Approximately 7am on Sunday morning another Cassowary was killed on the roads at Mission Beach. This is barely a month after the last road fatality took the life of an estimated twenty year old female. The death occurred at the approach to Mission Beach as the road straightens out from the sharp bends of Fenby’s Gap. It is a known crossing area where Queensland Parks and Wildlife staff often post “Recent Crossing’ signs.

There have been other cassowary fatalities in this area. It is on a Main Roads section of road which displays an advisory speed limit of 60km/h within an 80 km/h zone.

It appears that this is another case of a Cassowary being hit by a vehicle and the driver not stopping. Read the rest of this entry »

Thursday, December 17, 2009

A cassowary chick has died after being hit by a car in the Daintree. The bird was struck and left beside the Cape Kimberley Road, north of the Daintree River, sparking fresh pleas from Queensland Parks and Wildlife rangers for drivers to slow down and be extra cautious on rainforest roads. Senior ranger Tina Alderson said the dead bird was found by a Daintree resident last week. Its death follows a vehicle strike near Mission Beach, south of Cairns, which killed an adult cassowary several weeks ago.

The areas are known for cassowary warning signs. “The chick was found just beyond signage warning motorists of cassowaries in the area,” Ms Alderson said. “It weighed about 4kg and would have still been with its father.” She urged motorists to “do their bit” for conservation of the bird, which is listed as endangered. People can report dead cassowaries in the Daintree region to Queensland Parks and Wildlife ’s Mossman office on 4098 2188, and in other areas on 1300 130 372. * Cairns Post

Published results of a survey commissioned by eBay show that nearly $1Billion is spent on unwanted Christmas gifts each year. In a bid to Rescue Christmas from unwanted — and unnecessary — gifts, Rainforest Rescue is promoting Rainforest Gift Cards as a way to save resources and rainforests while at the same time making Christmas gift giving stress free and wonderfully satisfying. Read the rest of this entry »

THIS WEEK is Australian Giving Week, an annual event that focuses attention on the many ways that individuals, families, businesses and groups can make a difference through their charitable contributions. It’s about helping people take some small, simple steps that open the way for a more vibrant, inclusive community, where we can all work together for a better world in which to live.

In this spirit of co-operative contribution, Rainforest Rescue’s patron George Lewin is making an extraordinary offer : Read the rest of this entry »