SPOT TAILED QUOLLS CLIMB TREES ON PARLIAMENT LAWNS AS DAZZA DEVIL CALLS FOR AN END TO LOGGING TASMANIA’S ANCIENT FORESTS

MEDIA RELEASE 22.05.2010

Today Still Wild Still Threatened released videos of endangered Tasmanian devils filmed in proposed logging coupes in the Upper Florentine valley. The films are being screened on Salamanca lawns today from 10:30am, coinciding with the International Day for Biodiversity.

Conservation volunteers have been conducting fauna surveys of proposed logging coupes in the Upper Florentine valley. Over 200 videos of 12 different devils have been recorded in the last 10 weeks, using infra sensor cameras. The films show close up vision of devils in their natural habitat, Tasmania’s threatened forests.

The International Day for Biodiversity convinced one of the devils to make the trip into Hobart to raise awareness about the plight of Tasmania’s endangered species. Dazza the devil is in Hobart for the day and is hoping the government will protect his habitat.

"We’ve had a pretty rough trot recently, us devils. Our numbers have declined by 80% in the last 14 years from the facial tumour disease and the government is still logging our habitat.” Said Dazza Devil.

“Forestry Tasmania have no idea how many of us devils are in the southern forests, they don’t conduct surveys prior to logging, instead they asses special values during or post logging.”

“You wouldn’t demolish a Pharaoh’s tomb to assess the special values of its contents, so why would you rip apart an ancient forest to assess its special values.” Said Dazza Devil.

The International Day for Biodiversity also coincides with the one year anniversary of the devil’s addition to the national endangered species list.

“A year has passed since Peter Garrett listed us as endangered, and gave us protection under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. But the logging industry is exempt from the EPBC Act and threatened species legislation. The logging industry destroys endangered species habitat and gets away with it scot free.” Said Dazza Devil.

“I’m hopeful that the logging industry will realise they can’t go around trashing endangered species habitat or Tasmania could become the extinction state. I don’t want to end up like the Tassie tiger.” Said Dazza Devil.

“We can have a forest industry that doesn’t threaten biodiversity, ancient forests and endangered species. For too long the government and industry have twiddled their thumbs, while endangered species habitat is liquidated for wood chips. 2010 is the International Year for Biodiversity, its about time the Tasmanian government stopped the despicable practice of logging endangered species habitat.” Said Dazza Devil.