Courtesy DEC

Malcolm Douglas’ crocodile park at Cable Beach is now closed.

The crocodiles are being moved to the wilderness park Mr Douglas started at Twelve Mile.

The Cable Beach property is being developed as a cafe and artists’ studios.

The West Australian [read this story]

A Gouldian finch - courtesy Wikimedia

Indigenous rangers have confirmed Gouldian Finches are still present and breeding on the Dampier Peninsula.

The rangers observed the birds while carrying out weed control on monsoon vine thickets.

You can read a statement from Environs Kimberley, The World Wildlife Fund, Kimberley Land Council and the Bardi Jawi Rangers here:

MEDIA RELEASE

Rare Gouldian finch found on Dampier Peninsula

19 January 2012

A breeding population of the rare Gouldian finch, one of Australia’s most endangered birds, has been found north of Broome by Indigenous rangers and environment groups.

In an exciting find for local conservation, the Bardi Jawi and Bard Jawi Oorany Rangers working with WWF-Australia and Environs Kimberley recently discovered several Gouldian finch populations on the Dampier Peninsula, highlighting the importance of continued conservation efforts in the rich, diverse region.

“We sighted the Gouldian finches a couple of weeks ago whilst undertaking weed control and decided we needed to have a concerted look in areas that we knew they had been seen before by our old people,” said Bardi Jawi ranger Trevor Sampi. “It was great to find more of them. We always knew they were there.”

The striking, vibrantly coloured species is now threatened across its entire range and less than 2,500 adult birds currently survive in the wild. The species also has very specific habitat requirements, both in terms of the plants it feeds on and the areas in which it breeds, making conservation of suitable habitats for the colourful, iconic finch vital.

“Now that we know this species is breeding on the Peninsula, we need to find out where they are breeding and whether there is anything we can do to halt the species’ decline,” said Dr Alexander Watson, WWF-Australia’s Kimberley Program Manager.

“It’s exciting to be working with rangers and to find a breeding population of Gouldian finches utilising refuges such as monsoon vine thickets and un-burnt woodland. It shows how important it is to continue to care for land and improve fire management on the Dampier Peninsula,” said Louise Beames, Environs Kimberley Projects Coordinator.

Previously there have been few sightings on the Gouldian finch on the Dampier Peninsula, however, the recent field work by the Indigenous rangers revealed juvenile birds were among the population, marking it as a breeding ground.

Flocks of thousands of Gouldian finches have disappeared over the past 50 years. The reason for the decline is not known, although scientists hypothesise that altered fire regimes, cattle, and throat parasites are contributing factors. A large pet trade that captured and sold wild birds is also thought to have had a significant impact on finch numbers although it was banned in the mid-1980s.

Traditional knowledge and skills are playing an essential role in sustainable land management in the Kimberly. The Bardi Jawi Rangers continue to work on habitat conservation projects in the area with WWF-Australia and Environs Kimberly. This partnership utilises local knowledge and cultural heritage to appropriately monitor and manage this striking endangered species.

The red-cheeked dunnart, a carnivorous marsupial, can bite the toads on the head, avoiding its poison sacs.

ABC [read this story]

Kangaroo Haven arranged for a vet to insert metal rods in the animal’s broken leg.

The West Australian [read this story]

A cane toad

Scientists are continuing their attempt to train native animals to avoid eating deadly cane toads.

They are feeding small sausages containing cane toad meat to animals such as goannas, to make them nauseous and thereby learn to avoid cane toad’s smell and taste.

PerthNow [read this story]

Scientists are working to study and preserve the golden-backed tree rat.

Sydney Morning Herald [read this story]

Courtesy DEC

More saltwater crocodiles have been sighted along the Fitzroy River and around Broome.

Wildlife officers say this marks the start of their breeding season.

ABC [read this story]

Photo: MathKnight, Wikimedia commons

Bird fanciers say Roebuck Plains Roadhouse had a visitor straight from the Bible last week.

There have been various theories about how the Eurasian hoopoe, which is also Israel’s national bird, came to be in Australia.

Crikey [read this story]

Clay Bryce, WA Museum

Scientists visiting Talbot Bay have found Kimberley corals thriving in surprisingly muddy conditions.

Dr Barry Wilson said there is greater diversity of coral species in Kimberley reefs than in oceanic atolls or the Great Barrier Reef.

Science Network WA [read this story]

A girl was admitted to Broome hospital after an irukantji jellyfish stung her at Gantheaume Point.

ABC [read this story]