30 cm Acrylics $100
3. Willie wagtail on the flower pot. 30cm x 35cm Acrylics $100
4. A Stradbroke afternoon. 50cm x 40cm Acrylics $120
DOWNLOAD WILDLIFE AUSTRALIA AT YOUR FAVOURITE APP STORE!
5. King parrots parking. 49cm x 39cm Acrylics $100 APPLE NEWSSTAND, ITUNES, GOOGLE PLAY OR WWW.POCKETMAGS.COM
COVER IMAGE
Ensure a future for
EASTERN CURLEW (NUMENIUS
our wildlife MADAGASCARIENSIS)
BY GREG MILES
Write your Will for FREE This elegant image of an eastern
curlew taking off was an opportunistic
series on the mudflats adjacent to The
Image © EPshpolatongadraep inh eCra irGnrse, gN oMrthil eQsu eteenllssl atnhde.
W
ayn story: “Bird watching and photography has been a rewarding
e Law hobby for me over many years. Early last year I did a trip to Far
ler, Eco Nsuocrhth aQs uteheen splaanradd iinse o rkdinerg tfois hpehro taongdr abplhu ew-featc seeda spoanr rmoti-gfrinacnhts.
p
ix While I was there I heard that a Nordmann’s greenshank had
been seen off the Cairns Esplanade which was the first sighting
of this rare wader species on the east coast of Australia.
I was able to photograph this bird as well as numerous other
waders. I was photographing this eastern curlew which
was quite close to the shoreline at low tide, when it took
off, enabling me to take a series of shots of it in flight.” n
Would you like to share a great wildlife image with us?
Post it to www.facebook.com/wildlifeaustraliamagazineWAM
Wildlife Queensland has partnered with Gathered Here, or tweet @WildlifeAust
Australia’s top-rated Will-writing platform. Scan the
QR code below or go towildlife.org.au/bequests Inset cover photos, left to right: Platypus McKenzie at Taronga Zoo
to write your Will for free in under 10 minutes. Sydney, 2020, by Taronga Conservation Society Australia – Chris
Wheeler; Greater glider (Petauroides volans) by © Bruce Thomson;
Palm cockatoos go quiet during nesting, making them hard to
find, by Christina N Zdenek.
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02 | Wildlife Australia | WINTER 2022
FIRST WORD
From the editor, Mike Sullivan
W
ILDLIFE can be very good for ‘Just in time’ conservation is too late
people – even if just to admire. But As another fundamental, make sure these wildlife-
people can also learn from wildlife. rich areas actually are set aside, in a timely manner.
It is rarely the other way around. This is where governments of all persuasions
Take two stories in this edition, written by can fall down. Often these decisions are made
readers Kane Thornton and Peter Lindenmayer, only when ‘development’ is actually encroaching
which we have tagged under a new section upon habitats – making conservation much more
theme: ‘humans and other wildlife’ (p10 and p12). difficult and costly. Governments always find it
Both writers discovered that coming across a bird hard to justify ‘costly’.
species that appealed to them had a profound and A case in point is highlighted by a story in this
lasting impact on their lives. In the case of Kane, edition about the incorporation of Queensland’s
‘Bedazzled‘ by Alex Mustard,
it opened up a new dimension that helped him Yurol Ringtail State Forest into the Tewantin UK. Winner, Natural Artistry,
escape from the long oppression of COVID-19 National Park (p48). The comments of Wildlife Wildlife Photographer of
the Year. Alex finds a ghost
lockdowns in Melbourne. Queensland policies and campaigns manager, Des
pipefish hiding among
For Peter, his discovery of eastern curlews and Boyland in relation to that story are resounding. the arms of a feather
star. Photo: Alex Mustard /
other wading birds, as a teenager, encouraged a life “Full credit to the team at Noosa and District
Wildlife Photographer
of avid bird watching and travel – and likely led Landcare and their project partners for making of the Year.
to his becoming an author. He has just released a this happen,” he said. The Noosa Parks Association See story, page 20.
children’s book on curlews, Malishka – a Curlew had been working for a continuous national park
comes back to our coast. running from Coolum to Cooloola for the past
The more humanity learns about the natural 60 years – and Wildlife Queensland had always
world – often from attempting to fix an ecological supported that plan.
problem that human ‘development’ caused in the “Wildlife Queensland has been demanding
first place – the more we should understand that the State Government rapidly increase the
that we are not in any way above it. Peter's and Protected Area Estate to reach the promised
Kane’s stories suggest, literally and figuratively, 17 percent for some time now, understanding
birds are above us. that if the Beattie Labor Government’s former
promise was honoured, all state forest would be
Nature gets on with the job national park by 2024.
In most cases the way to repair environmental “It’s also important that the Environment Minister
damage, habitat loss and threats to species is to and the Queensland Premier acknowledge that the
start by taking humans out of the picture, and let operative word in the term ‘Protected Area Estate’ A tawny frogmouth
nature repair itself. In the Amazon researchers is protected. They have an obligation to ensure that (Podargus strigoides).
have discovered the best way to revegetate cleared national parks, new or old, are foremost for wildlife Photo: PaulaPeachyPeach
from Pixabay.
forest is to walk away for a year and come back and that the wants of tourists don’t override the
See story, page 10.
when nature has done the job. needs of flora and fauna in protected areas, as has
Wildlife Queensland’s Queensland Glider happened at Cooloola.
Network (QGN) is one of the leaders in a “A Coolum to Cooloola wild corridor
southern Queensland project to improve safeguarding a broad sweep of coastline along
dilapidated and exploited habitat that is vital one of Queensland’s most-visited tourism regions
to the survival of several threatened species of could send the message that our wild places are no
gliders. With the disappearance of old eucalyptus longer for sale,” Mr Boyland said. “Doubling the
trees, whose hollows only emerge with age – so size of Tewantin National Park is an admirable
have the gliders that shelter and breed in them. start, but the future of the koala, Richmond
The article by Karin Cox in this edition (p24) birdwing butterfly, greater glider, yellow-bellied
shows human ingenuity can temporarily assist, as glider and spotted-tailed quoll – if indeed the latter
QGN volunteers are building and positioning still has a future on the Sunshine Coast – depends Lipotririches gracilipes,
nestboxes for gliders and other species to utilise on many more such additions to Queensland’s assessed as ‘vulnerable‘,
one of the 11 bees in
in the meantime. Protected Area Estate.” the new International
As a fundamental, keep humans largely out of ‘Just in time’ might be a good lean manufacturing Union for Conservation
natural areas if you aim to conserve them. policy, but it is a very poor conservation one. n of Nature’s (IUCN) red
list of threatened species
study. Photo: courtesy Ken
Walker, Museums Victoria
(iNaturalist Australia).
We’d love to hear from you. Write to [email protected], tweet @WildlifeAust, and follow us on
See story, page 38.
Facebook at www.facebook.com/wildlifeaustraliamagazineWAM
WILDLIFE AUSTRALIA – INSPIRING STRONGER TIES TO NATURE TO EMPOWER CONSERVATION
Wildlife Australia |03
DDIISSPPAATTCCHHEESS
Australia’s Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands declared marine sanctuary
Replace with HR
Photo: Connor Slight.
Photo: Gary Bell, Oceanwide Images.
AN ALLIANCE of leading environment groups has welcomed the
Australian Government’s declaration of two new marine parks off
Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Together they
form one of the largest highly protected marine sanctuary areas
in the world.
The marine parks, which have been co-designed and are
supported by the local island communities, include marine
sanctuaries covering about 739,000sqkm, an area bigger than
Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT combined.
“This is a truly historic moment for marine protection in Australia
and for the global health of our oceans,” The Pew Charitable
Trusts national oceans manager, Christabel Mitchell said.
“Covering an area twice the size of the Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park, these sanctuaries will provide an important safe haven for
a wealth of Indian Ocean marine life that is under increasing
Photo: Connor Slight.
pressure from industrial fishing, climate change and pollution.
“Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are uniquely
Australian and globally significant. The remoteness of the islands
has helped to maintain their rich biodiversity and uniqueness.
There’s nowhere like them on Earth.
“Healthy oceans and sustainable fishing are central to
the Christmas and Cocos Islanders’ way of life, their culture
and their livelihoods. It is very encouraging that the former
Morrison Government has worked collaboratively with the island
communities to co-design these marine parks to meet local
aspirations and protect marine life.”
Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) CEO, Darren
Kindleysides, said, “These new marine parks in Australia’s
Indian Ocean Territories will make a major contribution towards
international efforts to conserve our oceans in a network of highly
Photo: Gary Bell, Oceanwide Images.
protected areas.
“They will provide crucial protection for marine life in the
region, including part of the only known spawning ground for
critically endangered southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii),
as well as supporting local communities’ culture and aspirations.
“Christmas Island’s famous annual red crab migration was
referred to as one of the 10 natural wonders of the world by
David Attenborough. The island’s thriving rainforests, deserted
beaches and fringing reef provide a haven for unique and rare
seabirds, land crabs and marine life.
“The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are Australia’s unspoiled tropical
island paradise. Their azure waters are home to an incredible
array of diverse marine life including tropical fishes, corals, turtles,
manta rays and dolphins.
“We look forward to continuing our work with the government
and the island communities to preserve this unique part Photo: Connor Slight.
of Australia, for our marine life and future generations,”
Mr Kindleysides said. Clockwise from top left: Cocos (Keeling) Islands; black tip reef sharks in
the azure waters of the islands; a Christmas Island red crab; a stunning
Sources: The Pew Charitable Trusts (www.pewtrusts.org), Australian Marine Conservation
gilded triggerfish; a lone Christmas Island brown booby looks out over
Society (www.marineconservation.org.au), Parks Australia (www.parksaustralia.gov.au). n the water. Photos: Supplied.
0044 || WWiillddlliiffee AAuussttrraalliiaa || WWIINNTTEERR 22002222 Wildlife Australia |04
DISPATCHES
Above: Less than 12 percent of plastic waste is recycled and about 85 percent ends up in a landfill dump. Image: iStock courtesy of CSIRO.
Right: CSIRO and Murdoch University are developing 100 percent compostable bioplastics which can break down in compost, land or water, without
leaving a trace. Image: Murdoch University
CSIRO aims to ‘waste’ plastic waste The plastic waste industry is valued globally at about $87 billion
and developing circular economy plastic initiatives for recycling is
CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has pledged to help expected to provide US$67 billion in value globally by 2025.
Australia reduce its plastic waste by 80 percent over this decade – “By turning plastic waste into a renewable resource, the mission
which will help the natural environment dramatically. will deliver collaborative scientific and manufacturing capabilities to
An initial $50 million will be invested in CSIRO’s Ending Plastic drive new technologies across the entire plastics supply chain and
Waste Mission funded through contributions by CSIRO, industry, grow Australia’s circular economy,” Dr Marshall said.
government, university, and other organisations and will develop Mission lead, Dr Deborah Lau said it would take a combination
cutting-edge science and innovation to change the way Australia of solutions to address the plastic pollution problem.
makes, uses, recycles and disposes of plastics. “Our mission will be the national catalyst for systematic change
According to CSIRO, Australians consume one million tonnes to tackle plastic pollution,” Dr Lau said.
of single use plastic each year, with just 12 percent recycled. “It will drive a significant co-ordinated response across the
innovation sector and bring science and technology to the
Three-quarters of the plastic found along Australia’s coastline is
forefront to help deliver a myriad of solutions to end plastic waste.”
single-use plastics.
The mission includes a collaboration between CSIRO and
With global use of plastic expected to double by 2040, CSIRO
Murdoch University to establish a new Bioplastics Innovation Hub.
chief executive Larry Marshall said the challenge was far bigger
Murdoch University professor Daniel Murphy said the Hub would
than any one institution and needed a ‘Team Australia’ approach.
develop a new generation of 100 percent compostable products
“The Ending Plastic Waste Mission will bring together the whole
like bottles, caps and wrappers, which currently contribute to the
innovation system, from government, industry and academia to
plastic pollution problem.
turn science into solutions that will benefit the environment and
“Compostable bioplastic demand is predicted to increase rapidly
create economic opportunities for Australia,” Dr Marshall said.
as global concerns around plastic waste and fossil fuel resources
“By working together, by aligning our efforts, and by pushing
increase the importance of bio-based plastic alternatives,”
each other further for a common cause, we can tackle seemingly
Prof. Murphy said.
impossible challenges – like protecting our environment while making
sustainability profitable for business. And we can achieve it faster.” Source: CSIRO (www.csiro.au). Murdoch University (www.murdoch.edu.au). n
Wildlife Australia |05
DISPATCHES
Eating plastic makes for smaller mussels mussels then struggle to break down starch into the simple sugars
they need to survive.
Calls to reduce ‘microplastics’ in cosmetics.
“We don’t think the plastic affects mussels directly, but it does
MUSSELS in Port Phillip Bay near Melbourne are ingesting reduce their ability to digest the real food in their gut, which
microscopic pieces of plastic used in cosmetics – and it is affecting means they miss out on energy and nutrients,” Dr Trestrail said.
their ability to grow and reproduce, an RMIT University eco- If they cannot digest food effectively, the mussels cannot grow,
toxicologist has found. so they end up smaller overall. They also need energy to mate and
The microplastics travel from bathroom sinks to the ocean, reproduce, which could have serious ramifications for biodiversity
where they are easily confused with algae or seaweeds. Because in Port Phillip Bay.
they cannot tell the difference, the mussels take in the plastic “Besides being a tasty treat for humans, mussels play an
along with their normal diet of algae. important role in keeping marine ecosystems healthy,” Dr Trestrail
According to researcher Dr Charlene Trestrail, the plastics affect said. “And because plastic affects their ability to breed, we could
the action of four of their key digestive enzymes which means the see a drop in mussel populations in Port Phillip Bay, with knock-on
effects for other marine wildlife.”
While environmental campaigners have worked hard to reduce
the amount of plastic in the oceans from easily visible items such
as shopping bags and packaging, most people are not aware of
the impact of microbeads and other hidden plastics in products
including toothpaste or bath scrubs.
“We know lots about how plastics affect animals externally
– we've all seen photos of birds and turtles entangled in plastic –
but this is one of the first studies to investigate how tiny plastics
affect animals’ stomachs,” Dr Trestrail said.
There has been a push in recent years for new legislation to
reduce microplastic pollution, from microbeads in bathroom
products to fibres in synthetic fabrics. But while the Federal
Government has supported the cosmetics industry to start
phasing out microbeads, the 2021 National Plastics Plan stopped
M ussels in Port Phillip Bay near
short of banning or regulating their use.
Melbourne are ingesting microscopic
pieces of plastic used in cosmetics. “We need to take pollution from microplastics and microbeads
M icroplastics travel from our seriously,” Dr Trestrail said. “Because they’re so small, once
bathroom sinks to the ocean, where they’re in the ecosystem they are impossible to remove. The only
they are easily confused with algae solution is not to use them in the first place.”.
or seaweeds.
Photos: Dr Charlene Trestrail. Source: RMIT. www.rmit.edu.au n
International pet trade list:
127 Australian reptiles taken off
AUSTRALIA WILL further safeguard 127 protected reptile species by
listing them under Appendix III of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
All 127 species were at risk of illegal export for the pet trade.
Conservation organisation Humane Society International (HSI)
proposed the Appendix III listing of the reptiles in 2020. Sadly,
Australia's outstanding reptile fauna is highly sought after in
the international pet trade, as indicated by regular seizures.
The 127 species to be listed on CITES include a colourful array
of blue-tongue lizards, skinks and geckos whose unique features Blue-tongue lizards found in a teddy bear and taped head to tail.
Photo: The Age, 2017.
can see them fetch thousands of dollars from collectors.
Export of these animals is already prohibited under Australia's
environment laws yet the species are routinely advertised on
pet trade websites and Facebook groups in Europe. The CITES
Appendix III listings requires countries to report imported animals
to help Australia track illegal trade.
Alexia Wellbelove, senior campaign manager for HSI, said,
“The listing is welcome news for these at-risk reptiles to help keep
them in the wild where they belong. The illegal trade in reptiles is
often cruel, where live animals are bound with tape and stuffed
into socks or small containers before being shipped abroad with Above: Seized western blue-tongue lizards and western netted dragons
by WA Police. Photo: WA Police.
no food or water. Many do not survive the journey. This listing
Right: Smuggled reptiles in a can. Photo: Victorian Government.
is another weapon in our arsenal against the illegal international
trade of live reptiles.”
towards listing on CITES Appendix I which will ensure a formal
Listing on Appendix III is an important international signal that
ban on international trade in these highly desirable species.
Australia will not stand for this cruel trade which is threatening
these populations. HSI is optimistic that this is the first step Source: Humane Society International. hsi.org.au n
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DISPATCHES
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Public donations return 25 hectares to
Daintree Traditional Owners
THREE not-for-profit organisations are working together to
purchase freehold land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest and
return it to Traditional Owners.
The Stronger Together partnership is a collaboration between
Rainforest 4 Foundation, Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation
and HalfCut. The groups handed over 10 properties to Eastern
Kuku Yalanji people in April for conservation outcomes, utilising
the donations of tens of thousands of Australians.
Michelle Friday-Mooka, an Eastern Kuku Yalanji woman and
the chair of Jabalbina Yalanji Corporation, said the partnership
was unique across Australia.
“We are the only formalised, non-government program which
Some of the variety of life in the Daintree Rainforest. Left: Daintree
purchases land for conservation to be owned and managed by its
satinash (Syzygium monospermum), photo: Steven Nowakowski. Centre:
Traditional Owners,” Ms Friday-Mooka said. Four o'clock moth larvae, photo: Kristopher Kupsch. Right: Boyd's forest
“Reconciliation means working together to correct the legacy of dragon, photo: Steven Nowakowski.
past injustices,” she said. “Let us recognise the past injustices to
be returned to Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation for
Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bama (people), Bubu (country) and Jalun (sea).
management by Traditional Owners and inclusion in the Daintree
“Let us recognise the oldest rainforest coexisting with the
National Park (CYPAL). The handover of 10 of those blocks took
oldest living culture in the world. Let us move forward together
place at an event on-site in May.
to a more harmonious relationship.”
Rainforest 4 Foundation CEO Richard Christian said the partnership
Kuku Yalanji are the Traditional Owners of the Daintree
had achieved significant outcomes in its two-year history.
Lowland Rainforest and have a history dating back 50,000 years
“We have already returned six blocks back to Eastern Kuku
to the earliest human occupation of Australia. Jabalbina Yalanji
Yalanji people through Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation,”
Aboriginal Corporation administers land on behalf of the Eastern
Mr Christian said. “This week, we’re thrilled to hand over another
Kuku Yalanji people.
10 blocks for conservation.
HalfCut is described as the ‘visual disruptor of Australia’s
“Tens of thousands of donors across Australia and abroad have
environment movement, bringing joy and accessibility to the
contributed to this program,” he said. “We are giving people a
serious job of protecting rainforests for wildlife, climate, people
real opportunity to invest in practical conservation outcomes.
and planet’. Jimmy Stanton-Cooke (known as Jimmy HalfCut)
“This is a win-win. Not only are we delivering conservation
with his partner Jessica Clarke, co-founded HalfCut, a peer-to-
outcomes, we are also supporting Traditional Owners to explore
peer movement, engaging people via social media and visual
ecotourism opportunities and work on practical conservation
disruption to raise funds to ‘save the Daintree’.
projects on Country.”
“Since launching, 1479 people have gone ‘halfcut’ and more
The handover event was part of a three-day tour the three
than 45,000 people have donated to our fundraising campaigns,”
organisations hosted in the Daintree for donors and friends.
Mr Stanton-Cooke said. “We couldn’t do this alone, so working
During the tour, Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation tested
in partnership with Jabalbina and Rainforest 4 Foundation means
a new tourism offering with guided walks being led through
our efforts are amplified. We are Stronger Together.”
endangered wet tropics rainforest by Kuku Yalanji guides
Rainforest 4 Foundation works with HalfCut to engage tens of
for the first time.
thousands of people across the globe to raise funds for rainforest
The partnership has been recognised by the Queensland
conservation and restoration.
Government with a Reconciliation Award.
Through this Stronger Together partnership, Rainforest 4
Foundation has purchased and protected 21 at-risk rainforest Source: The Stronger Together partnership of Rainforest 4 Foundation, Jabalbina
properties in the past 2 – 3 years. These properties will all Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and HalfCut. n

People worldwide want strong government action to protect nature
A GLOBAL survey by research group GlobeScan has found people
worldwide want their governments to take strong action to
protect nature.
The GlobeScan Healthy and Sustainable Living Study 2021
polled more than 30,000 people across all regions of the world
in July 2021. The results proved overwhelming support for strong
and urgent action by governments to ‘protect nature’.
Across all regions, at least seven in 10 people wanted their
governments to enact strong policies that protect nature, even if
this comes with some restrictions on companies.
Support was especially high where there were ‘very significant
areas of rich biodiversity’.
This suggests that governments will face challenges from their
constituencies if they do not proactively work to protect nature,
The graph from the report. Image: Globescan.
according to GlobeScan’s summary.
Source: GlobeScan Healthy & Sustainable Living Study 2021 (survey of 30,000 members of the general public across all world regions in July 2021). www.globescan .com n
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DISPATCHES
Darwin city sees endangered Gouldian finch – a good sign says ornithologist
A SMALL FLOCK of rare and endangered Gouldian finches
(Erythrura gouldiae) have appeared at Casuarina Coastal Reserve,
about 13km north of downtown Darwin. It is a good sign that the
species may be recovering, according to a leading ornithologist.
Charles Darwin University senior research fellow, Dr Peter Kyne
said it was significant that finches had been seen so close to the
Darwin suburbs in April.
“Gouldian finches are listed as Endangered federally,” Dr
Kyne said. “We were quite worried about them at around the
turn of the millennium when they appeared to go through a
quite rapid decline.
“Fortunately, for the last two decades, observations suggest
their population is undergoing a recovery.
“Gouldians eat grass seeds, so we believe they were impacted
by the grazing of livestock as well as altered fire regimes that
affected the availability of seed,” he said.
“Seeing the finches in a new a place like this is a good sign
that the birds continue to grow in number, and as they do, push
out to new areas.
“It’s very exciting and very unusual to see these spectacular
birds so close to a residential area. Normally to see a Gouldian
requires a long road trip and a lot of patience, and even then, you
might not get lucky,” Dr Kyne said. Gouldian finch discovered close to Darwin's city centre.
Photo: Peter Kyne.
“Seeing Gouldians at Casuarina Coastal Reserve really highlights
the importance of the reserve for our birds, and it is important we
residents get a lot of joy out of that. The crowds of birdwatchers
continue to protect these areas.
trying to find these Gouldians is a perfect example.”.
“Green space in Darwin is one of the reasons we have such
a great diversity of wildlife all over the city, and I think Darwin Source: Charles Darwin University. www.cdu.edu.au n.
The study, published in Biology Letters, could explain why
crocodiles in Northern Australia have successfully recovered so
quickly from previously very low numbers.
The researchers compared stable isotopes from museum bone
specimens collected when crocodile populations were low,
to the isotopes in bones of crocodiles from today.
It was discovered that the isotopes prominent in predators with
a mainly marine diet, such as in the crocodile from five decades
ago, were lacking in the apex predators now.
The historical crocodile samples included in the study were
from museum collections.
Crocodile numbers were reduced to a few thousand in the
1970s due to hunting, but since then have recovered in
the Northern Territory.
Dr Campbell said the estuarine crocodile was Australia’s large
carnivore success story, and increased availability of feral pigs in
Coming ashore to feed more. Photo: iStock image (Supplied).
freshwater floodplains likely contributed to that success.
“A reduction in estuarine prey may have also contributed to the
crocodiles diet change,” she said.
Crocodile recovery may be due to
“It is likely a combination of a change in available prey,
dietary changes
and a general ingress of crocodiles from the estuaries into the
freshwater flood plains.”
NEW RESEARCH from Charles Darwin University (CDU) has
According to CDU Professor of Environment, Hamish
revealed that the estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in the
Campbell, who is a co-author of the new paper, this latest
Northern Territory have shifted from an estuarine based diet to
research adds a piece to a bigger puzzle about the crocodile’s
one that is largely derived from terrestrial sources.
impact on the ecosystem.
CDU research associate Dr Mariana Campbell said this change in
“The research shows that crocodile recovery is having a
diet could be contributing to crocodiles’ increased movement into
significant impact on both freshwater and terrestrial food webs
Northern Australia floodplains, where feral pigs are concentrated.
in northern Australia,” Professor Campbell said.
“We were surprised to observe such a significant shift in the
“Figuring out wider ecological impact from the growing
diet of estuarine crocodiles across the Top-End over the past 50
crocodile population is what the research team is currently
years,” Dr Campbell said.
working on under the Australian Research Council
“Our results show that they have shifted from a marine-
Discovery scheme.”
estuarine based diet, such as fish, marine turtles, to a more
terrestrial based diet of feral pigs, and buffalo.” Source: Charles Darwin University. www.cdu.edu.au n
08 | Wildlife Australia | WINTER 2022 Wildlife Australia |08