Friday, February 10, 2012

Concern Over Survival of Orange-belly Parrot in Australia

Some good lessons learnt from efforts in the area of conservation, be it from the people, the governments or conservation organisations, have to be emulated  in the larger interest of conservation of threatened species.

Currently there is a concern about the survival of endangered orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrystogaster) which , according to reports, is limited to only about fifty pairs of birds. It is known to breed in southwest Tasmania and migrates along the west coast of Tasmania crossing western Bass Strait to coastal Victoria and south-eastern South Australia.

The orange-bellied parrot is listed as a critically endangered species under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Several factors such as disease, loss of genetic variation, storms during migration, and destruction of nest sites, eggs and chicks by fire are important influences on the species' long-term survival, and conservation efforts are taking all these factors in account.

The overall objective of the recovery effort is to minimize or eliminate human induced threats. The ‘Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery Plan’ has been prepared to guide activities directed towards achieving this.
A controversy has emerged weather setting up a boat harbour will affect the survival of the bird in the project region, which reports point out have not witnessed the parrot for the last twenty five years. Earlier the parrot is known to have gained high profile concern when it prompted Howard government to veto a proposed Victorian wind farm.

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