Tasmanian Times

Articles

Fury over devil crisis dealings

29.08.05 2:08 am

SIMON BEVILACQUA, The Sunday Tasmanian:

Wildlife park operators say the State Government is failing to properly manage the crisis facing Tasmanian devils. The furious operators say the disease ravaging the state’s devils is being managed “too politically”. “The way DFTD [devil facial tumour disease] is being handled is a joke, the Government’s handling of the disease is atrocious,” said Ray Green, of Something Wild Wildlife Sanctuary at National Park. “It would be unforgivable for us to lose the devil in this day and age but unless something is done, that’s the way it’s headed.”
Read the full article: HERE

The park owners’ concerns come after veterinary pathologist David Obendorf launched a stinging attack on the Tasmanian Times website about the way the disease is being managed. Dr Obendorf said the disease was not getting enough attention and information was being kept in-house.
Read the David Obendorf analysis: HERE

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Comments (2)

The money or the gun.

Recently our Government and the opposition both rejected the call for an independent Environmental Protection Authority in Tasmania.

Tasmania remains the only state in Australia not to have one of these environmental watchdogs.

Until we can have a truly independent body without the government at the tiller, Tasmania remains at the mercy of corporate business and their will to make a fast buck at the expense of the environment (of which we are all a part of I may add!).

Issues such as this DFTD, water, soil and air degradation, wanton destruction of habitat etc will continue to see this great state spiral down the gurgler.

If the true cost of the third world industrial destruction that plagues Tasmania was included in the price of the “commodities” that are pillaged each hour, and an EPA was our guardian, this “rape” would all come to a grinding halt and only then would we see a conversion of harvest in line with true environmental and economic sustainability and the best outcomes that 21st century mentality can muster.

With the latest behemoth touted for Longreach, a so called “industrial museum” which is set to eat the north eastern forests and spew its toxic payload of waste into the near stagnant “Bass Strait”, the mind boggles as to what will be the consequences for all life in Tasmania now and in the future and what burden this will leave the future caretakers of Tasmania, both socially, environmentally and economically.

I believe we are now at the crossroad and close by is the point of no return.

Tasmania, the choice is yours.

Posted by Dave Groves on 29/08/05 at 06:52 AM
With regard to the DFTD why are the government so reticent to be honest and open when dealing with concerned individuals and groups?

1) Although it seems highly unlikely that the disease is related to chemical use in forestry and agriculture the Government is taking no chances. Any potential link here would be extremely damaging politically to the Government who continues to support the widespread use of these chemicals.

2) As the Devil population continues to fall loss of habitat where populations remain will soon become an issue hence a looming conflict with the continued logging of native forests especially in light of the fact that these forests will be necessary to feed a pulp mill for the next thirty years!

Keeping a lid on the devil problem and not revealing the true extent of the disease is therefore desirable.

Posted by David Mohr on 31/08/05 at 06:50 AM