PROTECTING AUSTRALIA'S DUGONGS AND SEA TURTLES
PROTECTING AUSTRALIAN DUGONGS AND SEA TURTLES
Our first real ‘action’ as Earthrace Conservation was when Pete visited Trinidad in February 2011 to meet and work with the Trini Eco Warriors on their campaign to protect endangered sea turtles.
Now, we’re delighted to be helping not just Queensland's endangered sea turtles, but also the endangered Australian dugong, by supporting Colin Riddell in his campaign against hunting of both these species in Queensland.
Internationally, dugong are listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wilde Fauna and Flora (CITES), and on Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (the CMS). Australia is a signatory to both these conventions.
Bob Irwin took the rare step of appearing in a series of television commercials in 2012 calling for an immediate moratorium on the hunting of endangered dugongs and sea turtles around the Australian coastline by Indigenous hunters under Native Title. He decided to speak out along with James Epong, an Indigenous Australian, and Ben Cropp, world renowned marine documentary maker and diver, who also appeared in the three separate TV commercials that appeared in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
WATCH THE ADS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9moinJ0TM8&feature=youtu.be
Hundreds of the endangered animals are washing up dead along the Australian coastline from unknown causes. They are also often killed as a result of being caught accidentally in fishing nets. Dugongs and sea turtles are also hunted, legally under Native Title, for personal, domestic or non commercial communal needs. Many, many more are taken by poachers.
Both dugongs and sea turtles are killed using unspeakably cruel methods. Queensland was the only remaining state in Australia having no cruelty laws in relation to indigenous hunting. Thanks to Colin's campaign (and we like to think with a little bit of help from us and all of you), that has now changed.
Result
After a successful rally in front of the Queensland Parliament House in February 2012, the first stage of the campaign was accomplished after the Queensland government changed the cruelty laws to include indigenous hunting methods of dugongs and turtles.
Don't crack the champagne open yet!
Uncontrolled and unmonitored hunting is an additional pressure neither species needs if they are to survive. The Australian Government continue to downplay the issue and might feel they’ve done enough for now. However, by still allowing them to be killed even for ‘ceremonial reasons’ to keep indigenous populations appeased, and by refusing to fund or support robust enforcement against poachers and cruelty, this struggle isn't over.
Feel free to make your own feelings known to the politicians that have the power to make change, but who continue to ignore the issue. Send your email to:
Jan McLucas, Colin Riddell's local senator: senator.mclucas@aph.gov.au
Australia's Environment Minister: Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au
Australia's Prime Minister, The Rt Hon (bit of a misnomer that!), Julia Gillard: laborconnect@australianlabor.com.au
WATCH VIDEO OF HUNTED SEA TURTLE (contains upsetting scenes) http://youtu.be/6lT9QLrQITk
DONATE HERE: http://www.facebook.com/EarthraceAustralia?sk=app_190322544333196
Please help us to help the Australian dugongs and sea turtles by donating whatever you can spare today. We’ll keep you fully updated on the campaign as it develops through our face book pages and on the website.
If you would like to send a cheque, please make it out to Earthrace, write ‘dugongs and sea turtles’ on the back and send it to: Earthrace Charitable Trust, 394 Wairere Rd, RD2, Henderson, 0782, New Zealand.
For all media enquiries about the campaign, please contact:
Colin Riddell: mobile 00 61 (0)427632208, home 00 61 (0)7 40454034.
Email dugongman@gmail.com Website http://dugongandturtles.webs.com/
Or for enquiries about Earthrace Conservation Australia, please contact:
Alan Winstanley, Operations Director, Earthrace Conservation Australia,
alan@earthrace.net 00 61 (0)412 534 819 http://www.facebook.com/EarthraceAustralia?sk=wall
