Latest news with #KateRandolph
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials launch urgent investigation after over 200 birds found dead in suspected mass poisoning event: 'It's a heartbreaking situation'
Australian officials believe the misuse of pesticides has caused the poisoning and deaths of more than 200 birds, and they are asking for the public's help to investigate the crime. The Guardian reported that hundreds of little corellas have been found extremely sick or dead in New South Wales. Veterinarians and other volunteers have been working to save any surviving birds. Based on its observations, the NSW Environment Protection Authority believes they were poisoned by pesticides. "It's a heartbreaking situation," Kate Randolph, Hunter Wildlife Rescue's acting president, told the publication. Little corellas are usually loud, playful birds that gather at local marinas. But the affected birds have instead shown symptoms such as paralysis and unsteadiness, and many are unable to fly. "When you approach them, they can't fly, they can barely move," volunteer Kerry Walker said. "They try to spread their wings, and they just literally topple forward." Officials said pesticide poisoning is a likely culprit, although it could be weeks until toxicology reports are complete. Pesticides are commonly used for agricultural purposes, with an estimated 1 billion pounds used each year in the United States alone. But these chemical-laden products aren't just harmful to the weeds and insects they target. They also pose a number of risks to the environment and to the health of humans and animals. They leach into our soil and waterways, so much so that pesticide residue has been found in several popular baby foods. When combined with the effects of climate change, pesticides have been shown to reduce bees' life expectancy by up to 70%. Do you worry about pesticides in your food? All the time Sometimes Not really I only eat organic Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. And just like with the little corellas, a similar situation occurred in NSW last year, as dozens of magpies were believed to have been poisoned, including nine that died. Officials in that case also believed pesticides could have been to blame. In NSW, individuals who misuse pesticides can be fined up to $500,000, and companies can face a $2 million penalty. Officials have asked the public for help identifying those who may have been responsible for the alleged poisoning. Veterinarian Tania Bishop also told The Guardian that this incident should serve as a warning about feeding wild birds. When birds learn to trust humans and take food from them, she said, it makes them more susceptible to intentional poisoning. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Independent
18-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Hundreds of small cockatoos dead in suspected mass poisoning in Australia
Hundreds of corellas have been discovered either dead or in critical state in New South Wales, Australia, in what's suspected to be a mass poisoning event. The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority said they launched an investigation and started collecting samples from Newcastle, Carrington and Hamilton areas after distressed birds were seen falling out of trees on Monday. Many birds were found disoriented, bleeding, or in distress, with over 60 euthanized by a local vet. They were found in parks, shopping centres, on ovals and in front yards. There are fears that more birds may be affected in the coming days. Corellas, a kind of white cockatoo, often come in conflict with farmers as they cause significant damage to farms, orchards, and sometimes even buildings. Jason Gordon, the Environment Protection Authority's executive director of regulatory operations, described the situation as 'distressing' and said the corellas also suffered from paralysis and an inability to fly. 'The misuse of pesticides, whether deliberate or unintentional, is completely unacceptable and carries heavy penalties,' he said. Hunter Wildlife Rescue said that the incident was likely the result of poisoning. 'They are all over the neighbourhood. We are getting calls from members of the public who are finding them in their front yards, they are being found on ovals,' the rescue organisation's head, Kate Randolph, said. 'Everyone's working together. It's a heartbreaking situation.' Dr Tania Bishop, a vet with Australia 's largest wildlife rescue organisation Wires also said that mass poisoning was a likely explanation. However, she told the Guardian that toxicology results identifying potential poisons could take weeks. 'Testing will include ruling out bird flu and inspecting impacted locations for evidence of potential pesticide misuse,' the Environment Protection Authority said. 'We're also contacting several vets across the Newcastle area to confirm the numbers of sick and dead birds, and where exactly they've been found.' A practitioner at the Hamilton Veterinary Clinic told the Newcastle Herald he had never seen anything like this in his 13 years there. 'They are in agony,' he said. 'They spread their wings and look at you as if to say help me. It's absolutely horrible.' The incident has caused outrage in the community. 'This is absolutely disgusting! These creatures are our Native Australian birds and have as much right as we do to this earth! We are here to protect them,' one resident posted on Facebook. 'I hope the perpetrators are caught and held accountable and rot!' Another wrote: 'What sick human would do this.' 'This is just too sad,' said another. 'What is wrong with some people. These are living breathing animals. We share, not own this planet.' The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported in 2023 that farmers in Victoria were using eagles and falcons to deter corellas and other nuisance birds in a humane, non-lethal way to protect their crops. The trained raptors would fly over the affected areas, scaring the corellas without attacking them.
