The link below is to an article reporting on the largest known colony of Eastern Horseshoe Bats in Australia located in the Ourimbah State Forest in New South Wales.
For more visit:
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/news/all/2013/monitoring-eastern-horseshoe-bats
Australia is known for its deadly snakes. The link below is to an article that considers 10 of them as the most deadly in Australia – some in the list may be debatable, but all are certainly dangerous. I have handled and experienced several of these and can testify to their aggressive nature.
For more visit:
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/view-image.htm?index=0&gid=11893
The article below suggests that about half of the world’s amphibians are yet to be made known to science and that they could become extinct before they are. It is a very interesting article.
For more visit:
http://theconversation.edu.au/articles/half-the-worlds-amphibians-yet-to-be-discovered-1903
Travellers to the Barrington Tops are being warned that outlaw and modern bushranger Malcolm Naden is suspected of hiding out in the remote wilderness area. There is currently a $50 000 reward for information that leads to his capture. He is the most wanted person in New South Wales, suspected of being involved in the disappearance of his cousin Lateesha Nolan and the murder of Kristy Scholes in 2005 at Dubbo.
Naden has sought refuge in the bush in the region bordered by Dubbo in the west and Kempsey in the east since 2005. During this time he has broken into homes, stealing non-perishable food items, camping gear and other equipment required to survive the bushland in which he hides and lives. He is known to be an expert bushman.
Naden first hid in the Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo and has since been known to have been in the vicinity of the Barrington Tops. In 2008 he was known to be in the vicinity of Stewarts Brook, in the western Barrington Tops area. In January 2009 he was known to be at Bellbrook, west of Kempsey. Three months ago he was known to be at Mount Mooney, in the northern Barrington Tops. It is thought that he is also responsible for similar break-ins around the Mount Mooney area in late August 2010. There have been a large number of break-ins across the region this year. He is believed to be armed, with a rifle having been stolen in one of the break-ins. Not all of the break-ins are confirmed as being committed by Malcolm Naden, but they all seem to bear his signature.
According to local newspapers, it is also believed that kangaroo carcasses have been found in the Barrington Tops, butchered in an expert manner. Naden was an abattoir worker and similar carcasses were found at the Dubbo zoo when Naden was hiding there.
The area in which Malcolm Naden is thought to be hiding was once the hideout for the bushranger known as ‘Captain Thunderbolt.’ Naden seems to be following in Thunderbolt’s footsteps in more ways than one.
For more on Malcolm Naden visit:
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/can_you_help_us/wanted/malcolm_john_naden
http://coastmick21.blogspot.com/
http://www.australianmissingpersonsregister.com/Naden.htm
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=4884239637&topic=7725
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/publics-help-sought-over-murder-cases-20100904-14v5u.html
Infighting is threatening to destroy the environmental group, ‘The Wilderness Society.’ A court battle now looms in order to sort out the mess that has become The Wilderness Society.
This is a group that I have supported in the past and depending on the outcome of the court case and what then happens with The Wilderness Society will determine whether I support the group again.
The Wilderness Society is a well known environmental group in Australia. It was formed to fight the Franklin Dam project in Tasmania in the 1970s.
The following link is to an ABC news article reporting on the story:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/03/2889021.htm
The Wilderness Society website:
The video below is a reflection on the Franklin Dam project protest.
Is it possible that the last known Jaguar in the United States has been killed by a government employee? This could indeed be the case according to news reports out of the United States.
The Jaguar was caught in Arizona and released with a radio tag. However, the animal was soon found to be in poor health and was captured again and put down. It would seem that injuries sustained in the original capture of the Jaguar led to its death and the possible extinction of the Jaguar in the United States and certainly within Arizona. The capture of the Jaguar appears to have been in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
For more information see:
http://www.azstarnet.com/news/state-and-regional/article_c1fa70e7-ec29-50ee-8de2-015fcbd515e7.html
The body of Vietnam veteran Arthur Booker, of Logan, Queensland, has still not been found following a suspected crocodile attack earlier this week. It is thought that Booker was taken by a large crocodile while checking crab traps along the Endeavour River near Cooktown on Tuesday. All that has been found in the search for the missing 62-year-old man has been his footwear and watch.
The search for Booker has now entered a new stage with police suspending their search of the river. Queensland Environmental Protection Officers (EPA) have now begun to lay crocodile traps in the area so that crocodiles can be examined for remains without harming or killing them.
The investigation into the disappearance of Arthur Booker has yet to determine if he was in fact taken by a crocodile, although this remains the most likely scenario. There are a number of large crocodiles inhabiting the area, including the 6m ‘Charlie.’
Charlie is known to be responsible for the loss of pet dogs, livestock, eating a 3.5m crocodile and was once seen taking a horse.
The probable crocodile attack has once again brought the call for crocodile culling back into the public arena. At the moment any thought of culling by officials has been dismissed.
BELOW: Footage reporting the disappearance of Arthur Booker
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A terrible tragedy is unfolding near Cooktown in Queensland, Australia. An Australian fisherman has probably been taken by a 6 metre crocodile on the Endeavour River while checking crab traps on foot. Arthur Booker, 62, from the town of Logan, south of Brisbane has not been seen since about 8.30am Tuesday morning.
The man and his wife were on a two-day holiday at the Endeavour River Escape campsite near Cooktown, north of Cairns in Queensland. Mr Booker had already packed his boat on the top of his 4WD vehicle in preparation to leave.
A local crocodile known as Charlie is the alleged culprit of Arthur Booker’s disappearance according to local Terry Rayner. However, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service regional manager James Newman has said that there are other large crocodiles in the area.
Police are searching for the man but all that has been found is the man’s watch and footwear. The search will continue tomorrow.
BELOW: Footage of the Endeavour River, scene of the attack and the search for the victim.
Kevin's Walk on the Wild Side 