A red panda has escaped from the Adelaide Zoo, sparking a two-day search.
Key points:
A red panda escaped from Adelaide Zoo on Friday
It was found up a tree at the adjacent Botanic Park on Sunday morning
The panda was retrieved on Sunday afternoon
The seven-year-old red panda named Ravi escaped from its enclosure at the zoo, in the city’s CBD, on Friday.
He was found up a tree at the nearby Botanic Park on Sunday, however, keepers have spent the day trying to put him down using food, but without success.
A tranquilliser was used this afternoon, and keepers surrounded the tree with blankets to catch him.
Adelaide Zoo director Dr Phil Ainsley said keepers tried to entice Ravi down using bamboo and sweet corn, but were unsuccessful.
“Based on the advice from our vets we made the decision that we’d look at darting him … [we] finally got a dart into him and then just had to wait about 15 minutes just for the drug to take effect.
“Our amazing vet team and animal keepers were underneath with some blankets and managed to capture him as he dropped.”
Dr Ainsley said the zoo would conduct a review into Ravi’s enclosure to identify how he escaped before he is returned to his new home.
A red panda in the Adelaide Zoo’s climbing tunnel.(ABC News: Ethan Rix)
He said the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) was alerted when Ravi went missing on Friday but the public was not notified as Ravi was deemed a “low risk” to the environment and humans.
Dr Ainsley said Ravi’s adventure was the first mammal escape from the zoo in recent years.
The focus now, he said, was on Ravi’s wellbeing, after he had only arrived at the zoo last week.
“He’s now just being transferred back into the zoo where he’ll spend the next couple of days in our animal health department just getting a check-up and making sure he’s OK,” he said.
“Obviously, being in Botanic Park, there’s a lot of fig trees, so probably he has had a bit of a munch on some figs that were in the trees but [he] will be a hungry panda.”
The results are in from an audacious search that’s been described as part CSI, part Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
If Carmen Sandiego was a platypus and not a computer video game character from the 1990s, that is.
For the first time, thanks to The Great Australian Platypus Search, Victoria has a statewide picture of how its platypus population is faring.
The search was held from August to September last year, with citizen scientists asked to collect water samples from more than 1,500 waterways across the state.
Scientists at EnviroDNA ran those water samples through their labs searching for environmental DNA, also known as eDNA.
The eDNA contained traces of wildlife DNA shed from the animals into the environment.
The platypus is an Australian icon and an important indigenous species.(Healesville Sanctuary)
Scientists used the information to genetically trace some of the state’s stealthiest critters into previously unknown hideouts.
“I don’t know if it’s exciting, but filling in areas where we didn’t have platypus data before was one of the big goals of the project,” said platypus ecologist Josh Griffiths.
“The results were largely what we expected — the platypus were largely where we thought they were, and not where they weren’t thought to be.”
But that didn’t mean all was well for one of Australia’s most unique mammals.
The platypus was listed as threatened for the first time in Victoria last year, and was endangered in South Australia.
An EnviroDNA spokesperson said the data from the project would be released to the public soon, and that a similar program was expected to start in New South Wales in the near future.
Water samples were taken from more than 1,500 waterways as part of the Great Australian Platypus Search.(Supplied: EnviroDNA/Google Maps)
victorian rivers under microscope
The platypus search turned Victoria’s waterways into a quasi-crime scene, with amateur sleuths slugging through the bush taking samples that would hopefully uncover vital clues.
Early results indicated promising returns in western Victoria, particularly in the Wimmera region.
“There was a localized population in the Mackenzie River and it looks like that population is expanding a little bit further which is great,” Mr Griffiths said.
“We’ve found them as far downstream as we’ve seen in decades.”
DNA samples were collected using an array of equipment, including this syringe pictured at the Hopkins River in Warrnambool.(Supplied: EnviroDNA)
Further south-west near Warrnambool, strong numbers were recorded in the Glenelg and Hopkins Rivers, however there were no platypuses found in smaller tributaries off those major rivers.
“One of the big things to come out of this is to find where those populations are that are in strife,” Mr Griffiths said.
“That way we can find out where we can best assist the population so that they’re still around in another 50 or 100 years.”
What can be done?
The survey was spearheaded by a not-for-profit conservation organization the Odonata Foundation, with funding from the state government and numerous philanthropists.
It was hoped the results would be a baseline for future generations’ learning.
“To have a statewide, point-in-time snapshot of Victoria’s platypus populations is really special,” said Odonata Foundation CEO Sam Marwood.
Information analyzed by scientists will be invaluable for catchment authorities and those charged with protecting the state’s waterways.(Supplied: Rachael Dere (Blue Tree Studios) and Amicus.)
“This data will complement many years of visual observations and scientific studies, to give us the most comprehensive understanding of platypus distribution we have ever had.”
Mr Griffiths said the information would be invaluable for catchment authorities and those charged with protecting the state’s waterways.
And just as citizen scientists collated the information, they could also help to stop the population decline.
“The number one thing is trying to be careful with our water,” Mr Griffiths said.
“When we went through the drought everyone was very conscious about conserving water, but I think it’s probably been a bit slacker since.
“Every time we have a shorter shower or don’t water gardens in the middle of the day; every liter of water we can save can potentially be returned back to the environment for platypus and fish and turtles and everything that’s dependent on it.
Sunshine Coast pet owners are on high alert after a series of deadly poisonings at a popular dog beach.
Key points:
At least five dogs have experienced poisoning symptoms after visiting a popular dog beach.
The dogs had to be euthanized, prompting a warning from vets and Sunshine Coast Council.
Police are now investigating and anyone with information is urged to come forward.
Sunshine Coast Council confirmed it has received reports from a local vet of five dogs experiencing poisoning symptoms soon after visiting the Point Cartwright and Buddina beach area.
The dogs had to be put down.
Billy the beagle was among the casualties.
Billy’s owners, Val and Peter Logan, said they took him for a walk on Sunday afternoon, near beach access 210.
“He came back from the beach quite happily,” Mr Logan said.
“But about half an hour later… he brought up quite a lot of food… kept vomiting to the point where we were really concerned.”
The couple raced to the emergency vet, where Billy was placed in “doggy ICU”.
But that evening the two-year-old pup died.
“He really was a beautiful dog… we were so lucky to have him,” Mrs Logan said.
Another dog to die was a staffy-cross known as Sophie that had been on an adoption trial through Silver Lining Pet Rescue.
Rescue dog Sophie died after a suspected poisoning incident at Buddina beach.(Supplied: Silver Lining Pet Rescue Inc.)
The rescue group’s Denise Bettany said the new owner was “absolutely heartbroken.”
The man had taken Sophie for a walk along the beach on Friday afternoon and she fell ill that night.
“He said he was very diligent in making sure she didn’t grab anything she shouldn’t have,” Ms Bettany said.
“Anything normal, like having a drink or something like that, he probably wouldn’t have taken any notice of.
“He’s just heartbroken…absolutely heartbroken.”
Craig Barrass said his daughter’s dog Pepper, a golden labrador, also died on Tuesday, despite the best efforts of emergency vets to save her.
“They had to make the decision to put her to sleep,” Mr Barrass said.
The family is planning to offer a reward to catch the culprit.
Pepper died after a suspected poisoning at Buddina beach.(Supplied: Craig Barrass)
Turf war over dog park
The suspected poisonings happened in the Point Cartwright area, which is popular with dog owners.
The reserve doubles as an off-leash area from 4pm until 8am.
Vivienne Williams is part of the La Balsa Bow Wows group and said her members were in shock.
Some had expressed concern communal drinking bowls might have been contaminated.
Ms Williams said there had been animosity between owners and a group of residents who wanted to ban dogs from the reserve.
The Point Cartwright reserve is very popular among dog walkers. (ABC Sunshine Coast: Jennifer Nichols)
She said in recent months chocolate had been left around the steps to the beaches and “we all know chocolate is deadly for dogs.”
“We’ve had people who have been photographed at close quarters by people.
“We’ve had people who have been abused… it’s an ongoing battle.”
Police are investigating
Sunshine Coast Council urged dog owners and vets to report incidents to police.
Council has also recommended owners keep their dogs in sight and contact their vet at the first sign of any symptoms “such as gastro, breathlessness or being listless”.
Police confirmed they had been notified of several incidents and were investigating.
Mr Barrass said he worried a child could be harmed if they came in contact with a poison.
“What if… a little one got there and put their hands in that water bowl and then put their hands into their mouth?” Mr Barrass said.
The Victorian government will establish an Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) task force to prepare for an incursion of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which is currently circulating through parts of Indonesia.
Key points:
The Victorian government has developed a task force to prepare for a foot and mouth disease outbreak
Foot and mouth disease affects livestock such as sheep, cattle, goats and pigs
Three hundred biosecurity staff are being trained in disease mitigation
The task force would be co-chaired by Agriculture Victoria chief executive officer Matt Lowe and the Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp, taking advice from Victoria’s Chief Veterinarian Graeme Cooke.
The Australian government has ramped up biosecurity measures to prevent foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin disease entering the country, since it was discovered in Bali, Indonesia a month ago.
Experts fear the exotic livestock diseases could cost the economy billions if it made it into Australia.
“We want to get a focus and targeted government response to a whole range of things we need to put in place in terms of being prepared and to prevent an outbreak,” Victorian Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney said.
“[The task force] will be looking at things like developing an EAD response plan and will also be looking at access to sufficient personal protective equipment and the supply chain issues that we have in respect to testing, tracing, destruction, disposal and vaccination.”
‘No delay’ in task force formation
Ms Tierney said there had been a “lot of work already underway” that would help mitigate any EAD threats, including coordinating with the national process for service and infrastructure continuity.
The symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease on the tongue of an Indonesian cow.(Supplied: Dok. Kementan)
“It’s clear that there is anxiety within the farming community, people are wanting to know more and we’ve been able to give very practical advice through webinars,” she said.
“This is a good time [to] have those conversations at a grassroots level that give farmers the opportunity to turn that anxiety into very positive practical measures.
“We have a very clear understanding of what the risks are and what we need to do to ramp things up to ensure our preparedness is the best it could possibly be.”
Three hundred biosecurity staff were being trained through Agriculture Victoria to prepare for an FMD outbreak in the state, learning about scenario planning and emergency exercises.
Ms Tierney said despite Indonesia having FMD present in the country for months, the taskforce was a “rapid response”.
“This is a whole of government response, not just Agriculture Victoria, and that’s a fairly quick landing in terms of getting this task force off the ground,” she said.
“Of course there has been lots of work that has been done all the way through, Victoria’s biosecurity measures lead the pack in terms of other jurisdictions.
“It’s been business as usual but then with this extra change that is required because of FMD being on the island of Bali.”
Agriculture Victoria was experienced and well equipped to handle biosecurity threats, Ms Tierney said.
“They did it recently in terms of the avian flu and Japanese encephalitis — there are so many biosecurity threats with us all the time,” she said.
“I think they have a proven track record of doing a pretty good job and the way they have ramped up preparedness for FMD — they should be congratulated for it.”
There are fears of the invasive fire ant, which can form a raft to move along waterways, may have spread during record floods in southern Queensland.
Key points:
A Queensland LNP MP fears fire ants have spread during the most recent floods in the Lockyer Valley
The Queensland government says the pest could not have spread through floodwaters
Landholders are worried the fire ant eradication plan isn’t working
The state government said floodwaters moved too fast for the insects, but the opposition has called for evidence the risk had been assessed.
Landholders, meanwhile, said they were worried eradication programs were not moving fast enough.
The tiny pest has the potential for disastrous impact should it move unchecked and experts have warned it could cause billions of dollars of social, economic and environmental damage.
Unseasonal rain earlier this year wreaked havoc in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane, including two major floods only 10 weeks apart.
The movement of such floodwater has LNP’s opposition spokesman for agriculture and Gympie MP Tony Perrett worried.
“We just don’t need them to be spread any further but more importantly, go undetected,” he said.
Often referred to as a super pest, red imported fire ants are renowned for their ability to not only move across the ground and fly, but also to float.
A raft of fire ants after flooding in Texas, United States in 2020.(Supplied: Bill O’Zimmermann)
The National Fire Ant Eradication Program identified the insects could raft on water by linking their claws and trapping air under their bodies, allowing them to float in groups and travel long distances on waterways.
Mr Perrett asked the government via a question on notice if it was investigating the risk, and if the ants had spread.
“It’s quite clear that they say they have a remarkable ability to be able to survive floods and can float for weeks until they come to dry land or a place where they can rest again,” he said.
“So, I am seriously concerned that they have spread and if that’s the case, then we need to know that.”
Mr Perrett wants the government to be sure the destructive fire ant has not spread.(Supplied: Tony Perrett)
Floods ‘too fast’ for fire ants
In response, Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said he had been advised the floods were too swift to allow the fire ants to raft.
“The information we have at hand is that the 2022 flooding event was a rapid event in terms of rises and the high flow rates, which actually reduced the likelihood of any spread,” he said.
But Mr Perrett was not convinced, and called on the minister to provide an update on the state’s 10-year eradication program, which is about halfway through.
“It didn’t provide a lot of information other than to say, ‘Trust me, we believe that we’ve got this right’,” he said.
The National Fire Ant Eradication Program began in 2017 with a $411 million budget from the Commonwealth, states and territories.
It was Australia’s largest biosecurity eradication plan.
According to the plan, the current incursion takes in a large area of South East Queensland, stretching across the Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Ipswich local government areas.
Mr Furner says the floodwaters moved too fast for fire ants to raft.(ABC Wide Bay: Kallee Buchanan)
Landholders question aerial assault
The current eradication program includes deploying chemical insecticide baits from helicopters, but some landholders are worried the technique is not effective and could be affecting their animals.
The owners of a Lockyer Valley horse spelling and agistment farm fear the current control measures are not working fast enough.
Joyce Wilkinson and her partner often keep up to 60 thoroughbred horses on their farm, Atkin Lodge.
They do not want the ants to spread, but worry about the impact of chemicals dropped from helicopters on their horses and would prefer a targeted ground operation.
“To me, that is more of what they should be doing, actively seeking where these nests are,” Ms Wilkinson said.
“When they used to do the dogs to identify nests, they could actually treat those individual nests and actually destroy the ants in them.”
Ms Wilkinson acknowledged that helicopters with heat-seeking technology were often used to identify the nests because the ants were difficult to see on the ground, but she said the low-flying aircraft impacted her animals and should be used sparingly.
“Their thing is to run away from something that’s scaring them, and a fence doesn’t always stop them when they’re running,” she said.
Mr Furner said his government had further strengthened its commitment with a $37.1 million fire ant suppression taskforce in this year’s budget.
“Beating the fire ants will be a team effort,” he said.
But Mr Perrett said the taskforce’s name indicated a shift away from efforts to eradicate.
“We can’t afford to lose this battle,” he said.
The ABC contacted the National Fire Ant Eradication Program for comment however it declined to respond.
