*** Feel free to crosspost to the Moon ! *** – Strength in Numbers.
We ask all visitors to our site to please help support the excellent work of the ‘SAVE FRASER ISLAND DINGOES INC. (SFID)’ by sending the Open Letter (copy below) to the Hon Kate Jones MP.
As this is an open letter, and as we have additioally worded below, you simply need to say at the beginning (of the letter) that you fully support and endorse the letter as produced by SFID. Nothing more is required to be done. We suggest to show global support on this campaign, you provide your name and nationality as indicated. This is optional, not essential; but highly suggested.
The letter, containg your name and nationality, should be e mailed to:
sustainability@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Please copy and send the letter as shown below:
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Dear Ms. Jones;
I fully support and endorse the open letter as produced by ‘SFID’, a copy of which is provided below:
Yours;
Name:
Nationality:
OPEN LETTER
To: The Hon. Kate Jones, MP Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability.
The Fraser Island dingo deserves to be protected, especially in a World Heritage National Park, but it is apparent that the governments focus is the tourist dollar and not the preservation of the flora and fauna of theIsland.
Dingo packs cannot sustain current management practices indefinitely. The demise of the dingo is
inevitable if the Qld. Government continues to ignore the concerns of residents, scientists and researchers.
The practice of ear-tagging puppies under 12 months of age has been determined by “best science” to be detrimental to the pack and to the survival of the animal.[1] If ,as you claim, animals of this age group are the main cause of “incidents” then this only proves that the social structure of the family group has broken down leading to undisciplined behaviour by these juveniles, and also suggests that you are currently culling puppies. These tags cause infections and deformed ears and are totally inappropriate as a form of Identification.[1] Is a tourist actually expected to remember the colour code and correctly recognise an animal?
Research has determined that lethal control (culling ) causes pack disintegration which can lead
to aggressive and dangerous behaviour,[2] but you continue to employ your strategy of seek and destroy after every incident involving a tourist, regardless of the circumstances. Scientific studies consider culling as neither acceptable or desirable for the long time survival of the species.[2]
Research has also proven that hazing causes animals to become more aggressive towards humans – hazing and aversive conditioning can essentially lower the animals tolerance of humans within their territory, especially in a contained habitat like Fraser Island where human contact is inevitable, but this cruel and inhumane practice continues.[3]
Electric collars are another issue of great concern, apart from the acute pain and fear the animal
experiences, it can have a negative affect on the their health, well-being and overall survival and cause abnormal behaviour, such as aggression towards humans,and what happens when a collar becomes defective? The result can be severe burns causing serious physical injury, is this acceptable?[4]
These strategies are seemingly at odds with the governments principle of regarding dingoes as wild native animals and interfering with them as little as possible. The fact is too much emphasis is being placed on dingo control and management and not enough on tourism control and management.
DERM continue to employ these archaic and ineffective practices and by not considering the social stability of this keystone species they are jeopardizing the long term conservation of the Fraser Island dingo. DERM’s constant “interfering” has changed the nature of these once shy and timid animals and it is time your government took responsibility and stop blaming the public, visitors and residents for problems your policies have caused.
We call upon you to immediately conduct a review of the current Fraser Island Dingo Management Strategy and that this review be conducted by independent scientists, researchers and stakeholders.
The latest scientific research in Australia is available to you as demonstrated in the 75 submissions submitted to your department, but you have failed to utilise this information.
You continue to destroy the Butchulla peoples totem and ignore their heritage and knowledge and in so doing will ultimately cause the extinction of the last pure strain of dingo in Australia.
We call upon you to reply to this letter within fourteen days, failing which we shall proceed further with all and any remedies available at law to preserve the future of the Fraser Island dingo.
SAVE FRASER ISLAND DINGOES INC. (SFID)
Ph: (07) 4124 1979
Email: mkrail@bigpond.net.au
REFERENCES:
[1] Dr Ian M Gunn, BVSc., FACVSc. President of the National Dingo Preservation and Recovery Program (NDPRP) Honorary Associate -Dept of Physiology..Monash Uni.. Immunology and Stem Cell Labs, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
Dr. John Kingston. B.V.Sc. B.Pharm. Dip. Envir St. Dip. Ag.Econ. Dip.Reg.Econ.Dev.
Dr. Ernest Healy. Senior Research Fellow @ Monash Uni.. PhD in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology .Dip Art and Design 1976; Dip Ed, 1978; BA 1986; BEd 1987 (La Trobe); BA Hons 1989. President.. Dingo Care Network.
http://archive.ilmb.gov.bc.ca/risc/pubs/tebiodiv/live-animal/captml11-02.htm
PDF File:RES004 Marking of Pest Animals used in Research. Date of Issue: 21/02/2007 NSW Dept. Of Primary Industries
[2] Wallach AD, Ritchie EG, Read J, O’Neill AJ, 2009 More than Mere Numbers: The Impact of Lethal Control on the Social Stability of a Top-Order Predator. PLoS ONE 4(9): e6861. Doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006861
[3]Journal of Wildlife Management 74(1):48–54; 2010; DOI: 10.2193/2008-16.
[4] Training dogs with help of the shock collar: Short and long term behavioural effects. Matthijs B.H. Schilder a,b,∗, Joanne A.M. Van der Borg AA Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The NetherlandsB Department of Ethology and Socio-Ecology, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 23 October 2003.
Assessment of Shock Collars as Non-lethal Management for Wolves in Wisconsin Jason E. Hawley, Thomas M. Gehring, Ronald N. Schultz, Shawn T. Rossler and Adrian P. Wydeven Journal of Wildlife Management May 2009 : Vol. 73, Issue 4, pg(s) 518-525 doi: 10.2193/2007-066
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Just in case you have problems with copying the above version of the open letter, a pdf copy can also be found at the following:
Open letter to the Minister.
SFID Montage and web link:
www.fraserislandfootprints.com
FACEBOOK: “SAVE FRASER ISLAND DINGOES”
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