You may like to know that there are 3 threatened species lists a State Government, Federal Government and an internationally recognised list to which we can refer to identify recognised lists of rare and threatened species. This outlines the listing of the Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) within these three lists.

Conservation Status listing of the Southern Cassowary

(Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) Australian

Here are the 3 lists current as of 4^th October 2011.

1. Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 (Threatened Fauna of Australia List) managed by Federal Government – Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPBC_Act and http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=25986

Listed as: Endangered

2. Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Threatened Species List) managed by QLD State Government – Department of Environment and Resource Management http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/threatened_plants_and_animals/endangered/cassowary.html

Listed as: Endangered

3. International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species

http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/141088/0

Listed as: Vulnerable

If you would like to help ensure that this crucial keystone species for the North Queensland Rainforests survives please give generously to our Cassowary appeal today.

Recently a two person team from Converga , Andrew Reading and Marisa Zlatic, came to inspect Rainforest Rescue’s holdings in the Daintree and take part in the community tree planting sponsored by Converga there. They were excited to see Cassowaries in the wild with one showing up to inspect their tree planting work. They flew from a chilly Canberra into a warm and humid Cairns and after doing a little sight seeing there met up with Rainforest Rescue’s Conservation Projects Manager Alice Moffet. Here is Andrew’s account of their adventures:

Andrew on the Mardja Botanical Boardwalk in the Daintree Rainforest

“After the tour we met Alice Moffett from Rainforest Rescue and continued up to Ferntree Rainforest Lodge where we would stay for the weekend. The next day we went with Alice to the Mardja Botanical Boardwalk. Whilst on the walk we took a photo of a great specimen of a Fan Palm right next to the path. After leaving the boardwalk we headed off to the Daintree Discovery Centre where we explored the area for about an hour taking in the sights and sounds.  At the centre we saw a baby crocodile and an Amethystine Python. Later Alice introduced us to Joe Reichl who is the Daintree Project Manager of Rainforest Rescue. He showed us around one of the Rainforest Rescue tree planting sites. Joe gave us a tour of the nursery where the new plants are propagated from seeds. Then we went to another area of the site that had previously been planted several months ago. Alice and Joe pointed out an area which had 3 year old trees to give us an idea of how tall they had grown. It showed that in this time that the trees had already started to create a canopy which minimised the growth of weeds and therefore the need for maintenance.

After a short break back at the Lodge we headed back to the Daintree Discovery Centre for further exploration that included walking up the Canopy Tower which is 23 metres high and gave an unimpeded view of the rainforest canopy. On the way back to the Rainforest Lodge we encountered a large adult Cassowary crossing the road. Unfortunately the video camera was in the boot of the car, so we stopped about 100 metres by the side of the road. By the time I had grabbed the camera the Cassowary had disappeared into the bushes. We were later informed by Alice and Joe how rare it is to see a Cassowary. We left feeling slightly disappointed that we didn’t capture it on film. Before we headed back to the resort, we took a short walk along the Dubuji Boardwalk where we heard some amazing bird songs which we captured on video.

Juvenile Cassowary visits the Converga Forest tree planting day

The following day we headed off with Alice to the tree planting site where we met Joe and some of the volunteers. Just before we got to the site we came across a young Cassowary grazing by the side of the road. I was able to film the Cassowary as we slowly drove past making sure not to startle it before we headed off to the tree planting site. We were shown the area we were to plant and some of the trees.  The site which was formerly used as a farm is 27 hectares with a fantastic backdrop of Thornton Peak. We enjoyed meeting and planting with a fantastic group of volunteers who helped plant approximately 420 trees. Then I helped Joe put up the Converga sign and plant some special plants around it. Shortly after we were all amazed and delighted by the appearance of a young Cassowary (possibly the same one we came across before).  It strolled through the newly planted trees exploring the area before heading off into the bush. After taking a few group photos around the new sign we said our farewells and headed off back down to Cairns for our connecting flight back to Canberra.

The Rainforest Rescue / Converga team unveil the Converga Forest Sign

I would like to thank Jane for organising this amazing trip. Also would like to say thank you to Alice and Joe from Rainforest Rescue for showing us around the sites and sharing their invaluable knowledge of the wildlife and plants of the Daintree. It was truly inspiring to be around such positive and dedicated group of people who are doing such a great job.”

Thanks for coming Andrew and Marisa. You and Converga are doing great work for the Daintree rainforest

Lena Mackrel Poetry Collection 2011

Rainforest Rescue’s campaign to save the endangered cassowary has received unexpected support from the winner in this year’s Lena Mackrel Poetry Competition in Armagh, Northern Ireland. Matthew Reaney’s poem ‘The Cassowary’, highlights the Cassowary’s relationship with its rainforest habitat as well as its unique beauty.  Less than 1000 of the Southern Cassowary exist on the entire continent of Australia.

Taking the competition’s major trophy, Matthew has dedicated use of his poem to the threatened species through the Rainforest Rescue Campaign. Matthew is a pupil of The Armstrong School in Armagh City and  2011′s beautiful Poetry Collection is solely sponsored by Ulster Bank Northern Ireland through the auspices of  Regional Manager Paul Thompson.

Recognition for Matthew began with his poem’s selection by adjudicator and published poet Gráinne Tobin.  Focusing on attributes from each winning entry, Ms Tobin, told her audience: ‘I liked Matthew Reaney’s ‘The Cassowary’ for its wit. The poem reminds me of Edward Lear’s style. It has humour, elegance and sustained control of language. He uses rhyme but doesn’t allow rhyme to use him. The cassowary is clearly Australian, says ‘G’day’ and chats to possums.  The bird’s crest and stance is also well caught’.

Impressed by the quality of young Matthew’s poem, Competition Secretary Pamela Rea emailed a copy to family contacts in Brisbane who suggested it might be of interest to the Rainforest Rescue Campaign.

The Lena Mackrel Poetry Competition is unique in the United Kingdom in that it was founded by local man, 86 years old Bert Mackrel, who is blind, and set up in 1999 as a tribute to his late wife Lena. From small beginnings and the support of Head Teachers in Armagh City, the ‘Lena Mackrel’ acquired sufficient literary kudos to qualify as an eagerly contested annual event.

Head teacher David Dickson commented ‘It was a privilege, once again, to be part of what has become a local phenomenon – The Lena Mackrel Poetry Competition. We are, of course, delighted with The Armstrong’s success this year and very proud that Matthew’s poem will be recognised in an international context’

Rainforest Rescue congratulates and thanks Mathew for his inspired poetic efforts

Click here to get more information on the Cassowary and what can be done to help it survive

Reaching the Indian Ocean - ELATED!

It’s been an amazing week of cycling across Sri Lanka…. and now we have reached our final destination of Galle, in the south west of this wonderful island.

The hill country was steep but spectacular, with smiling faces shouting, “Ayu Bowan” – may you have a long life - at every turn.

The highlight for many people was ‘Satan’s Steps’ – a rugged, bouldered path on the side of the mountain that was quite precarious… Thick mist rose up from the valley, shrouded us until we could not see the precipice to our left. Photos to follow soon!

Negin planting a rainforest tree at the RRI restoration site

Another highlight was spending time with Rainforest Rescue International in the rainforest of Hiniduma. We camped at their Amphibian Research Centre, and experts took us on walks, showing us the local habitat, the restoration, conservation and research projects that they are working on with the local communities. We all planted trees at one of the restoration sites, and had an incredible ‘jungle lunch’ – food from the rainforest – prepared and cooked by local families.

The hill country - Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Kelvin, Dan and myself are resting up in Colombo before leaving to visit Rainforest Rescue’s Orangutan Habitat for Survival Project in Sumatra. The others have gone home now… with sun on their faces, and many tales to tell of their time Riding for the Rainforest!

We are all inspired by the work that is being done here to help protect the rainforests of Sri Lanka.

Cu soon,

Krista

Click here for more information on the Ride for the Rainforest

Day 2 HUGE.

We cycled up,up,up 2 horton’s plain for 20km,starting at dawn.Following was a 10km walk to incredible views down mtns,bright paddy fields below.Traditional spicy lunch under shady trees.Then half the group opted 2take the bus 2camp.Me,Dan,colin, ange, clint rode on…The track was amazing.Known as Satan’s Steps, it wound down the side of the mountain steeply, so rough and full of stones,rocks and boulders it was like riding a bronco horse.Whenever the path went up,it was so steep and rocky,most had 2walk.After 60km we reached camp.It was after dark.Felt great sense of achievement.Bbq by river X

Day one of cycling was enormous!

The mountains are huge, beautiful, with spectacular views and friendly people along the way. We clocked 60 kms up steep mountain tracks from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya.

The group is great. Angela, Clint and Dan are superheros… They kept going when everybody else (even the guide) had called it a day… We have a great photographer documenting the trip, who has taken to riding in the bus much of the time as she hadn’t enough time to train for the hills – and that is our camera pro competition winner Ebony.

Negin is going well, and determination comes with every pedal. Leree and Colin are really getting into meeting the local people and have made many friends already… Colin has also made a special relationship with the monkeys in the forest, and they love to follow him wherever he goes…

As for me, I have a bit of sunstroke, so sorry that this email is not that fab… The day was a hot one. Now we are up in the hills it’s a bit cooler thank goodness.

We start riding at 5.30 tomorrow morning, so I should go and get some sleep. We will be reaching the horton plains national park.

Still not able to end pix but will hopefully be able to in the next few days.

Lots of love to you all

From Krista xxx

More information on Sri Lankan Rainforest Protection projects

More Information on Ride for the Rainforest

Rainforest Rescue CEO Kelvin Davies reports from Mission Beach.

Kelvin Davies on the Cassowary Coast

Earlier this month over 100,000 hectares of Cassowary habitat was damaged by Cyclone Yasi in Far North Queensland. This represents 10% of the remaining prime Cassowary habitat in Australia. For a threatened species thought to number only 1,000 individuals this is a huge threat to their survival.

Driving south from Innisfail one is confronted by brown hills and mountain ranges, reminiscent of a bushfire. The destruction continues on to Mission Beach where Cyclone Yasi crossed the coast. The usually lush green rainforest trees are stripped of their leaves and rainforest fruits.

Denuded Hills of the Cassowary Coast after Cyclone Yasi

Up to 100 Cassowaries are thought to inhabit the area and food resources are now significantly depleted. Access through the rainforest is also severely interrupted due to the number of fallen trees and this is forcing the birds to move into open country. Cassowary encounters are becoming very frequent, even in the streets of Mission Beach as they desperately search for food.

Please donate now and support Rainforest Rescue in funding the purchase of food for the Cassowaries.

In 2006 thirty two Cassowary deaths were recorded at Mission Beach after Cyclone Larry. Seventeen were killed on local roads and six were killed by dogs.

Distressed Cassowary in Mission Beach

The Cassowaries of Mission Beach need your help if they are to survive. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) have established feeding stations in the rainforest and Rainforest Rescue is supportive of this emergency response.

The QPWS have now established 53 feeding stations and have so far distributed 1500 kg of fruit. Observations from the community have been very helpful in locating appropriate places for feeding stations. If you are in the Mission Beach region and sight a Cassowary phone the 24hr HOTLINE: 1300 130 372 to provide information.

Volunteers willing to help with the important job of cutting up fruit are also welcome at Garners Beach on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Supplementary feeding of Cassowaries is expected to be needed for up to eighteen months. During this time Rainforest Rescue will be buying fruit to support the feeding program. Providing fruit will help to keep birds in the rainforest and reduce the risk of them being killed on roads or being attached by dogs.

Please make a donation today and help plant rainforest trees for the Cassowaries.

Rainforest Rescue is funding the purchase of food for the Cassowaries, road signs and importantly, restoration of habitat to ensure their long term survival.

Make a donation to help save the Cassowary!

This excellent background report on the threats to the endangered Cassowaries of Mission Beach was first released in January but is actually quite timeless. Well worth having a look to see the various stakeholders and their response to the Cassowary in crisis.

“The habitat of the endangered Cassowary is under threat from property developments, particularly around the Mission Beach area south of Cairns. With only 1500 of the flightless birds left in the wild, environmentalists are launching a rainforest buy-back scheme to help save the species. Conservationists like Bob Irwin are also calling for public support to save the endangered Cassowary.”

Endangered Cassowary under threat

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2790008.htm#

Here is a great resource for anyone interested in the Endangered Animals of the Sri Lankan Rainforests Sri Lanka’s endangered animals Blog

If you are thinking of coming on the Ride for Rainforest “Sri Lanka Cycle Challenge” this is a great place to get a taste for the kinds of endangered wildlife you will be able to meet there

Another excerpt from Kaleigh and Jon’s Daintree Experience . . .

While planting in the Daintree, we had the amazing opportunity to check out a few of the local companies that support Rainforest Rescue through regular donations. Both the Daintree Discovery Centre and Daintree Discovery Tours help to turn the overwhelming wonder of the Daintree into an understandable and enjoyable experience.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Julie Olsen

Explore a little of the ‘Big Scrub‘ from Byron Bay to Lismore. Julie Olsen unearths a treasure trove of local rainforest delights. If you’re into rainforest, Byron Bay and Lismore offer the perfect base from which to explore the little-known beauties of northern New South Wales.

Get ready to be swept off your feet as you meander along cute country roads between Byron Bay and Lismore. Read the rest of this entry »