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                    NITV
                    12 Oct 2016 - 12:19pm

                    GALLERY: Feral photo competition highlights a national problem

                    By
                    Sophie Verass

                    12 Oct 2016 - 12:19 PM  UPDATED 9 Dec 2016 - 3:08 PM

                    WARNING: Some viewers my find images distressing

                    To demonstrate how pest animals such as mice, rabbits, feral cats and carp are an ongoing threat to Australia's pristine environment, Invasive Animals CRC recently hosted their annual photography competition which documents this significant environmental issue. 

                    We're often told about this epidemic, about how Australia is experiencing one of its worst outbreaks of pests with expanding populations and the destruction they cause  - but how much of this do we actually see?

                    The competition encourages everyday people to get amongst nature and experience what's happening in the environment, and simultaneously, capture photographic evidence of pest animals and the impact they have on our native flora and fauna.  

                    'Fox attacking egret' by Mary-Anne Addington took first place in the feral photo competition
                    Source: Invasive Animals CRC

                    Mary-Anne Addington of NSW experienced a fox attacking and killing a native Eastern great egret in broad daylight during a visit to the Hunter Wetlands Centre in Newcastle. Often carrying her camera with her, Ms Addington captured the shocking footage of this water bird fighting for its life, as a fox executes its survival instincts.

                    "Looking back at the image, I still find it confronting," Ms Addington said. 

                    Ms Addington received first place for her photograph. This particular species of egret is protected in Australia and during her visit at the Wetlands, Ms Addington had noticed that the fox had killed a number of them that same day. After taking the photos, she informed the wetlands staff who were also shocked by the destruction and have since undertaken further predator control and as well as sought funding to build a predator proof fence which surrounds the wetlands.

                    Hugh James' submission of Gooniyandi Rangers working on the feral cat management program in the Kimberley, WA was amongst the 309 images and 23 videos entries and a strong contender. 

                    Mr James, who works as a program coordinator at the Gooniyandi Aboriginal Coorporation says that the management program aims to control feral cats on Gooniyandi land, as well as educate the public on the threat of their increasing population.

                    Virgil and Ivan Gooniyandi Rangers, controlling the feral cat problem in Western Australia.
                    Source: Invasive Animals CRC

                    Feral cats impact on nearly 150 threatened species across Australia and on Gooniyandi country, the Greater Bilby and Northern Spotted Quoll are most at risk.

                    Other prize winners included an image of feral goats in full fight, taken by Sue Stelzer in western Queensland, a close-up of a single ‘carp egg,’ taken by Danswell Starrs in Canberra and a series of remote camera images showcasing the devastating impact of feral cats on the endangered Malleefowl, taken by Ashleigh Harris in Western Australia.

                    Ian McDonald of the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre says that he was particularly taken with Starrs' image of the carp egg. 

                    "It's a great image because you just think about how this tiny little egg is our worst aquatic pest," he told NITV. "Not to mention one adult female carp can lay one million eggs."

                    For the first time, the competition also had a 'best video category', where movable image could be submitted. The winner was Parks Victoria with a  a compilation of still remote camera images of a Sambar deer wallowing in the Alpine Peatland communities in the Victorian Alpine National Park. These peatlands are endangered ecological communities and provide critical habitat for many rare and threatened species. 

                    Winners of the competition received camping store vouchers donated by sponsors, to encourage them to continue enjoying, exploring and understanding Australia's ecology. 

                     

                    View as list
                    01 / 16
                    'Feral goats in full fight’ by Sue Stelzer, QLD. (2nd Prize) Feral goats inhabit the same rock mesa as Rock Wallabies and ruin the native vegetation around it.
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    02 / 16
                    ‘Carp egg close-up’ by Danswell Starrs (ACT) (3rd Prize) One egg may look harmless, but its one of thousands and the reason our pristine waterways overpopulated
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    03 / 16
                    ‘Feral cat vs Malleefowl’ by Ashleigh Harris (WA) (Best remote camera image) Malleefowl are listed as vulnerable by the Australian Government.
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    04 / 16
                    ‘Fox in suburbia’ by Robyn Williams (People’s Choice) A good reminder to put your rubbish in the bin as it can attract feral animals.
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    05 / 16
                    Rabbits by Chris Lane (NSW) Rabbits are still a major threat to the environment within Australia and impact on 304 native threatened species.
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    06 / 16
                    Pig by Rebbekah Hearn
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    07 / 16
                    Boar by Steve Maxwell (NSW) Taken in the NT, This image shows the sheer size of the Feral boar which can weigh above 100kg.
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    08 / 16
                    Wild Dog by Chris Thomas (QLD). This image was taken within a rural property around Blackbutt, QLD. Wild dogs are a major problem in rural and regional areas.
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    09 / 16
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    10 / 16
                    'Goldfish' by Stephen Beatty (WA) A haul of feral Goldfish from the wild Warren River, south-western Australia.
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    11 / 16
                    'Pond with carp circle' by Danswell Stars (ACT) The images reveal a unique behaviour of carp.
                    Ivasive Animals CRC
                    12 / 16
                    'Cat' by Hugh James (WA) Eddy Munday controlling feral cats in the Kimberley, WA.
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    13 / 16
                    'Camel' by Keith Graham (VIC) Taken on Larapinta Dr NT, where there are hundreds of camels in remote Australia.
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    14 / 16
                    Deer by Zac Mckenzie (NSW). Fallow Deer fighting in Jindabyne, NSW. They show various behaviours and how these animals interact with each other.
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    15 / 16
                    'Feral Buffalo in a Billabong in the Northern Territory.' by Steve Maxwell (NSW) feral buffalo destroy wetlands and harbour diseases.
                    Invasive Animals CRC
                    16 / 16
                    'Starling' by Peter Tremain (NSW) The photo shows the starling's relationship with human habitation.
                    Invasive Animals CRC
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