Toxic toads found near Sydney spark fears of southward spread

JULY 18, 2019

A toxic cane toad prevalent in Australia's tropical north has been captured near Sydney, sparking fears the invasive species could be adapting to cooler weather and spreading southwards, further threatening the country's unique wildlife.

A local family caught the adult male toad about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Sydney on Tuesday, the first time one of its kind had been found wild in the area, the Australian Reptile Park said.

The toad has a highly poisonous venom that kills predators that try to eat them, causing catastrophic declines in native wildlife populations in northeast Australia.

Conservationists are concerned that the tough and adaptable pest, introduced from Central America in 1935 to control beetles in sugarcane fields, may be adjusting to the climate in southeast Australia amid an unseasonably mild winter.

"If it's warmer for extended periods of time, it's obviously going to complement the toads," Park manager Tim Faulkner told AFP.

Faulkner said he was aware of just two others being found in the area over the past 15 years—both of which had "hitched a ride" with travellers or delivery trucks.

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Thousands of corroboree frog eggs released in fight to save endangered species

Hopes species will recover as eggs bred in captivity at Taronga Zoo in Sydney and Zoos Victoria enter the wild

Scientists say that without a captive breeding program the critically endangered corroboree frog would be two years from extinction. Photograph: John Lane/Zoos Victoria

Michael Slezak

Tuesday 26 April 201608.17 BST

After 10 years of captive breeding, the critically endangered corroboree frog   might be on its way back from the brink of extinction.

Fewer than 50 mature corroboree frogs live in the wild in alpine New South Wales and scientists have estimated that without a captive breeding program that began 10 years ago they would be a mere two years from extinction. In fact, most of the frogs currently in the wild are the result of previous captive releases.

But, this month, thousands of eggs bred in captivity at Taronga Zoo in Sydney andZoos Victoria are being released into the wild – the largest release to date.

Last week the first batch of about 1,850 was released, with the rest planned for release in coming weeks.

“The eggs we released this month will take six months to metamorphose into frogs and then a further four years for them to mature,” said Taronga native fauna curator Michael McFadden. “It’s hoped that these eggs will contribute to giving this species a chance to recover.”

The team released some of the eggs into raised pools that have been constructed to keep the deadly chytrid fungus out. Others were released into natural pools in areas that are known to have low levels of the fungus and others were released into enclosures.

The fungus causes a disease called chytridiomycosis on the skin that fatally impairs frogs’ ability to maintain electrolyte, water and oxygen levels.

McFadden told Guardian Australia the program appeared to be working, since most of the adult frogs they saw in the wild were in areas where they were previously extinct but have since been reintroduced.

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'Highly aggressive' stinging Argentinian fire ants found at Sydney port

Eradication efforts underway by biosecurity and pest insect specialists after serious outbreak of red fire ants

Australian Associated Press

Monday 8 December 2014 21.20 GMT

A species of “highly aggressive” Argentinian ants which can give a painful sting have been found at Sydney’s Port Botany.

The outbreak of red fire ants has been described as “serious” with emergency management, biosecurity and plant and pest insect specialists attempting to eradicate the insects.

“Red imported fire ants are a nasty pest; able to inflict painful stings on people, pets and livestock,” NSW primary industries minister Katrina Hodgkinson said.

Fire ants are reddish-brown in colour and range from 2mm to 6mm in length.

They have also been found in Queensland, with eradication efforts there already amounting to $281m since 2001.

“Entomologists are continuing to conduct surveillance on site and in the surrounding area to ensure the ants haven’t spread and while a further nest was detected late last week, no additional sites have been identified,” Hodgkinson said.

Wildlife trafficking app launched at Sydney's Taronga Zoo

App aims to crowdsource intelligence about the illegal wildlife trade by having users report and photograph suspicious activity

Michael Safi

theguardian.com, Wednesday 9 April 2014 09.47 BST

Australian travellers in south-east Asia are being encouraged to report illegal wildlife trafficking using a new app.

Wildlife Witness, launched on Wednesday at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, aims to crowdsource intelligence about the illegal wildlife trade by having users report and photograph suspicious activity and pin its general location on a public map.

More specific co-ordinates and a detailed report of the incident are passed onto the wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC, for further analysis. Credible reports will be referred to local law enforcement.

“The illegal wildlife trade is now estimated to be worth just under $20bn a year, so it’s up there with the illegal arms trade and the illegal drug trade,” Taronga Zoo director Cameron Kerr said.

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'The matter is closed': new report into Blue Mountains big cat

A doctor, dentist, solicitor, clergyman and Qantas pilot have all seen it, as have numerous Rural Fire Service volunteers and an officer from the Department of Agriculture. A NSW detective spoke of how he watched the beast, from barely 50 metres away, for more than a minute. And like most others, he is "convinced" it was a black panther.

Rumours have circulated for decades about a colony of "Big cats" roaming Sydney's western fringes and beyond. But today, a report commissioned by the State Government has concluded that the many hundreds who have seen the panther are wrong.

In a review of "large free-ranging felines in New South Wales", a New Zealand-based invasive species expert, John Parkes, said the accounts were "at best prima facie evidence".

"The sightings are mostly of black animals but the occasional reports of brown or tan cats suggest either more than one species is present or people are mistaking other animals for cats. Large dogs, large feral cats or swamp wallabies have been suggested as candidates by some."

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He added: "There is no conclusive evidence that large cats exist in the wild in NSW."

The NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, said: "The NSW Government will not commit further expenditure to this issue and, as far as I am concerned, the matter is closed.”

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/the-matter-is-closed-new-report-into-blue-mountains-big-cat-20131018-2vs6v.html#ixzz2iS3cJPVD

Humpback whale calf dies in shark net on Sydney beach

A spokeswoman from marine rescue group ORRCA said the group was called to Mona Vale beach around 7am (AEDT) on Tuesday. ORRCA vice-president Shona Lorigan said the whale was dead when NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service officers arrived around 10am (AEDT).

The parks and wildlife service will now determine how to remove the whale.

The calf's mother had been swimming nearby, responding to the baby's distress calls.

Humane Society International spokeswoman Alexia Wellbelove said shark nets were "indiscriminate killers" of marine life and provided no real protection for humans. She said it was the first whale entanglement in NSW this year but urged more research into other possible shark deterrence methods.

"This is a tragedy that we don't want to see repeated," she said. "We're getting a growing number of entanglements each year." Lorigan said dolphins and turtles also became entangled in shark nets.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/22/humpback-whale-calf-dies-in-shark-net-on-sydney-beach

Gary the goat's Sydney flower-eating crime dismissed

Comedian Jimbo Bazoobi, real name James Dezarnaulds, had been ordered to pay the A$440 (£293; $464) penalty for damaging vegetation last August.

Police had argued that Mr Dezarnaulds acted recklessly in allowing the hungry goat, Gary, to approach the flower bed.

But the magistrate said there was no evidence he had put Gary to the deed.

Magistrate Carolyn Barkell said Mr Dezarnaulds had no control over what the animal might eat, and was unaware of his preference for flowers over grass.

She added that the fine should never had been issued.

"Gary the Goat taught the... cops a valuable lesson... don't bite off more than you can chew," Mr Dezarnaulds said after the verdict.

Gary was not called to give evidence and waited outside the court, surrounded by reporters.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21155065

Dead humpback whale found in Sydney swimming pool

Australian authorities find a dead 39 feet 30-tonne humpback whale washed up in a Sydney seaside swimming pool.


Beached whales are common in Australia, but authorities said rough seas and a high tide washed the whale over a chain safety fence and into a public salt water swimming pool area at Sydney's northern Newport beach.


Shona Lorigan of the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) warned onlookers to stay away from the whale which appears to have died within the last 48 hours.


"It's very, very dangerous for everyone in the water... because we don't know how it's died, we don't know what kind of fluids, what kind of disease might be floating around with the animal," she said.


The beach, at Newport in the north of Sydney, is closed for fear that the carcass will attract sharks.


National Parks authorities said they hoped the whale carcass might float out of the pool area on the next high tide, or workers would have to use heavy equipment to remove the whale and carve it up.

Video:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/9443200/Dead-humpback-whale-found-in-Sydney-swimming-pool.html#

Rare cockatoo still missing from zoo

A red-tailed black cockatoo is still missing from Sydney's Taronga Zoo, two days after it escaped.


Five of the rare birds flew off after they were spooked by sea eagles during an open-air show on Monday afternoon.


Four have been recaptured and keepers are confident the last one will soon be found and rejoin its mates in their enclosure.


A zoo spokesman says the cockatoos were easily recaptured.


'The keepers just go out and give the sign for feeding and they come down,' he said.


The birds were part of a public display at the zoo on Monday afternoon when a group of predatory sea eagles crashed the show.


'They saw them and said, Oh my God, it's an eagle, I'm out of here,'' the spokesman said.


'They just moved away from the threat. They did the right thing. If I thought I was being hunted by sea eagles I'd move areas too.'


He said the first bird was found near the zoo on Tuesday morning and another was spotted near Allambie, in Sydney's northern beaches, later that day.


The two others were caught at nearby Manly on Wednesday after tip-offs from the public.


He said the birds, which are not critically endangered but are under pressure from loss of habitat, regarded the zoo as their home and were happy to be back.


He said the zoo had only ever lost two birds from its popular open-air shows since 1997.


The runaways would rejoin the troupe for upcoming shows, he said.


http://www.skynews.com.au/eco/article.aspx?id=755689&vId=

Trove of wild skins and skulls seized in Australia

Orangutan, lion and bear skulls were among hundreds of illegal wildlife products seized in a raid on a property in Sydney, the Australian environment department said on Thursday.

Investigators also discovered the skins of a lynx and an Alaskan wolf, as well as numerous other skulls and pieces of ivory, in the haul of almost 400 items.

"Operation Bonaparte is one of the largest wildlife seizures in Australia, and follows detailed monitoring and investigative work by departmental officers," department spokeswoman Deb Callister said.

The raid at a house in the suburb of Parramatta on Wednesday also uncovered a variety of weapons, including two walking canes containing hidden swords, flick knives and cross bows.

A 41-year-old man was charged with weapons offences and is due to appear in court on August 31. No charges have yet been laid over the wildlife stash.

Trade in many of the items that were discovered in the property is strictly regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Offences can carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/trove-wild-skins-skulls-seized-australia-054435907.html;_ylt=AupxYg2fFLEEPUuUsSvBlPYBfcl_;_ylu=X3oDMTM1ZmdlNWh1BHBrZwMxNTAwNTAxZS1mOWViLTM3OTktOGY3ZS0xMWFhYjc4MTdjZTMEcG9zAzEEc2VjA3RvcF9zdG9yeQR2ZXIDZjYzZGQ3OTAtYzNlNS0xMWUwLWJiZmUtMzkwY2JmNzhhN2Fi;_ylg=X3oDMTJjOHBjZmYyBGludGwDZ2IEbGFuZwNlbi1nYgRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlfGFuaW1hbHMtYW1wLXBldHMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnMEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=3