Welcome to FAME e-newsWell here it is, FAME's entry into the electronic age.
So welcome to Issue 1 of FAME e-news. We hope you find it enjoyable and will continue to do so.
It's a Devil of a job being a motherBreeding the Tasmanian Devil in captivity has been difficult. Supporters of FAME would know that John Weigel AM and his team at the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby, NSW have had remarkable success with their Tasmanian Devil captive breeding program. Last year they caught some endearing night footage, taken with an infra red camera, of Dotty, a four year old female Devil and her four joeys (3 boys and 1 girl and aged 7 months at the time the footage was taken). The young boys have been named Neville the Devil (after Neville Burns, a life-long supporter of the Australian Reptile Park), G'day G'day and Ronnie (short for Narawntapu - the region in Tasmania where Dotty originally came from). The female has yet to be named. The Australian Reptile Park through FAME is running a contest to find a name for this female. So please e-mail info@FAMENewsletter.com with your suggestion for a suitable name. Prize of a full colour poster featuring Steve Morenos' award-winning photograph of a Tasmanian Devil at the Australian Reptile Park and free entry into the Australian Reptile Park for a family and a private tour of the Tasmanian Devil facility for the winning name, announced in the next issue of FAME e-news. Steve Morenos won second prize in the 2009 Sony World Photography Awards in the Professional photography - Natural History section (www.stevemorenos.com). The Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) has already wiped out over 70 % of the wild Tasmanian Devil population, so being able to successfully breed and maintain Tasmanian Devils in captivity will be crucial in dealing with this disease. The next FAME Newsletter contains several articles on FAME's role in addressing this horrendous disease and what it is doing to ensure the survival of the Tasmanian Devil. Click here for more information on the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD).
FAME posters to spread the wordThe renowned wildlife photographers Steve Parish (www.steveparish.com.au) and Jiri Lochman (www.lochmantransparancies.com) have granted permission for FAME to use a number of their stunning photographs to promote FAME and its activities. Some of these photographs have been made into A3 and A4 size posters (see below). If you would like any of these posters to put around your local community to promote FAME and its activities, please contact FAME or send an e-mail to: info@FAMENewsletter.com with your mailing details and which posters and how many you would like.
Six posters are available for the Tasmanian Devil, Southern Ark Project in eastern Victoria, Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat recovery program in Queensland, Gilbert's Potoroo and the Wadderin Sanctuary in Western Australia as well as a generic one about FAME.
FAME Board visits Spiny Daisy siteOn a very pleasant early April day, the FAME Board took a day trip to Blyth in the Mid North of South Australia to meet with the local members of the Spiny Daisy Recovery Program. This project is managed by the Department of Environment and Heritage SA and funded by a consortium of partners including the New South Wales-based telecommunications company Exetel Pty. Ltd., FAME and the Federal Threatened Species Network. The Spiny Daisy (Acanthocladium dockeri) is classed as critically endangered under the Commonwealth's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). It is a prickly, blue-grey shrub that grows to 0.5 metres tall and is a member of the Daisy family Compostae or Asteraceae outside of South Australia. .jpg) The original distribution of the Spiny Daisy has never been clear. The first specimen was collected in 1860 from central-western New South Wales on the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition. A second specimen was found in the South Australian Riverlands in 1910. Despite searches in the 1990's, no populations have since been found in these regions and it was therefore presumed to have become extinct. However in 1999, a population was identified growing on a roadside outside the town of Laura in the Mid North of South Australia. Since then, five sites have been identified in the area, outside the towns of Laura, Hart and Telowie. The plants at each site are genetically identical. This means there are only five genetically distinct Spiny Daisy plants known. This makes it one of the world's most endangered species. The Board was given a talk on the progress of the Spiny Daisy Recovery Program by Anthony Pieck from the Department for Environment and Heritage and shown around the very impressive Mid North Plant Diversity Nursery by Dave Potter, the nursery manager (Images C, D and E). There was then a visit to the Telowie site (image A) where a sign was erected recognising the work of the Spiny Daisy recovery team and acknowledging the support from Exetel and FAME (Image B). _For_Newsletter.jpg) Photos: Bruce Jackson and Stephen Hardy Recent activities by the Spiny Daisy Recovery Team have been:
The Board was extremely impressed with both the work that has been done and the dedication of the largely voluntary project team and would like to express its gratitude to all concerned. Click here to download an Environment SA information sheet on the Spiny Daisy. Click here to view Exetel's Project Summary for supporting the Spiny Daisy Recovery Program.
Changes to the FAME BoardAngela Yeend has left the FAME Board after 4 years as Treasurer. As well as her financial qualifications she brought a significant understanding of conservation issues to the Board, particularly in relation to wildlife. This expertise came from both her personal interest and from a close professional association with Earth Sanctuaries Ltd. She will be missed and the Board expresses its appreciation for her support and wishes her well for whatever lies ahead. On happier news, FAME is indeed fortunate to have Mr. Kevin Jaeschke and Mr. Tim Rogers join the Board. Both have a wealth of experience within the conservation movement and we will introduce you to them and the other members of the FAME Board in later editions of e-news.
Just for fun
What's in the next FAME NewsletterIn the 2009 Issue 01 edition of the FAME Newsletter you will find stories on the following
If you are not on the mailing list to receive our bi-annual paper newsletter then email us at info@FAMENewsletter.com and ask to be added to the mailing list. You can also click here to download a PDF version from our website. Well, that's it for our first issue of e-news. Until next time.
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