Extinction Gallops On; Dark Times in Oz
-
-
-
-
- ampersand
- added this
-
more from Green:
The massive invasion of introduced species like the cane toads are only one of the pressures on Australia’s small and increasingly endangered species — others include large grazing (non-native) herbivores, ferocious late-season wildfires and feral cats.
A New York Times article today, (September 19, 2009), noted the following:
It’s estimated that there are between 4 million and 12 million feral cats in Australia, the progeny of former house cats. Just in the Kimberley — a region of northwestern Australia that is about the size of California — feral cats are eating as many as 300 million small mammals, especially small nocturnal marsupials, a year.
What is happening is a population crash. Scientists surveying native mammals in northern Australia, widely regarded as an oasis of biodiversity, report that they are finding it almost impossible to catch native mammals. During a recent study, it took an average of 1,000 trap-nights to trap 3 mammals.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/opinion/19sat4.html?_r=1
A New York Times article today, (September 19, 2009), noted the following:
It’s estimated that there are between 4 million and 12 million feral cats in Australia, the progeny of former house cats. Just in the Kimberley — a region of northwestern Australia that is about the size of California — feral cats are eating as many as 300 million small mammals, especially small nocturnal marsupials, a year.
What is happening is a population crash. Scientists surveying native mammals in northern Australia, widely regarded as an oasis of biodiversity, report that they are finding it almost impossible to catch native mammals. During a recent study, it took an average of 1,000 trap-nights to trap 3 mammals.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/opinion/19sat4.html?_r=1
-
- groups:
- Green
-
- tags:
- Australia, Extinction, feral cats, cane toads
