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Greens-Media: Tasmanian devils to be listed? |
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"Willis, Katrina (Sen B. Brown)" <> |
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Date: |
Fri, 21 May 2004 15:44:54 +1000 |
MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, 21 May 2004
TASMANIAN DEVILS TO BE LISTED?
"There are now serious moves within governments to list Tasmania's
mascot, the Tasmanian devil, as threatened with extinction," Greens
Senator Bob Brown said today.
"Both the Tasmanian Environment Minister Bryan Green and his federal
counterpart David Kemp will face a decision to list the once abundant
animal.
"The catastrophic population fall of the devil, which is reeling from a
cancerous disease, threatens its survival stakes," Senator Brown said.
"Other measures should be considered immediately to help the devil
survive, including a ban on the clearing of its habitat on both private
and public lands.
"Tasmanians are asking what impact stress from habitat loss, logging and
1080 poisoning is having on the devil populations and whether these
processes are making the devils more vulnerable to disease. They are
also asking whether diseases in feral cats have crossed species with
disastrous results.
"If this disease is transmissible, it is not only a danger to public
health and to domestic animals but it also threatens the other members
of the Dasyurid family, including the tiger quoll. Whilst it is terrific
that businesses have donated to the research effort, saving this species
should not have to depend on a public appeal.
"The state and commonwealth governments should immediately increase
research funding and efforts to discover the cause of this disease. We
have lost the thylacine.
It would be an indictment on us all if we were to lose the Tasmanian
devil as well," Senator Brown concluded.
More information: 0362341633
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