One lucky little chick
Steven Garrad – ARF Community Conservation Officer, Mission Beach
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One lucky little chick, with teeth marks of the dog who attacked it around it’s neck. |
It’s that time of year, and reports are coming in almost daily of sightings of cassowary males with two or more young chicks, which is excellent news after the catastrophic figures in the recently released Queensland Parks and Wildlife 2006-07 State of the Wet Tropics Report. The report highlighted 31 cassowaries had died in the wake of Cyclone Larry and that’s nearly 3% of the known population of this endangered keystone species.
From March 2006 to June 2007, 15 of the birds died around Innisfail, 11 in Mission Beach and five in Tully. Car accidents accounted for 18 fatalities and dog attacks killed six birds. Other causes of death included malnutrition and fights with other cassowaries.
Unfortunately at the Garners Beach facility we have also experienced first hand a dog attack on a young chick.
The young stripy (pictured) was captured by a dog that had been chasing its father and siblings in early November in a Mission Beach housing development. The dog took the chick back to its owners who then took the chick immediately to the Tully Vet surgery where its wounds were tendered to before being passed into our care. Probably only 10 days old or so, it has adjusted quickly to the finely chopped fruits we are feeding it and is exploring its pen which is lined with leaf litter along with some potted palms to make it feel at home.
Also, near the Garners Beach facility is an old male big Bird with one-eye (trauma with a car several years ago) called ‘Bandit’, he is regularly seen taking his two chicks ‘out for dinner’ in the area which is proving a tourist attraction as it is often near the road. Signs have been put up in an attempt to slow traffic.
Reggie, the adult female resident at the facility since October, is still undergoing tests to see what exactly has caused her feather loss – but as yet no positive findings.
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The threats from wild dogs and vehicle traffic are recognised by the ARF as impacting on wildlife populations such as Cassowary, Spotted Tail Quoll, Musky Rat Kangaroo, Wallaby and Bandicoot in the region and we urge dog owners and motorists to take responsible actions in minimising these impacts.
