[RML]Fish kept by Govt

Dave & Robyn Wilson (rwilson at octa4.net.au)
Thu, 30 Aug 2001 04:05:24 +0930

When the scare about the Lake Wanam Rainbowfish disappearance was
going on the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory
set up a captive population at the Territory Wildlife Park about 60
kilometers south of Darwin. May this year when I parted company
with the Govt Aquarium they were still swimming happily around in the
Aquatic Plant Nursery, I hope they keep them going. It was the
first non feral, non native species allowed into the Territory
Wildlife Park because the Assistant Director of the Parks and
Wildlife Commission thought it was a good idea to be involved with
the Melbourne Zoo and the joint Zoo ANGFA captive maintenance program.

Even though I no longer work for the Parks and Wildlife Commission of
the NT I think their sustainable use of native wildlife program is
one of the most sensible in the country. Here a landowner can get a
permit to harvest a native species if it can be proved that the
harvest is sustainable. It is happening with magpie geese, black
cockatoos, crocodiles and many smaller reptiles. The main reason
they have changed is that it is more likely a species will be
conserved if it has some value. An example is the Estuarine
Crocodile eats cattle, if the landowner can make money from the
crocodile he is less likely to shoot all the crocs even though they
take the occasional cow. As far as I know the program is working
well.

Cheers
Dave

>At 07:12 28-08-01 -0500, Cameron wrote:
>>Over here (in my understanding) experienced hobbiests with the best
>>of intentions hold little to no sway with the bureaucrats that
>>determine who gets to help and how. So, again, how hard is it for
>>experienced fish keepers in Australia to acquire an endangered
>>species, not necessarily for the "hobby" aspect, but even for the
>>higher goals of saving the fish in captivity?
>
>Almost impossible unless you know someone. Even organisations such
>as ANGFA will find it almost impossible to get permission even to
>visit some of these areas that alone collect any specimens. The
>funny thing is that no Government organisations is even attempting
>to maintain any endangered species in captivity. Most people in
>environmental departments are of the 'conservationist' type that
>would rather see the species disappear in the wild than to have them
>in captivity. That thinking as far as I know is still current.
>
>The only fish that has been maintained in captivity by the
>Government, as far as I know, was the Lake Eacham Rainbowfish kept
>at Walkermin, and in my opinion the specimens being kept were not
>true Lake Eacham Rainbowfishes, but cross with a splendida type.
>However, there are a few Redfins being kept in the hobby - just how
>many I'm not sure anymore. I think some were offered at the last
>ANGFA Convention?
>
>Adrian.
>
>