In the late 1990’s, a scientific ‘pig-exclosure’ project was established in the Cape Tribulation section of the Daintree National Park. The project involved the construction of an 80 metre square fence, anchored aggressively to the ground with steel trimmer bar and pegs. The site selection encompassed much of the very restricted, endangered and previously studied laurel, Endiandra cooperana.
The purpose of the project was to collect comparative data, inside and outside the exclosure, to quantify the adverse impacts of feral pigs upon seedling recruitment rates of an endangered plant species.
Criticisms of the project at the time included the accessibility by piglets into the exclosure through the mesh squares, the obstruction to cassowaries in a known corridor, proximity to two roads and the contention that even blind Freddy could see that pigs were damaging to seedling recruitment rates.
Despite these concerns the project proceeded and there it remained for many years. Eventually, the land manager agreed to remove the construction, but was so under-resourced it dismantled only one corner section and middle panel on each side, leaving around eight 30-metres sections of fence in the rainforest, where they remain to this day.
In around the year 2000, another scientific study was carried out in the vicinity of the pig-exclosure project. This one sought to capture the primitive rainforest macropod, Musky-rat Kangaroo Hypsiprymnodon moschatus. The methodology required the placement of several hundred metres of plastic barrier through known habitat, stretched to form walls with strategic openings every thirty or so metres. The animals would familiarise themselves with the openings and after a period of adjustment, cages would be placed at the openings into which the animals would be herded by the research scientist. Once caged, they would be analysed and genetic material collected from hole-punched tissue from the ears of specimens.
More recently, another similar project was transferred to the same locality from rainforest in the Cyclone Larry affected areas. Different plastic barriers were constructed, for the same purpose, but this time the project sought to map the liberation of captured animals by gluing a cotton reel to the released subjects so that the thread would leave a variety of passages that could be compared relative to the adjacent roadway, to determine whether roads had a quantifiable impact on evasive mammal behaviour.
All very interesting projects, but why are the researchers abandoning their materials in the forest?
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
Very simple, Neil, there is one rule for landowners and another for green daytrippers. For them the actual outcome is of no importance. As long as their ideological zeal is loudly proclaimed, repeatedly, these people will ignore all adverse consequences.
If you have the identity of the people involved then you should report this as “environmental harm” under the EP Act.
Hi Neil,
Do you know which university/institution the researchers were attached to, especially the recent musky rat projects? Would the Wet Tropics Management Agency know http://www.wettropics.gov.au/
Presumably some government agency overseas all research projects within these areas. Alert them to what you have found and how unacceptable this is (you may have already tried contacting someone, so forgive me if this is the case). Project leaders should be responsible for returning study areas to how they found them.
I often find it productive to try and suss out what can done to remedy a situation rather than resort to the usual rhetoric about greenies and vandalism. Surely the message is about changing how things have been done in the past so it is better in the future? It may take a little time to communicate with the relevant authorities for the area, but at least it is being proactive rather than the typical Aussie whinge!
‘so under-resourced’ – Neil
Hmmmmm….. Contained in the question the answer is….
Since originally appearing, edited heavily this article also is…
Photoghraphs but not action taken was?…. Disingenuous Neil turns out to be..
Hi Libby, your balanced appraisal is always a breath of fresh air.
Hi Neil,
If this work was conducted in the national park, then the people responsible will have been required to have permits issued by the Environmental Protection Agency in Cairns. A quick call to their office would be able to track down the people involved from a description of their study methods and the time of the project. The rangers at Cape Trib should also know who they were, as they have records of all projects going on in the park. It would also be worthwhile alerting the EPA to the fact that all evidence of their study has not been removed from the national park, as this is a requirement of the permit which is usually strictly enforced.
Hi Bruce,
It was conducted on NP. Whether the two Hypsi researchers had permits or not, I couldn’t say. I would hope so, but the requirement to restore the area to its former state has not been enforced, despite QPWS having been notified. The pig-exclosure project was a QPWS research project of its own.