These researchers should try this out on themselves first !!
Tony Russell
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Nicholas
Talbot
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2005 2:11 PM
To: ;
Subject: AAP story on Ibis contraceptive
Fed: New contraceptive is one for the birds
Monday, 26 Sep 2005 at 2:01pm; Category: Australian General News; Low
priority; Story No. 5067.
Fed: New contraceptive is one for the birds
Ibis (Pix available)
By Jade Bilowol
BRISBANE, Sept 26 AAP - Scientists are working on a contraceptive
pill they hope will control plague populations of pesky Ibis birds
across Australia.
Researchers from the University of Queensland and Gold Coast-based
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary today said they aimed to produce a hormone
implant within the next two years that could be placed under the native
scavenger's skin.
Reproductive zoologist Steve Johnston said the reproductive patterns
of male and female ibises were being studied to create an implant that
temporarily stops ovaries and testicles producing reproductive cells.
Dr Johnston said because ibises were a protected species, the project
had to ensure no damage was done to the birds.
"We are confident this will work and it can be applied (by
councils) anywhere," he said.
"You put a small implant under the skin that works for about 12
months - this is a negative because it has to be re-applied but positive
because it is a protected species ... you can't just bump them off."
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary senior veterinarian Michael Pyne said
female ibises traditionally bred one clutch of up to three birds a
season.
Yet, because "they eat anything" and food was readily available from
tips and picnic areas, the female bird was now breeding up to three
clutches a season, he said.
Dr Pyne estimated there were tens of thousands of ibises - large
white birds with long dark beaks - in south-east Queensland alone.
"There is just so much food for them and this is helping them breed -
we have helped them with this through tips and leaving our chippies in
the park," he said.
"They breed at the end of spring and in summer so they are nesting
now."
Dr Pyne said the study was promising because it could pave the way
for hormones to be eventually used to manage troublesome behaviour in a
range of birds.
"We could look at managing magpies swooping or scrub turkeys nesting
in backyards where they are not wanted," Dr Pyne said.
Unlike cats and dogs, which can be castrated, the anatomy of a bird
could only be "turned off chemically", Dr Johnston said.
AAP jvb/sc/rj/sd
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