David Attenborough and Jane Goodall join the fight to create a new national park in Victoria

Supporters of the proposed Great Forest national park say the entire central highlands’ ecosystem, the fate of the emblematic Leadbeater’s possum and the economic future of struggling towns are at stake as the state election approaches

Sir David Attenborough and Dr Jane Goodall have made an unusual intervention into Australian state politics by calling for a new national park to be created in Victoria to save the endangered Leadbeater’s possum.

Attenborough, who is visiting Australia, has thrown his support behind the establishment of the Great Forest national park, which would encompass much of the central highlands area of Victoria.

“The maintenance of an intact ecological system is the only way to ensure the continued existence of biodiversity, safeguard water supplies and provide spiritual nourishment for ourselves and future generations,” the naturalist and wildlife documentary maker said.

Continued ...

Western Australia to reconstruct one of the world's most important islands for mammal conservation

Return to 1616: Dirk Hartog Island National Park ecological restoration project

February 2013. A ground-breaking and world-class project is set to restore ecosystem health and wildlife diversity to Western Australia's biggest island, Dirk Hartog Island, situated in the Shark Bay World Heritage area on the far western edge of the Australian continent.

13 ground dwelling mammals disappeared from the island
The Return to 1616 project aims to return the 63,000 hectare island to its pristine state of 400 years ago, when Europeans first landed there. In 1616 at least 13 ground-dwelling native mammal species occurred on the island. These included small kangaroo-like boodies and woylies, and western barred bandicoots, chuditch and dibblers.

Removal of sheep and goats
The ambitious program will see the removal of all sheep, goats and feral cats from Dirk Hartog Island, re-establishment of healthy vegetation and re-introduction of mammal species once known to exist there.

The project is funded by DEC and the Gorgon Barrow Island Net Conservation Benefits fund in a partnership that has the potential to yield world-class conservation outcomes over the next 20 or more years.

Chuditch and dibblers
In 1616 the island was pristine, with at least 13 ground-dwelling native mammal species. These included small kangaroo-like boodies and woylies, and western barred bandicoots, chuditch and dibblers. From the 1860s until the early 2000s, the island was used by pastoralists to run sheep, and the Cape Inscription lighthouse was established in 1910. By the late 20th century the island had become popular with fishing enthusiasts, divers and snorkellers.

All but 3 mammals disappeared
By this time goats and feral cats were well established on the island and only three small mouse-sized native mammal species still occurred; the ash-grey mouse, sandy inland mouse and little long-tailed dunnart. In 2009 Dirk Hartog Island became a national park, providing the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) with the opportunity to restore its natural environment in partnership with the island's other land managers and the Shark Bay community

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/hartog-island.html

Sapphire find sends panners into Madagascar lemur park

Knee-deep in muddy water, a 10-year-old child and a woman with braided hair lean over a large sieve, washing earth and rocks, their eyes clenched against the filthy splashing water.

They are among the thousands of panners hoping to strike it rich on a recently discovered seam of sapphires, running through Madagascar's newest national park created to protect the island's famed lemurs and dozens of other rare species.

The 381,000 hectares (941,000 acres) of virgin rainforest of the Ankeniheny-Zahamena corridor officially became a protected area late last year. Then in April, sapphires were found.

"We had an invasion of illegal miners in this park, which is our most recent protected area", says Angelo Francois Randriambeloson from the ministry of environment.

The park has 2,043 identified species of plants; 85 percent are found no where else in the world. There's also 15 species of lemurs, 30 other mammals, 89 types of birds and 129 kinds of amphibians. And that's just what's been discovered so far.

But now among the park's tall trees, a one-kilometre (half-mile) stretch of river valley has turned into a mudpit as thousands of Madagascar's desperately poor people have thrown up makeshift homes of branches and plastic sheets, beaten by near-daily rains.

The vast Indian Ocean island is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 81 percent of the population living on less than $1.25 a day, according to the World Bank.

Sapphires present an irresistible lure of quick riches for the lucky, who say they don't have to dig more than three metres (10 feet) to find large stones.

Continued:  http://uk.news.yahoo.com/sapphire-sends-panners-madagascar-lemur-park-042702435.html;_ylt=Ao00Ib1Qn9AoOnDlIokuZs_ffMl_;_ylu=X3oDMTVoNmNna2o2BGNjb2RlA3ZzaGFyZWFnMnVwcmVzdARtaXQDTmV3cyBmb3IgeW91IFJIIGNvbCBvbiBuZXdzBHBrZwMwMjE1MzMyNy00MDIxLTNmY2MtYmZkNi0zNzFiODNmNzk2NjgEcG9zAzIEc2VjA01lZGlhQkxpc3RNaXhlZE5ld3NGb3JZb3VDQVRlbXAEdmVyAzFjNjBhYmQxLWQzYmUtMTFlMS05ZmNmLTJkNTYxODdkOGU4NA--;_ylg=X3oDMTJvaWJob2dxBGludGwDZ2IEbGFuZwNlbi1nYgRwc3RhaWQDYmJhM2QwMTQtZTgxNC0zODJjLWExZGMtYTgwZjUzN2EwODI4BHBzdGNhdAN3b3JsZARwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2U-;_ylv=3

Indian officials to investigate spate of big cat deaths

21 September 2010

The deaths of three tigers and two lions in less than a week has prompted an investigation by national park authorities in India.

Two tigers have died of "bacterial infection", while a third tiger and two lions died of old age at Bennerghatta national park, a wildlife official said.

The park has been disinfected and staff asked to maintain hygiene, he said.

There are over 1,400 tigers and several hundred lions in the wild in India.

Two lions and a Siberian tiger died first at the 25,000-acre park located near the southern city of Bangalore. Wildlife officials attributed their deaths to old age.

But the deaths of a four-year-old tigress and a three-month-old cub were caused by food and water-borne bacteria, officials said.

The park, a popular tourist destination, has 47 tigers and nine lions.

It is home to many endangered animals and considered an important corridor for elephants in southern India.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11379209

Medical aid for injured elephant

Aug 23 - Timely intervention by forest rangers and veterinarians save the life of a badly injured wild elephant at the Kaziranga National Park in India's northeastern state of Assam. Tara Cleary reports.

http://uk.reuters.com/news/video?rpc=401&videoId=143346237&feedType=VideoRSS&feedName=OddlyEnough&rpc=401&videoChannel=4

Hungry hippo chases gamekeeper who disturbed him at feeding time

A gamekeeper is pictured running for his life after disturbing an ill-tempered hippopotamus during feeding time.

Published: 4:01PM BST
23 Aug 2009

The three-ton animal, which can reach speeds of 30mph, gave chase before he had even finished his mouthful of long grass.

Hippos are angry in temperament and in particular are known to be very aggressive towards humans, and are capable of killing them.

They are often considered one of the most dangerous large animals in Africa and become extremely upset when their mealtimes are disrupted.

The unnamed gamekeeper, who was clutching a walkie talkie, managed a lucky escape by sprinting 100 metres out of the way, an impressive feat while dressed in sturdy black leather shoes.

Hippos are capable of considerable speed despite their bulk, but they are only unable to sustain it over short distances.

The hungry hippo soon tired of the chase at the Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda and returned to his dinner.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/6076159/Hungry-hippo-chases-gamekeeper-who-disturbed-him-at-feeding-time.html