Wild dogs and koalas
September 11, 2013 by admin
Filed under OTHER ISSUES
Recently wild dog monitoring in Ridgewood has confirmed that there are likely to be around 150 wild dogs in the area.
The proposed broiler farm on Top Forestry Road Cooroy would be a huge threat to koalas and other wildlife living in the area from a likely increase wild dog numbers. They will be drawn to the sheds, lured by chicken odour, dead animals from the bait stations surrounding the project, sick and dying chickens, and the piles of decaying compost which comprises much waste feed.
Dog attacks are a key conservation concern for koalas, and will have significant negative consequences for the viability of koala populations in Top Forestry Road and the surrounding West Cooroy State Forest.
Deborah Tabbort Chief Executive Officer from the Australian Koala Foundation is most concerned that: ‘Elevated mortality rates in koalas due to dog attacks is a key contributor to the decline in koala populations. Therefore, reducing dog attack mortality should be a key goal of planning to conserve koala populations.
These areas should be identified and prioritised for implementation of measures to reduce dog attacks on koalas. Even small dogs can kill or seriously injure koalas”. From: Koala Planning Guidelines
The massive operation in Top Forestry Road would be antithetical to the high conservation values espoused in the Noosa Biosphere’s aims and objectives.
