Simon, you may be right - it's always the least visible species that are the
hardest to make the public care about - but what sort of infrastructure could
be set up now to view wild OBPs near Melbourne? I think if you could set up a
hide and charge entry fees for a guaranteed look at a free flying OBP, you'd
have a long queue at the door.
It's easy with seals and penguins, but perhaps this species just isn't suitable
for this kind of thing.
Peter Shute
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> On Behalf Of
> Simon Mustoe
> Sent: Tuesday, 4 December 2012 10:17 AM
> To: ;
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Threatened species and the OBP
>
>
> Debbie,
> I disagree with Flannery and others. Australia does care.
> Conservation bodies, scientists, national parks and others
> have had control of wildlife for too long. We have made it
> more and more difficult for anyone to engage with, learn
> about or understand nature. Orange-bellied Parrot is a case
> example. For years, areas near Melbourne where these birds
> occur have been fenced off to public - even when they were
> more numerous. In other parts of the world there would have
> been visitor infrastructure and hides put up and a concerted
> effort by the conservation groups to show people the birds.
> Just recently, BirdLife has been concerned about the number
> of people being able to access the WTP (when only just over
> 300 people have keys). Meanwhile, critically endangered birds
> exist in places where tens of thousands of visitors go at
> places like Mai Po in Hong Kong or Titchwell in the UK.
> Before Australians attempt to engage or connect people we
> hastily impose regulations to 'protect' wildlife by fencing
> it off (physically or regulatory). Here's another brutal
> example - DSE is currently chasing teenagers for climbing on
> the back of a dead Humpback Whale on the Great Ocean Road.
> Natural curiosity drives kids to do that sort of thing and
> whist a slap on the wrist might be called for, the parents
> can do that. Instead however, DSE has ensured these teenagers
> and all their friends will hate conservationists for the rest
> of their lives. Plus, a strong and clear message has been
> sent to every Victorian - if you pass within 300m of a whale
> carcass you can be prosecuted. In much of the state my kids
> can't even collect shells on beaches any more.
> What is the world coming to?
> As conservationists, we have to take a long hard look at
> ourselves and wonder if we are to blame for the lack of
> 'care'. If we cared more, would we encourage people to engage
> with wildlife rather than loving animals to death, meanwhile
> ensuring that only us and our closest friends get to enjoy
> the experience?
> Regards,
> Simon.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Simon Mustoe
> Tel: +61 (0) 405220830 | Skype simonmustoe | Email
>
>
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>
>
>
> > From:
> > To:
> > Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2012 21:05:59 +1100
> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Threatened species and the OBP
> >
> >
> >
> http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-30/fears-for-the-orange-bellied-par
> > rot/4401966 The ABC's 7.30 Tasmania screened this 8-minute
> segment on
> > Friday night, which neatly dovetails Tim Flannery's
> concerns about a looming extinction crisis (detailed in the
> current Quarterly Essay), with the plight of the
> Orange-bellied Parrot.
> > Covers several important issues and features Mark
> Holdsworth, the Tasmanian coordinator of the OBP Recovery Program.
> > This should have aired nation-wide. I agree with Flannery
> that we as a nation don't care nearly enough; nobody is
> accountable for dropping the ball on threatened species.
>
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