Tail of humback whale (photo by Ronda Green, Araucaria Ecotours, while on tour with Spirit of Gold Coast Whale Watching)

Humpback whales sharing the same ocean in the northern hemisphere generally sing similar songs.

The whales that travel the coast of Western Australia sing songs that differ considerably from those visiting Madagascar on the other side of the Indian Ocean.

This surprised researchers, who are now investigating the reasons for the difference, including determining whether the whales from the South Pacific, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans communicate with one another during their summer months in Antarctica

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-02/wcs-sfs020112.php

Vikings - the venue for opening cocktails

Thanks to those who have already submitted abstracts for the National Wildlife Tourism Workshop in May

It is going to be quite an exciting event, with inspiring and informative talks in the mornings and interactive discussions in the afternoon that will each lead to some kind of action, whether the formulating of guidelines for the industry or for travellers, submissions to government on wildlife tourism and wildlife conservation topics, the beginnings of new cooperative tourism or research projects or other kinds of actions we may not have thought of yet.

As the main thrust of this workshop (as opposed to the usual kind of conference) is active and interactive discussion leading to action, the numbers of oral papers may be limited, but poster papers will also be possible.

Call for papers ends 24th February

Australian Wildlife Secrets Magazine February 2012

The next issue of this mamgazine, which is a Wildlife Tourism Australia member, will be available from early February

From the publisher:

“The next spectacular issue of Australian Wildlife Secrets is due out next Friday 3rd February.

This issue has a diverse range of features including the Mudskipper, Waders, Alpine life explored, Mark David reveals how he coped with his spider fear. The Western Swamp Turtle, an amazing breeding program and recovery success.

Secrets sightings a 4.5 metre python, platypus. Secret place is the unique Little Desert National Park, wild reads, secret rescue a fruit bat with a fruit picker! Puzzle away in the secret puzzles.

Amazing imagery and great reading awaits you in your local newsagents or can be delivered by subscription.”

Less good is the gradual disappearance of 3 of them, so that yesterday Dec 6 he
came in with just 2 remaining, and we are very concerned. For the first time
ever I saw a cat along Black Mt Road yesterday and this isa hell of a
coincidence, just at the worst possible time when the chicks are so small and
vulnerable. Usually pythons take care of such ferals, but ironically 2 years
ago it was likely pythons that killed off the brood of 3 chicks that year, 2
huge ones arriving just as the checks were brought in.

Our creek usually makes a reasonable barrier between us and the suburban
developments further south along the road, but the bridge is an access way and
it may be that some new people have pets they are letting roam, or of course
someone may have dumped an unwanted cat in the forest.We are looking at getting
cat traps from the local Kuranda Conservation folks, but it is all a bit of a
concern. We had 3 chicks raised to fledging earlier this year and it will be
very sad if this current brood is destroyed.

End of CSG blockade at Kerry, Scenic Rim

There was a dramatic finale today at the blockade of Arrow Energy CSG workers by farmers and other locals, including WTA members.

Although the blockade was primarily about effects of fracking on farmland it has great relevance to wildlife and to tourism also.

Visit http://wildlifetourism.org.au/wp-admin/post.php?post=1849&action=edit&message=1 and follow the link to the you-tube video (as well as various media reports and links to informtion on coal seam gas generally, and effects on wildlife and water).

And please let us know your views on fracking.

This is from the Coral Sea Campaign

Right now the Australian government is deciding the fate of Australia’s Coral Sea.

The government’s draft plan for Australia’s Coral Sea is a good start but protection levels need to be strengthened. 90% of the Coral Sea’s coral reefs are not given a high level of protection under the plan. The majority of species-rich coral reefs, important breeding sites for tuna and marlin, and critical migration routes for turtles and whales open to fishing.

You can make a difference! Send a rapid submission to Environment Minister Tony Burke, cc’ing your federal MP, and help protect this natural wonder.  It takes less than 20 seconds!  Go to www.protectourcoralsea.org.au

Turtle tourism helping economic comeback

Visitors to the Mon Repos turtle rookery helped boost the Bundaberg region’s economy over the Christmas period – read the full story here http://www.news-mail.com.au/story/2011/12/29/visitor-influx-at-mon-repos-rookery/.  This has been a relief for locals, as many trips were cancelled and/or refunds given last season due to storms and flooding.

Mon Repos is about 15km from Bundaberg, and has the highest concentration of breeding turtles on Australia’s east coast. The breeding season is November to February. The nesting turtles must be viewed in small groups accompanied by a ranger, keeping lights and noise to a minimum.

Bundaberg is about a 4 hour drive north of Brisbane and also easily reached by bus or train.

Read more details here about the turtles and how to view them without unduly disturbing them here: http://bookbundabergregion.com.au/pages/turtles/

A 100% online TAFE course will begin in February – for details see http://www.msit.edu.au/csu/search.aspx?coursesearch=animal&go=Submit+Query and click the relevant links to rehabilitation of native birds and mammals

orphaned grey kangaroo joey

Surfers and dolphins at Fingal Head

At the Oceania Dive and Ecotourism Expo that starts in Brisbane this week, there will be a variety of special interest talks on both Saturday and Sunday

Three tourism talks start the day on Saturday: sustainable marine wildlife tourism (presented by Wildlife Tourism Australia chair Ronda Green), ecotourism (CEO of Ecotourism Australia, Kym Cheatham) and marine research tourism  (Pete Wood)

Many others follow over the weekend – diving in Lombok, Fiji, Cocos Islands and the exotic places, running an online dive shop, biology of various marine creatures ad much more

Click here for the complete schedule of special interest talks

Entry to ODEX is $10 for adults and $5 for children.  There are other talks on other platforms and hundreds of displays to explore

Oktoberfest is also happening at the same venue (Brisbane Showgrounds) so you can easily visit both!

Another white humpback whale in Australian waters

Migaloo the white humpback whale has been traveling the east coast of Australia for about a decade now

Like other humpbacks. he spends summer eating krill in Antarctica then travels to the warm waters of the tropics and subtropics for the winter breeding season.

Now a white youngster – a big baby, 4 metres long – has been spotted in the Whitsunday area of tropical Queensland coastal waters

Migaloo’s child? Probably not, as there were a couple f dark adults with him/her.

Read more details about the young white whale here