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Cockatoo carers ‘fighting against a system sending these animals to extinction’ in South West

Craig DuncanSouth Western Times
Wildlife carers argue the restrictions in place around the care of black cockatoos is causing the iconic birds more harm than good.
Camera IconWildlife carers argue the restrictions in place around the care of black cockatoos is causing the iconic birds more harm than good. Credit: Craig Duncan

Wildlife carers are pushing for eased restrictions around caring for black cockatoos, arguing the controls are causing more harm to the iconic birds than good.

The call comes as Carnaby’s Crusaders founder Dean Arthurell joined Opposition Leader Shane Love in Parliament earlier this month to press the State Government on the number of starving Carnaby’s cockatoos coming into care at Perth zoo.

Under the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions guidelines, all black cockatoos requiring treatment and rehabilitation must be taken to Perth Zoo to receive care.

But the rules leaves wildlife carers in the South West in limbo with sick birds because neither their teams or local vets are allowed to deliver urgent care.

South West conservation group FAWNA president Suzanne Strapp said there was “no sense” behind the rules with her team having permission to treat every other native bird — from emus to fairy penguins — as well as the critically endangered western ringtail possums.

“Last week I had a baby black cockatoo come into care from Nannup, and what the DBCA wants us to do ... (is) to transport it to Perth because that’s all I’m allowed to do,” she said.

Ms Strapp said if a bird comes in during the weekend or on a public holiday when no one is able to transport it to the city they have no choice but to let the animal suffer.

Mr Arthurell said that was a regular occurrence with what he described as a high number of “hypocrisies” within the system putting the birds further at risk.

“We’re fighting against a system sending these animals to extinction,” he said.

Mr Arthurell argued the State Government should implement a feeding program to avoid the mass starvation happening within the critically endangered population. That would be a short-term action to take, he said.

Opposition Leader Shane Love and Carnaby’s Crusaders Dean Arthurell.
Camera IconOpposition Leader Shane Love and Carnaby’s Crusaders Dean Arthurell. Credit: Supplied

Environment Minister Reece Whitby said in Parliament the DBCA did not consider setting up feeding stations a feasible solution because Carnaby’s cockatoos were so widely dispersed throughout their breeding habitat.

“Any supplementary feeding program for wild animals requires careful consideration to ensure it can provide greater benefits than risks,” he said.

However, speaking with the times, Mr Arthurell argued other animals such as dolphins and pelicans were able to be fed by the public as part of tourism activities.

“The sheer number of hypocrisies in the system is just bizarre,” he said.

“We’ve got birds that are actually starving, that are an endangered species and we are not allowed to interfere. We have to watch them starve and die.

“The DBCA say they don’t want want to interact with the cockatoos’ natural patterns, migrations and feeding processes, but their habitat is gone.

“There is nothing normal and natural about their existence anymore, they are already living hand to mouth from us.”

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