Hi Andrew,
As a north coast local I have a little knowledge of the Coastal Emu that may
make the situation clearer. As Peter stated the Emu on the NSW north
coast is listed as an endangered population under the provisions of the
Threatened Species Conservation Act, hence people refer to it as threatened.
The species now occurs between Red Rock, near Coffs Harbour in the south and
Evans Head in the north and west to the Pacific Highway between Tyndale and
Maclean. There is a small, isolated population to the north-west at
Bungawalbin, south of Casino. The largest number of individuals (estimated
to be about 100 birds) occurs in Yuraygir National Park and areas
immediately to the west of the Park. Seasonal movements are made from the
Park to these western areas. Three of the four proposed highway routes
bisect the local distribution of this species.
Whether we should worry about isolated populations of a widespread species
is an interesting issue. If we don't protect birds throughout their range
and allow isolated populations to become extinct aren't we assisting the
species to decline? What if the isolated population was indeed distinct
enough to be considered a good sub-species or even a species? The coastal
Emu is a smaller darker form of the Emu. Tissue samples are being collected
by Walter Boles at the Australian Museum with the eventual aim of having the
genetics investigated.The Coastal Emu may just be a smaller,darker form of
the more widespread Emu, but maybe it is a separate taxa. The Emu declined
between the old and new Birds Australia Atlasses. Is it really secure?
By protecting the Emu's habitat a whole range of plants and animals will
also be protected, some of which may be more threatened than the Coastal
Emu.
So I don't think that the situation with respect to the Coastal Emu has been
overexaggerated.
Regards
Greg Clancy
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