Latest news with #DPIRD
Perth Now
2 days ago
- General
- Perth Now
‘Eerie' discovery made at Coral Bay beach
Almost 100 birds have been discovered dead on a Coral Bay beach, with residents and tourists uncertain of the cause behind the mass mortality event. People in the area have taken to social media to share concerns about the increase in deceased birds being spotted at Maud's Landing, with an estimated 80 to 100 being found dead this week. Tourist Callie Adams encountered 'clumps of multiple dead birds' while visiting, and said she spoke out in hopes a resident might shed some light on the peculiar sight. 'It just seemed strange to see so many in one spot, it was kind of eerie,' she told the West Australian. 'I couldn't see any major signs that would cause such a mass death rate, meaning no rubbish, plastics, the water was clear, no baits.' Dead birds seen on the beach. Credit: Unknown / Supplied 'It made me a bit nervous, it could be a disease and I was concerned I may have been in contact with something on the sand or in the water.' Another resident said they had counted 91 deceased birds during their recent trip to the beach. Seabird ecologist Dr Claire Greenwell identified the deceased birds to be Greater Crested Terns from photographs, and said that the large number of birds being discovered was 'unusual'. 'I'm keen to understand what is happening (to the birds) at Maud's Landing and why,' she said. 'Maud's Landing is a known roost site, and that many dead birds at a roost site in any year is highly unusual.' One resident counted 91 deceased birds. Credit: Supplied The Shire of Carnarvon confirmed the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is the lead agency investigating the situation. The DPIRD said authorities are still unsure what is causing the deaths. 'The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has received reports from the members of the public and the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) regarding the deaths of crested terns in Coral Bay,' a spokesperson said. 'The cause of these deaths may be due to a number of factors and DPIRD is undertaking routine testing to exclude reportable diseases. The DPIRD said authorities are still unsure what is causing the deaths. Credit: Unknown / Supplied 'Members of the public are reminded not to touch dead birds and to keep pets away.' Cases of bulk deceased seabirds on beaches have occurred in other Australian states, with similar reports being made in New South Wales and Victoria late last year. In previous Australian cases, officials confirmed the deaths were not attributable to the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu but were likely caused by starvation while migrating. The Western Australian Government urges any individual who notices deceased birds in a cluster of five or more to report the sighting to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline at 1800 675 888.
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
WA holds first aerial cull of feral deer to curb pest population
A cattle farmer in Western Australia's South West has welcomed the state's first aerial cull of feral deer. The state government decided to take a stand on the pest after surveys in the Esperance and Harvey regions revealed a growing number of feral deer. Cattle farmer Andrew Keep said he regularly saw groups of up to 12 deer jump the fence into his paddock to graze overnight. "They leave a lot of tracks in our muddy paddocks, so I know there is a growing problem," he said. Teams of sharpshooters in helicopters will fly over certain properties, dense bushland and forests, using thermal cameras to spot the deer. Mr Keep said he was glad the government was taking steps to "nip it in the bud" and provided permission for teams to shoot deer if they saw them on his 64-hectare property, east of Harvey. Similar aerial culls of feral deer are common in eastern parts of Australia, where the pest's population size has swelled. Feral deer impact on the environment and agriculture by damaging crops, causing soil erosion, and competing with native animals and livestock for food. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) manager of vertebrate pests Tim Thompson said it was important to get on top of the problem in WA before it was "too late". "We have nowhere near the feral deer population or impacts that they do over east, so we're in a unique situation," he said. Leschenault Biosecurity Group executive officer Kate Duzevich agreed aerial culling could be the most humane and cost-effective way to manage feral deer in south-west WA. She said early action was vital to avoid the kind of large-scale damage seen in other areas of the country. "I believe this is the most humane, most cost-effective, and realistic control tool that can be deployed in management," Ms Duzevich said. "If you're in the business of growing pasture, the physical presence of deer, their hooves churning up soil, the wallowing, [is] damaging productive land." Mr Thompson said DPIRD's preliminary surveys used thermal technology to determine how widespread WA's deer population was. "We know that there is anywhere from one deer per square kilometre to four deer per square kilometre," he said. DPIRD estimated about 700 deer lived in Harvey, with 660 in Esperance and 170 in Muchea, north of Perth. Mr Thompson said his team was working with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to ensure the aerial shootings were done as safely as possible. He said some areas and roads would be closed off to the public, similar to how sections were managed during prescribed burns. "There will be absolutely no risk of any sort for people, particularly camping and things like that," he said. Mr Thompson said the state government was also working alongside native title groups to ensure no heritage or sacred sites would be affected. Mr Keep said he was not concerned about the sharpshooters flying over his property in search of feral deer. "The helicopters will be first thing in the morning at dawn when the thermal imaging system will be able to pick up the heat signatures … so they could quite clearly identify a deer, pig or even a cow, so they won't be fatally shooting cattle," he said. "I'm pretty sure if they want it to be successful, they'd be very responsible in undertaking this; otherwise, there would be huge blowbacks." The RSPCA was contacted for comment on the animal welfare implications of aerial deer culling, but declined to respond.
West Australian
15-07-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Feral deer to be culled across 1000sqkm area near Esperance and Harvey
A feral deer population of about 1500 will begin to be culled across southern WA next week after being identified through aerial surveillance and thermal imaging technology. Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis told State Parliament the project had covered 660sqkm near Esperance, 440sqkm near Harvey, and 41sqkm near Muchea during the past two years. More than 1500 feral deer were identified in the three targeted areas— with about 660 feral deer found near Esperance, about 700 near Harvey, and about 170 near Muchea. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will start localised aerial control for feral deer in the Esperance and Harvey areas next week. A spokeswoman for Ms Jarvis said WA was in a 'unique' position to control feral deer populations while they were still 'relatively small and localised'. 'Feral deer populations in WA have the potential to grow quickly and are an emerging pest threat, impacting agricultural production, important environmental values and sensitive areas,' she said. 'Like many pests, deer tend to prefer areas on the fringe of bushland and farmland, where they can graze in paddocks but retreat to cover if startled.' A declared pest, feral deer damage the WA environment and agriculture industry by grazing on native plants, competing with native fauna for food and habitat resources, impact water quality and soil properties, and damage pasture, commercial crops and orchards. They also act as carriers for diseases and pathogens such as foot-and-mouth disease, and can transmit exotic livestock diseases to cattle, sheep, and goats. The aerial control will take place across Crown land and over a small number of private rural properties. DPIRD has liaised with affected landholders to plan control efforts. 'During the past two years, DPIRD has undertaken aerial thermal surveys targeting agricultural and conservation areas where there are known populations of feral deer,' the spokeswoman said. 'The information gathered is aiding the development of tools and management strategies to develop best practice control measures.' Australia is home to more than 1.5 million feral deer, the population exploding from about 80,000 in 1980. DPIRD has been assisted by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions with deer research initiatives, surveys, and control program activities. 'Thermally-assisted aerial control is an effective method for reducing deer populations across a landscape,' the spokeswoman said. She said any future control would be determined by the success of the current program and DPIRD was continuing to liaise with rural landholders near Muchea to plan for local aerial control activities in early 2026. Landholders who see vertebrate pests, such as feral deer, on their property can report sightings using the FeralScan App or online at .
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Aussie Zoo defends $180 experience after video 'stunt' sparks concern
A 'publicity stunt' by an Australian zoo that advertised a controversial new animal experience for customers has led to both excitement and angry complaints. But a manager at the NSW zoo claims its plan to allow customers to bottle-feed baby meerkats during the school holidays has been completely misunderstood. More than 400,000 people have watched a video describing the $180 package. It shows two female keepers at Central Coast Zoo cradling young meerkats and allowing them to drink from bottles. 'Have you ever wanted to cuddle a baby meerkat? If so, we are actually one-upping that for the first time in Australia's history. We are doing bottle feeding for our hand-raised meerkats,' one announces. While meerkat encounters are common at other zoos around Australia, it was the bottle feeding aspect that caused a sensation. Many viewers shared their excitement at the activity. 'That's like my dream,' one person wrote. 'How do I book?' another asked. But not everyone was happy after watching the TikTok video. Wildlife advocates, including a vet with a history of working in zoos, and an experienced meerkat handler at another facility, were alarmed. Both were worried that customers bottle-feeding baby meerkats could lead to accidental drowning, stress from being handled by multiple customers, and imprinting, and the advertisement was reported to the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPIRD), an agency tasked with ensuring that zoos comply with state legislation. Jen, a manager at Central Coast Zoo, told Yahoo News, the video had been misunderstood. 'It's a publicity stunt. It's something fun,' she told Yahoo News. She explained that when most people think of bottle-feeding, they imagine a teat being placed inside the animal's mouth as it's being cradled. 'That's the public understanding of bottle-feeding. So we have used that to our advantage with our marketing in terms of wording,' she explained. But in the case of the meerkats at Central Coast Zoo, they're actually into their seventh week of life, already weaned and eating solid foods. The baby meerkats either wander onto a customer's lap or are placed there, and then they nibble at the teats, dramatically lowering any chance of harm. 'We have a vet, we have an animal welfare charter, we work within the Five Domains,' Jen said in reference to the five established areas of animal welfare — nutrition, environment, health, behavioural interactions, and mental state. Responding to questions about the baby meerkat feeding experience, DPIRD told Yahoo News it is 'committed to safeguarding the welfare of animals' and that this is its 'highest priority'. 'DPIRD is working with the Central Coast Zoo to ensure they are complying with their licensing conditions as an Exhibited Animal authority holder,' it said. Remarkable 26-year change revealed on Aussie desert property Alarming new study prompts call to ban 4,200 chemicals 'of concern' Emotional decision looms as ancient site faces extreme storm Kareena, a keeper at another zoo, who originally raised concerns about the bottle-feeding activity, said the explanation by the zoo made her 'feel better about the situation'. However, she still had concerns about exposing meerkats to humans at such a young age, including their undeveloped immune systems and susceptibility to germs. 'These meerkat pups are tiny, they're so young, they're so fragile, they shouldn't be in a space with people,' she said. Dr Tania Bishop, a vet who specialises in wildlife, told Yahoo the discussion around the meerkat experience was healthy, because it reminds people visiting zoos to always ask questions about their ethics. 'It's important for anyone wanting to have experiences with wildlife to do their due diligence, and to make sure animals are being treated in a fair and humane way in order for them to interact with them,' she said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Cold weather blamed for killing thousands of bony herring in central west NSW lake
Residents from the New South Wales central west town of Lake Cargelligo first started to notice fish dying in their local lake two weeks ago. Since then, officials have estimated thousands of bony herring, a native Australian fish, have perished. They suspect a drop in water temperature at the lake has triggered what is known as 'winter die off'. Dr Adam Kerezsy, an aquatic ecologist who lives in the area, agreed that bony herring can often die in colder weather – however the scale of this event was noticeable. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'We [fish biologists] are starting to think it may be a combination of the cold weather and a reasonably fast draw-down of the level of Lake Cargelligo to 50% of capacity,' Kerezsy said. He described the bony herring as 'important for fresh water ecosystems because they provide a food source for large fish such as yellowbelly and cod and fish-eating birds such as pelicans, cormorants, terns and gulls'. Kerezsy said the lake had been 'pretty much full' until April, and then the water levels dropped quickly. He said it had been the earliest onset of winter he has experienced in Lake Cargelligo since 2018, with cold weather coming on fast in the last week of May. An investigation by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) may help aquatic ecologists such as Kerezsy determine if other factors also influence fish kills. A spokesperson said officials visited the lake on 8 July and 'estimated that thousands of bony herring have been affected'. 'Bony herring can become stressed or die when water temperatures drop. This is known as 'winter die off' and DPIRD fisheries staff have confirmed that this is the suspected cause of this fish kill event,' the spokesperson said. A spokesperson for the Lachlan Shire council said drinking water to the town would not be affected as the town was currently accessing its water supply from a bore – 'and not the Lachlan River, which is the lake'. The town does take water from the bore and the lake which allows for flexibility, especially during a drought, they said. 'However at the moment the bore is being used.' The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said they had not received any request for assistance from the council. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'Water from Lake Cargelligo is fed to a water treatment plant where it undergoes extensive processes to ensure it is safe to drink,' a department spokesperson said. Local Richard Famorcan, 45, said that he and a group of friends visited the lake on Sunday to spot birds and saw thousands of dead fish. Famorcan said in his two years living in the area he had never seen a mass fish kill event. He posted a video on Facebook showing scores of dead fish lining the shore. 'Me and some of my friends decided to go the lake to just watch the group of pelicans and other birds,' said Famorcan, who sometimes fishes at the lake. Kerezsy said the die-off is proving very popular with local birds, with thousands capitalising on the dead fish. But there could be longer term consequences of the fish kill, he warned. 'It will be interesting to see if this large die off results in a depleted food resource later on, for example in spring, and whether it contributes to poor water quality.'
