"Bilbies have become an iconic image representing many
threatened species in Australia. The long-eared bandicoot
used to range over 70% of the country but land clearing, foxes and
feral cats have caused a massive reduction in its numbers and
range.
The long ears of the bilby and the devastating impact of the
European rabbit on Australia no doubt inspired the idea of the
Easter Bilby, now promoted by a number of chocolate
companies. Rabbit Free Australia http://www.rabbitfreeaustralia.org.au/
own the Registered Trademark and image "Easter Bilby" and they have
for years received support from South Australia's Haigh's
Chocolates www.haighschocolates.com.au/our_company/environment.html
Darrell Lea chocolates also use the bilby image in Easter
chocolate sales and in turn provide substantial donations to the
Save the Bilby Fund http://www.dlea.com.au/?Community/Partnership/Save_the_Bilby
However, others use the image without providing any known
support to threatened species protection or research. I
understand they avoid the Trademark issue by selling their products
as Chocolate Bilbies (within their Easter range by not actually
"Easter Bilbies") and by simply being too big for a group like
Rabbit Free Australia to take on.
So when you buy your Easter Bilbies this year, check the
packaging and make sure you support the companies that support
threatened species. You'll feel less guilty eating the chocolate
that way."
Consultancy: public attitudes to pest animal control
Invasive Animals CRC workshops have indicated that there is a
need to better understand public and stakeholder attitudes to pest
animal control at state and national levels.
The CRC is therefore calling for an interested social scientist
to critically review the literature on attitudes to current and
proposed forms of pest animal management and control. The
review should identify quantitative and qualitative research that
has been done in Australasia and overseas, as
appropriate.
The outcome would be a formal report to the CRC analysing the
literature's methodology and conclusions, and providing
recommendations for further research or 'best practice'
management/control strategies from a social perspective.
Interested parties should contact Dr Elaine Murphy, leader of
the CRC's Detection and Prevention Program on emurphy@doc.govt.nz by March
31.
KTB
newsletter: toad impact in Kakadu after wet
The latest KTB newsletter contains many disturbing images of
birds, freshwater crocodiles, goannas and turtles reportedly killed
by toads advancing further south and west. There is only one
more watershed between the Victoria River catchment and the Ord
River catchment, meaning the toads could soon reach Lake Argyle
south of Kununurra and the Bungles south of the lake.
The toad advance has been assisted by a late and long wet season,
with recent flooding yet to recede. To view the KTB
newsletter, click [here].
Update:
Education Program
Dr Tom Heinsohn has replaced Nina Jenkins as the Coordinator of
this program, and has been busy organising a PhD student gathering
at Kangaroo Island on 5-11 May. This will be an opportunity
for our students to visit one of our demonstration sites,
experience the unique wildlife and landscape, as well as
participate in a leadership and communication workshop as part of
the 'balanced scientist' project.
Thomas has also been liaising with potential Cohort 3 (2008) PhD
candidates for the Education Program, several of whom have signed
up or are about to sign up. The likely projects at this stage
will cover the social impacts of invasive animals, management of
the Common Myna and the GnrH vaccine for the fertility control of
macropodid marsupials. More information on the appointees
later.
Could current students please contact Tom on thomas.heinsohn@invasiveanimals.com
if they have changed their contact details, wish to attend the
Vertebrate Pest Conference in Darwin (see below - some limited
sponsorship for presenters) or have other queries.
