Latest news with #WildlifeRangers
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tourists and locals warned after rangers make sad find inside young cassowary
Locals and holidaymakers are being urged to make sure they dispose of their rubbish properly, in particular potentially harmful fishing gear including line, lures and hooks. Such items are known to cause injury and harm to wildlife with the latest warning coming after the seemingly unlikely death of a young cassowary. Rangers in the Coquette Point area of the Cassowary Coast Region in Queensland had been monitoring an adult male cassowary and its three juvenile offspring. While the public is reminded not to feed the large birds, which can be dangerous, the three cassowaries had begun approaching people for food in recent weeks. In late July, wildlife authorities received a report that one of the young birds had some fishing line dangling from its beak. Footage taken by a ranger shows the young cassowary struggling to walk as it continually trips over the fishing line. Fearing the worst, rangers were able to catch the bird and sedate it. And what they found sadly confirmed their suspicions, and the animal ultimately died from its injuries. X-ray images shared by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) on Wednesday showed a fishing hook firmly lodged in the bird's internal organs. "We believe the baited fishing hook was discarded as rubbish near the Johnstone River, and then picked up by the bird," Wildlife Ranger Stephen Clough explained. "Discarded hooks and fishing line are well-documented threats to sea birds and can also harm species like cassowaries. "People are asked to remove bait from hooks after a fishing session, and discard any unwanted fishing tackle properly into a bin," Ranger Clough said. Aussie wildlife killed or injured by fishing gear A vast array of coastal wildlife all around the country continues to be impacted by fishing gear that is not properly disposed of. Everything from seabirds to fish, turtles and dolphins has been found entangled and even killed by fishing line and hooks. In February, a platypus was found fatally entangled in fishing gear at a popular location on the Nepean River in NSW. In the same month, a Perth diver's footage showed a dolphin with line tightly wrapped around its tail, cutting deep into its flesh. Meanwhile, in March a turtle carcass was found with a "belly full of plastic" in the country's far north. Last month, specific new "tangle bins" were installed in NSW National Parks near bodies of water that regularly attract fishers in a bid to help tackle the ongoing problem. Queensland's Cassowary Coast Region was last year crowned as the state's most popular holiday destination over the Easter school holiday period. Visitors were recently reminded to never feed or interact with wild cassowaries at campsites over concerns the wild birds were becoming increasingly expectant and approaching people for food.
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Lion cubs among 23 wild cats rescued in Punjab wildlife crackdown
Listen to article An illegal network involved in the sale and purchase of big cats, including lions, tigers, and leopards, has dismantled by Punjab Wildlife Rangers. In a series of operations, authorities recovered 23 big cats, several of them hidden in private homes. Among the seized animals were multiple lion cubs, officials confirmed. In Lahore, Wildlife Rangers have rescued five lion cubs from a posh residential area where they were being secretly kept. According to wildlife authorities, it has become increasingly common for individuals to buy newborn lions and tigers from private breeding farms as a hobby. A single cub is sold for between Rs800,000 and Rs1 million, they said. Valued for their exotic appearance, many of these animals are kept inside homes. However, officials warn that by six months of age, the cubs begin to exhibit wild behaviour, posing safety risks to both owners and surrounding communities. Officials revealed that some breeding farm owners were illegally relocating cubs from their facilities and selling them through unlicensed channels. Following a series of targeted crackdowns, authorities now say that this underground market has been dismantled. Read: Punjab CM announces Rs500,000 compensation for victims of lion attack Additional Director General of the Punjab Wildlife Rangers, Syed Kamran Bukhari, stated that wild animals will only be allowed in captivity under the protocols of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). He emphasised that, under WAZA regulations, dangerous wild animals cannot be kept in residential areas under any circumstances. Bukhari confirmed that operations against individuals keeping lions and tigers illegally are still ongoing. Of the 23 animals recovered so far, 12 were seized in Lahore, four in Gujranwala, two in Faisalabad, three in Multan, and one each in Rawalpindi and other districts. These enforcement actions have led to the arrest of eight individuals and the registration of seven criminal cases. In Punjab, a total of 582 big cats have been officially declared as being in private possession. Lahore accounts for the largest number with 198, followed by Multan with 129, Rawalpindi with 104, Gujranwala with 86, Faisalabad with 20, the Salt Range with 26, Gujrat with nine, Bahawalpur with six, and one each in Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Sargodha. Wildlife authorities say verification of these animals is currently underway. Registered wildlife breeding farms have been given a three-month deadline to rectify shortcomings in their facilities and bring their operations into full compliance with legal and safety standards.
Business Recorder
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Lahore's limits: CM directs grand operation to protect passenger aircrafts
Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to launch a grand operation to protect passenger aircrafts within Lahore's limits, and mobilized District Administration, Wildlife and Environment Protection Authority for the purpose. She directed the Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb to mobilize Punjab's first Wildlife Force, and decided to dismantle illegal slaughterhouses and poultry farms near airports. She also directed the relevant authorities to strictly implement laws and regulations for garbage disposal of bakeries near airports, and said, 'There will be a ban on doing any kind of business near airports that may create a risk of birds gathering.' In this regard; Punjab government has issued an order, which says, 'Poultry farms, bakeries and slaughterhouses established without environmental protection arrangements will be banned.' The notification added, 'Strict application of environmental regulations will be ensured for companies that manufacture leather and leather products, besides a ban on open skinning of animal hides. Moreover, there will be a complete ban on throwing garbage near airports, making the use of lidded garbage bins mandatory.' Wildlife Headquarters has also issued an order directing Wildlife Rangers to start operations immediately. The CM said, 'Lahore Eastern Bypass, Manawan Hospital Dahoriwala, PKLI, Chungi Amar Sidhu, Ichhra Lal, and Chah Miran areas have been declared 'No-Bird Zone,' operation will start from these areas. The notification of Punjab government says, 'All such reasons should be eliminated due to which flocks of birds gather near airports.' It adds, 'Grain on the roofs of houses, pigeon breeding, pigeon flying in large numbers, feeding of pigeons in temples and public places and excessive gathering of birds should be prevented.' The notification highlights, 'Wildlife Rangers, district administration and related agencies will take action as per Punjab Wildlife Act in case of violation.' The notification says, 'Bird collisions with aircraft during take-off, landing and low-altitude flight of aircraft cause accidents.' It points out, 'According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), more than 90% of accidents occur at altitudes below 3,000 feet.' The notification emphasised, 'Punjab Wildlife Act should be strictly implemented, arrests, punishments and fines will be imposed for violations.' Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said, 'These measures are being taken to ensure safe air travel and safety of hundreds of human lives.' She added, 'Air safety fencing will reduce bird strikes and accidents.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Free Malaysia Today
11-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Vietnamese man's 4-year jail term for keeping leopard parts reinstated
Nguyen Van Tien claimed he was given 54 portions of leopard to take home when he met several other Vietnamese nationals here in Malaysia. (Wikipedia pic) PUTRAJAYA : The Court of Appeal has reinstated a Vietnamese man's four-year jail term for illegal possession of 54 leopard parts, after allowing the prosecution's appeal on the inadequacy of his sentence. A three-member bench chaired by Justice Hashim Hamzah said they were restoring the jail term imposed by the sessions court on Nguyen Van Tien as the offence relating to wildlife is serious. 'We set aside the High Court ruling which had imposed a two-year jail term. The penalty of a RM300,000 fine, or 12 months' imprisonment, however, remains,' he said. Justices Zaini Mazlan and Noorin Badaruddin were also on the bench. Nguyen was caught by wildlife rangers on Dec 12, 2023 at Taman Negara in Pahang with the leopard parts, weapons and tools. He was charged under Section 68(1)(b) of the Wildlife Conservation Act with keeping any part or derivative of a totally protected wildlife without a special permit. Those found guilty may be jailed for up to 15 years and fined a minimum of RM150,000. The leopard is a protected species in Malaysia. It is on a special list in the Act which carries some of the most severe penalties in the law. On April 24, 2024, the Raub sessions court sentenced Ngyuen to four years' jail and a fine of RM300,000 after he pleaded guilty at the second mention of the case. In September, the High Court reduced his jail term by two years but maintained the fine. Nguyen had also faced three charges under the Taman Negara (Pahang) (Amendment) Enactment 2018 for trespassing and illegal possession of weapons and tools, for which the court sentenced him to 24 months' jail on each charge. The court ordered the jail terms to be served concurrently, and Nguyen did not appeal against the sentences. Today, Nguyen, who came to seek employment in Malaysia, claimed that he met several other Vietnamese nationals who gave him the leopard meat in 54 portions to take home. 'I'm sorry for being ignorant of Malaysian laws regarding the protection of wildlife,' he said through a Vietnamese interpreter as he was not represented by a lawyer. He pleaded to the court to maintain the two-year jail term so that he could return home to care for his aged parents, his four children and his wife. Deputy public prosecutor Aznee Salmie Ahmad said the court should be at the forefront of creating awareness on wildlife protection by imposing a deterrent sentence. She said protected wildlife was a national heritage. 'The offender was bold enough to commit the offence at our national park,' she said, adding that a clear message must be sent to all that Malaysia was committed to conserving its wildlife. Aznee said the Court of Appeal should interfere and correct the sentence imposed by the High Court, which she described as manifestly inadequate. Representatives of Traffic South East Asia, a wildlife trade monitoring network, and Justice for Wildlife Malaysia were present to observe the proceedings.
ABC News
30-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Rangers search for owner of pet snake left on Bundaberg footpath
Wildlife rangers have been puzzled by the discovery of a snake left in an enclosure on a Bundaberg footpath. The Department of Environment said a man walking his dog made the unusual discovery in Avenell Heights and took the reptile home before alerting authorities. Wide Bay senior wildlife ranger Amanda Yates said it had been a "very strange" mission to find who owned the albino Darwin carpet python. "It wouldn't be a wild animal. This animal, they're not found in this region at all, so we're definitely making the assumption that it's a captive born and bred animal. "There are a lot of different forms and morphs of carpet pythons that people breed now." The reptile was found last week, but rangers are at a loss to explain how it ended up on the street. "The animal is in very good condition. It's currently in our care and is eating well," Ms Yates said. "If [anyone has] had a tank and a reptile stolen or if anybody has any information about who may have left the animal there, definitely give us a call." Ms Yates said when rangers received reports about non-endemic snakes being found, it was normally obvious what had happened. Ms Yates reminded the public that people needed a permit to keep snakes as household pets in Queensland.
