The Australia Times - TAT Geo magazine. Volume 1, issue 1

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Vol. 1 No. 1 May 2014

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WHAT’S INSIDE?

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CONTRIBUTORS:

Lauren Shearman Danelle Scicluna

Julie Davies Jessica Crisp

Annie Aulsebrook Bethany Mete

EARTH NEWS 4

THE LOW-DOWN ON CLIMATE CHANGE 9

POWER TO THE PEOPLE 14

A ZOO’S SOLUTIONS

TO THE PALM OIL PROBLEM 23

BENEATH THE WAVES

OUR OCEAN DIVERSITY 43

HUMANS OR SHARKS:

WHO’S THE REAL PREDATOR 48

SUSTAINABLE LIVING 58

THE SQUIRREL GLIDER 64

A SHOUT OUT FOR ECO-SHOUT 70

POCKER THE POLISH DOG TROTTER 74

WHAT’S INSIDE?

Surrounded by vacuums and hostile planets, Earth is

truly a unique oasis of life. Home to over 7 billion people

and an even greater number of species, our amazing

planet contains wonders beyond comprehension.

The importance of nature not something to be taken

for granted. Not only does it sustain us but it forms an

integral part of our human experience. Memories of

our ﬁrst walk in a forest, ﬁrst swim in the ocean or ﬁrst

touch of snow is something truly precious.

The Australia Times Global Environmental Outlook

(TAT GEO) magazine recognises this. With an

appreciation of scientiﬁc research and discovery,

GEO aims to raise awareness and inspire interest

in protecting nature. GEO is much more than your

average sustainability publication. This magazine

celebrates passion in all things from the microhabitat of

the backyard to the great national parks of the world.

Inside GEO you will ﬁnd articles on topics ranging

from biodiversity to climate change to environmental

politics. Designed for both the scientiﬁc community and

wider public, this magazine will bring you informative

and relevant reports of our global environment.

Through GEO, open your eyes to the beauty that

surrounds us and discover the world’s natural wonders.

Welcome

from the Editor

Lauren Shearman

From the Editor,

TAT GEO Magazine Editor

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EARTH News

WHALING

in the Antarctic deemed illegal

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The International Court of

Justice has declared that

Japan’s “scientiﬁc” whaling

program in the Antarctic is

against international law.

Four years ago, then

environment minister Peter

Garrett helped launch legal

action against Japan to try and

put a stop to whaling in the

Antarctic area.

Japan has always claimed that

the program was for scientiﬁc

purposes, but the ruling from

The Hague has deemed the

large scale of the program is

not justiﬁed. They have imposed

an immediate halt on activities.

The court did not rule that all sci-

entiﬁc research is illegal, raising

fears amongst conservationists

that Japan could continue with

their research if they changed

the scale of the program.

This ruling does not affect

whaling in the Northern Paciﬁc

Ocean.

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IPCC report

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change

(IPCC) has released its assessment report – saying

that climate change is already having a major im-

pact on the planet, with impacts forecast to worsen

signiﬁcantly.

The second of three reports to make up the ﬁfth

IPCC report, Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Ad-

aptations and Vulnerabilities assesses current cli-

mate impacts, future climate risks and adaptation

potential across sectors including the economy,

health, agriculture, and security.

Among many other things, the report for the ﬁrst

time mentioned a range of security threats associat-

ed with climate change, including food shortages,

natural disasters, increased conﬂict, displacement

and migration.

It noted that the world, including Australia, is ill-

prepared for those threats.

It did mention that adaptation could be used to

help alleviate these impacts, if serious action is

taken quickly.

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photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

First conﬁrmed case of water pollution from CSG

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has con-

ﬁrmed that high levels of uranium and other chemi-

cals have leaked into an underground water aqui-

fer from a coal seam gas (CSG) operation in NSW.

This is the ﬁrst conﬁrmed case of water contamina-

tion from CSG exploration in Australia, although

company Santos has downplayed the incident,

saying only a minor pocket of water was affected.

The contamination came from a leaking holding

pond, used to store the toxic water that is left over

after the gas extraction process.

The company was ﬁned $1500 by the EPA.

The incident occurred in the Pilliga state forest,

where there are plans to build a massive uncon-

ventional gas hub.

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The low-down on

Climate Change

Understanding what is really happening to our planet

By Lauren Shearman

Drouin, Victoria, Australia.

Smoky night from bushﬁres.

photo credit: Steven Sandner

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As one of the most pressing issues faced by our so-

ciety, climate change receives a great deal media

attention. Consequently, the term ‘climate change’

is thrown about in our nation’s discourse with the

assumption we all know what it means. But what is

it exactly?

Is it just changing seasons or is it global warming?

Is it to do with greenhouse gas emissions or is it

just propaganda? With the doom-laden warnings

of some scientists and total denial by others, it

is a wonder we have any idea what is actually

going on.

IPCC’s (international Panel of Climate Change)

Fifth Assessment Report describes climate change

as a shift in the variability of our climate - changes

in temperature, wind patterns, rainfall etc –that

can clearly be identiﬁed by statistical tests and that

has persisted for an extended period. The report

Wind farm and greenhouse gas farm, together

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strongly suggests anthropogenic emissions to be

the cause of recent dramatic change.

Now intellectuals will be intellectuals and dispute

all arising facts and ﬁgures. There is an argument

that suggests human impact is not the cause; the

measurable climatic changes we witness today

are no different from the natural ﬂuctuations in the

Earth’s geologic history.

But while debate continues over this and that, one

thing does not change—our responsibility for a

sustainable planet. Thus, what we can understand

climate change to be is the transformation of the

Earth’s biosphere. The clearing forests, irrigating

deserts and building of cities, among many other

things, is affecting our planet like never before in

human history. So while mathematicians decide if

temperatures are rising and politicians argue over

the need for environmental policy, we can recog-

nise that our planet is subject to change and, from

whatever natural or anthropogenic cause, we need

to keep our planet healthy.

Contrary to popular belief, the solution to climate

change is not a simple Al-Gore rhythm. At risk

of losing your attention, the solution is that climate

change needs you to change. But be not alarmed,

this is nothing dramatic or time taxing. What it es-

sentially comes down to is stopping waste. TAT

GEO is here to offer simple and nifty tricks for a

sustainable future (see our sustainable living col-

umn and eco website reviews for more informa-

tion) as well as provide an article on a renewable

energy sources with each new addition.

In the meantime here is something to ponder. The

Earth is 4.6 billion years old. If we scale that to 46

years, we have been here four hours. The industrial

revolution began one minute ago. In that time we

have destroyed more than 50% or the world’s for-

ests. Now is the time to recognise climate change.

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If you can remember John Lennon’s song Power to

the People making the top-of-the-pops, you obvi-

ously didn’t live the iconic sixties lifestyle, or you

wouldn’t be able to remember.

The ethos behind its simple, repetitive lyrics

about creating a revolution through individ-

ual actions seemed possible in the sixties and

seventies. That idealistic dream vapourised in

subsequent decades, as increasingly despotic

governments rose to power, both through mili-

tary coups and by using vested media interests

and the ballot box. Many people feel helpless

to change anything now. We’ve watched indi-

vidual rights erode, along with key pillars of our

natural environment.

Here in Australia, we bear witness to the destruc-

tion of ﬁfty percent of the Great Barrier Reef in the

last twenty years. Scientists are still unable to quan-

tify the relative contributing factors but what is cer-

tain is its catastrophic nature in such a short period.

That hasn’t stopped our governments approving

coal seam gas processing plants, ports, and the

mass shipping of coal through its waters – ﬁddling

while the planet burns. With the latest scientiﬁc re-

ports showing our annual ﬁre seasons are becom-

ing longer and more extreme every year, this is

more than a metaphor.

We seem to have forgotten the cornerstone of sus-

tainable environmental management adopted by

governments the world over: the precautionary

principle. At the United Nations ‘Earth Summit’

Conference in 1992, most countries, including

Australia, were signatories to the Rio Declaration’s

‘Agenda 21’. Section 15 states:

Precautionary Principle: In order to protect

the environment, the precautionary approach

shall be widely applied by States, according

to their capabilities. Where there are threats

of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full

scientiﬁc certainty shall not be used as a rea-

son for postponing cost-effective measures to

prevent environmental degradation.

By Julie Davies

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Great Barrier Reef Corals – worth preserving

photo credit: Julie Davis

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Bushﬁre 300m from author’s home in 2009

photo credit: Julie Davis

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As one of the world’s wealthiest nations, which

came through the global ﬁnancial crisis better than

most, and the second highest polluter per capita,

Australia should be leading climate change action

“according to our capabilities”. The reverse is hap-

pening, because Agenda 21 is not legally bind-

ing or enforceable. We’ve obviously also forgotten

other Declaration principles, such as polluter pays

and intergenerational equity.

The one bright spot on the horizon is that we now

know people power is possible. It is happening

around us daily and you may even be part of the

movement. Groups and individuals, from widely

varying walks of life, are taking direct action, in

the traditional and social media, with their local

politicians and with their wallets. The green slogan:

‘Think globally, act locally’ has meaning again.

One man in the small Central Queensland town of

Yeppoon decided the best way to help reduce car-

bon dioxide emissions was to get everyone onto

solar electricity – power to the people in its most

literal meaning.

Photo-journalist Rhodes Watson called a public

meeting in 2009 to organise the bulk purchase of

solar panels, expecting 20-30 people to attend.

Well over a hundred turned up. They put together

their heads and their money to source a large ship-

ment of solar panels, to make them affordable to

more people than ever before. Then he did it all

again, for those who didn’t come on board the ﬁrst

time. The collective organised squads of local elec-

tricians to install the panels and found temporary

storage while they were ﬁtted across the district

over eighteen months.

Yeppoon residents tell the government

they want the reef protected 2004

photo credit: Julie Davis

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Rhodes’ wife became ill before the ﬁrst bulk-buy

exercise was complete and he could no longer

afford to buy panels for his own house, although

he continued to organise the project. Commu-

nity action inspires community spirit: the other

members of the group paid for his panels so he

wouldn’t miss out. There were even some spare

solar panels, which were donated to local com-

munity groups. Rhodes’ efforts were subsequently

recognised with an Australia Day award. The

Capricorn Coast now has one of the highest con-

centrations of domestic solar power systems in

Australia and it all started with one man and a

simple idea.

Direct action and people power have also proven

to be successful on a nation-wide scale. Australia’s

Climate Commission provided government with re-

liable, apolitical scientiﬁc information and facts on

all aspects of climate change. When the new Fed-

eral Government decommissioned the Commission

within days of taking ofﬁce in September 2013,

its Chief Climate Commissioner Professor Tim Flan-

nery didn’t take the news lying down.

He and his fellow commissioners, other scientists

and many volunteers undertook a crowd-funding

exercise, appealing through the social media for ﬁ-

nancial support to keep the facts ﬂowing, because

“information is the currency of democracy”. It was

successful beyond anyone’s dreams. Within a few

weeks, a new Climate Council had formed, the

previous commissioners were working for free, and

tens of thousands of Australians had funded them

to cover running costs and expenses for six months.

The Climate Council has already produced reports

on the impact of climate change on bushﬁre risk,

extreme weather, global action in the next critical

decade and renewable energy.

Importantly, in our 15-second attention span soci-

ety, it is also providing concise, plain-English infor-

mation through the traditional and social media to

counter the simplistic and erroneous statements we

daily hear from those who should know better.

The Council is now seeking small regular dona-

tions through bank debits, so it may have some

certainty to continue its operations into the future,

Rhodes Watson

photo credit: Gladstone Observer

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making longer term projects possible. You can sup-

port the Climate Council on Facebook and Twitter

(@climatecouncil) to help spread their facts and by

donating to the Climate Council on https://www.

climatecouncil.org.au/donate/

One of the reasons people feel powerless is the

ﬁnancial and legal might of the industries and

government agencies they must battle to preserve

their local environment. It can be an expensive

and enormously stressful task taking a mining gi-

ant to court or challenging a government decision

and most sensible people would baulk at the idea.

Strong causative evidence is needed, as well as le-

gal expertise in environmental legislation and court

procedures, to say nothing of deep pockets. This

is where Environmental Defenders’ Ofﬁces (EDOs)

come into the picture.

EDOs provide invaluable legal advice and legal

education to members of the public, community

and environmental groups. They have made criti-

cal contributions to reforming environmental laws

over the last two decades. EDOs also run public

interest court cases for individuals affected by de-

velopment of their land, such as mines and coal

seam gas wells, and for interested parties, like con-

servation groups.

In Queensland, lawyer Jo-anne Bragg has been

at the helm of the Environmental Defenders’ Of-

ﬁce in Brisbane for twenty-two years and is now

the longest serving EDO solicitor in Australia. She

recently held brieﬁngs in Central Queensland on

changes in environmental legislation. Horriﬁed

residents discovered the Federal Government has

also defunded all Environmental Defenders’ Of-

ﬁces, right across Australia, and is in the pro-

cess of handing federal regulatory powers to

the states, whose interests do not encompass our

wider national responsibilities and international

obligations.

Climate Council members

L-R Lesly Hughes, Gerry Hueston, Tim Flannery, Veena Sahajwalla, Will Steffan.

photo credit: Julie Davis

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In addition, the Queensland State Government

is now changing existing laws to limit who can

bring court actions in environmental disputes to

those who are directly impacted. For example,

this will now mean that farmers concerned about

coal seam gas wells leaking or contaminating/

depleting their ground water cannot bring action

in court to stop or rectify the situation unless there

is a well on their property. The Great Artesian

Basin and atmospheric currents do not recognise

property boundaries, nor is there any evidence

that contamination or depletion of artesian water

could be rectiﬁed in human rather than geological

timeframes.

The Queensland Government is also reducing the

standing of scientiﬁc data and of environmental

regulatory agencies in planning decision-making.

It might be worth checking what is happening to

your state environmental and planning regulations.

The Queensland EDO has changed its owl logo to a

phoenix rising from the ashes, as they seek private

donations to continue their work. If Environmental

Defenders’ Ofﬁces are to continue operating, they

now also need to be crowd-funded. If you would like

to donate to your state’s ofﬁce, you can ﬁnd links to

them through: http://www.edo.org.au/

Take back the power, people.

EDO owl rises from the ashes

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The Palm Oil Problem

Three years ago, I was privileged enough to travel

to Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Bor-

neo. For the ﬁnal part of my journey I was on a

tiny plane which, alarmingly, leaked puffs of steam

from the ceiling for the thirty minutes that we were

on board.

Outside my window, the outskirts of the city of Miri

quickly gave way to a broad sea of green foliage. I

had never seen rainforest from the air before. Then,

before I even had time to take the scenery in, the

landscape changed dramatically. What was rain-

forest became a jagged mess of brown lines. It was

as though the earth had been carved open. It took

me a moment or two to realise this was where the

forest had been logged and burned. Then again,

just as abruptly as the ﬁrst change, the brown chaos

turned into order – the strict order that only humans

can create. Rows upon rows of green blobs, sec-

tioned into neat rectangles, for as far as I could see.

“Oil Palms.” The man next to me explained.

He paused a while. As a senior lecturer and re-

searcher in forest ecology, he made this trip at least

once every year.

A ZOO’S SOLUTIONS TO THE

PALM OIL

PROBLEM

…how Zoos Victoria are changing the

way the world sees palm oil

By Annie Aulsebrook

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View from a small plane ﬂying over

Borneo, Malaysia - the dramatic transition

from rainforest to cleared land.

photo credit: Annie Aulsebrook

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“A third of those wouldn’t have

been there last year.”

While I was too stunned to clarify

my neighbour’s statement on that

ﬂight, I have had plenty of time to

learn more about Oil Palms since.

Oil Palm trees are cultivated for a

product derived from their fruit:

palm oil. Palm oil is extremely

versatile and is in higher demand

than ever before. About half of

all products found in Australian

supermarkets contain palm oil,

including baked products, fried

products, confectionary, tooth-

pastes and shampoos.

Unfortunately, Oil Palms only

grow in the tropics. Because of

this, rainforests in South-East Asia

are being rapidly demolished

to make way for plantations. In

fact, Malaysia and Indonesia

now produce 85% of the world’s

palm oil, and the United Nations

Environment Programme (UNEP)

recognises palm oil production

as the main driver of rainforest

destruction in these two coun-

tries.

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Oil Palm plantations in Borneo, Malaysia. Rainforests in South-East Asia

are being rapidly cleared to make way for plantations such as these.

photo credit: Annie Aulsebrook

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A forest view in Gunung Mulu National Park

(Borneo, Malaysia).

photo credit: Annie Aulsebrook

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The ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ solution

In 2009, Zoos Victoria launched ‘Don’t Palm Us

Off’—a campaign that ultimately aimed to bring

about change to this dire situation. Loss of habitat

to Oil Palm plantations is a major threat to three of

the most popular species at Melbourne Zoo: Suma-

tran tigers, Asian elephants and Sumatran orang-

utans. Orang-utans in particular have become the

face of the palm oil problem: the single biggest

threat to this critically endangered and well-loved

species is unsustainable palm oil production.

“The same visitors we see coming through our

Zoo gates were unknowingly contributing to one

of the biggest threats many species in South-East

Asia were facing.” Says Community Conservation

Manager Ms Emily Dunstan, a key developer and

driver of the campaign.

“It made sense for us to draw their attention to it

and provide them with a meaningful way to speak

up and get involved in reducing the threat.”

Initially, ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ focussed on address-

ing two issues. First, people needed to be made

aware of the problems with unsustainable palm oil.

Next, people were encouraged to demand their

right to choose whether to buy products contain-

ing palm oil. There is currently no law that requires

palm oil to be labelled as anything other than ‘veg-

etable oil’ on product packaging. This often makes

it impossible to distinguish between palm oil and

other oils, such as soy, canola and sunﬂower oils.

‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ was extremely successful at

raising awareness. A combination of campaign-

ing tools, including hand-outs, online social me-

dia and a short ﬁlm shown at Melbourne Zoo

and on Channel 10, prompted national media

coverage. A recent research article also com-

pared multiple choice answers given by zoo

visitors before, during and after the campaign.

As visitors left the orang-utan exhibit they were

asked what the main threat to orang-utans was,

and what product was most responsible. Before

the campaign, only 54% of visitors understood

that palm oil was the product most responsible

for habitat loss. During and after the campaign,

visitors were far more likely to identify palm oil as

the product to blame, with 75 to 97% answering

this question correctly.

In 2009 and 2010, Zoos Victoria also collect-

ed more than 163,000 signatures in support

of mandatory labelling of palm oil. These were

passed on to Food Standards Australia and

New Zealand (FSANZ), which inspired legisla-

tion that was introduced to Parliament. While

the legislation passed through the Senate, it

never got voted on in the House of Representa-

tives. The political aspect of this campaign was

slightly more controversial and received a scath-

ing report by Tim Wilson from the Institute of

Public Affairs. However, there has recently been

renewed political discussion on the topic of la-

belling, and FSANZ will be releasing a relevant

report later this year.

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From cereal to toothpaste, many people are

surprised by the number of products in our

supermarkets that contain palm oil.

The (above/below) are just some of those that

have been targeted by Zoos Victoria’s

‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ Campaign.

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Why not boycott?

Is all palm oil ‘bad’? It depends on who you ask,

but not all palm oil production depends on the de-

struction of primary rainforest. In fact, many people

would be surprised to hear that, if grown responsi-

bly, palm oil can be a relatively sustainable source

of oil. The yield of palm oil can be six to ten times

higher than that of some of its alternatives. In oth-

er words, six to ten times more land would be re-

quired to obtain the same yield of soy or rapeseed

oils. Because of this, organisations such as Zoos

Victoria suggest that boycotting palm oil may not

be the best option.

“We are about saving wildlife and ﬁghting its ex-

tinction, so we need to look at the alternatives com-

panies are likely to switch to.” Ms Dunstan says.

“Essentially I could be condemning 10,000 hect-

ares of the Amazon to deforestation by saving

1,000 hectares of forest in South-East Asia through

a boycott.”

Advocating Certiﬁed Sustainable

Palm Oil (CSPO)

Zoos Victoria re-launched ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ last

year with a subtle shift in focus: Certiﬁed Sustainable

Palm Oil (CSPO). CSPO is palm oil that has been

grown on a plantation approved by the Roundtable

of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The RSPO is a non-

for-proﬁt organisation that includes stakeholders

such as oil palm producers, investors, Oxfam and

the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). CSPO

plantations cannot be built on land that has been

deforested since 2005. In other words, the RSPO

aims to force the palm oil industry to use land that

has already been cleared and degraded, rather

than demolishing primary forest. CSPO plantations

must also be managed according to a set of envi-

ronmental, social and economic standards.

Captive orang-utans such as Santan and Dewi have become ambassadors for their wild

relatives that are at risk of extinction from habitat loss, much of which is to make way for

Oil Palm plantations.

photo credit: Melbourne Zoo

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photo credit: Melbourne Zoo

At Melbourne Zoo, visitors

form an emotional connection

with orang-utans, while

also learning about issues

associated with palm oil.

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The CSPO scheme is not entirely ﬂawless, however.

Some groups have criticised the RSPO standards

for allowing secondary forests to be cleared for Oil

Palm plantations. While secondary forests are of-

ten considered to be ‘less valuable’ than primary

forests, they still provide valuable habitat for wild-

life and their destruction contributes to greenhouse

gas emissions. Nonetheless, CSPO does have the

potential to preserve livelihoods that depend on

palm oil without as much damage to wildlife habi-

tat. When outlining their current stand on CSPO,

Zoos Victoria state that “while we understand that

having a fully segregated, traceable line of CSPO

is not without its issues, we believe there is enough

will from manufacturers and consumers to push this

form of CSPO into the Australian market.”

The success of the re-launched ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’

campaign has proven this to be true. A new aim of

‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ is to encourage people to contact

retailers and manufacturers, asking that they ensure

any palm oil they use is 100% CSPO and clearly la-

belled. An ingenious aspect of this campaign is the

‘Zoopermarket’. Set up like a supermarket checkout,

the ‘Zoopermarket’ can be found both online and at

the orang-utan exhibit at Melbourne Zoo. It allows

visitors to scan popular supermarket products to ﬁnd

out how the manufacturer ‘rates’ in terms of palm

oil. Do they use palm oil? If so, do they use CSPO?

Is it labelled? After scanning, visitors are given the

opportunity to email the company directly, congratu-

lating them on their good work or demanding that

they change their practices. Visitors can also send

in postcards, signed in support of palm oil being

sustainably produced and clearly labelled.

Since ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ re-launched, more than

21,000 emails and postcards have been collected.

Over 12,000 of these have been from the online

‘Zoopermarket’. These masses of emails are not

going unheeded. In just the last year, ‘Don’t Palm

Us Off’ has succeeded in getting ﬁve companies to

commit to using 100% CSPO.

In September 2013, Zoos Victoria ran out of ‘red’

companies – companies that used unlabelled, un-

sustainable palm oil – because all of these com-

panies had at the very least made a public com-

mitment to convert to CSPO in the near future.

Companies such as Unilever and Woolworths have

conﬁrmed that their new commitment was prompt-

ed by the community awareness brought about

by Zoos Victoria and WWF. Australasia’s leading

food company, Goodman Fielder, has also com-

mitted to sourcing mass-balance CSPO from 2014

onwards, and said that ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ was

the trigger in getting this commitment over the line.

The list of companies with similar stories is exten-

sive, which is a promising sign for the future of this

campaign.

It is easy for people to feel frustrated and helpless

when confronted with conservation issues. None-

theless, ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ has become an inspir-

ing example of bringing about real change. By

raising awareness and rallying thousands of peo-

ple to tell companies what they want, Zoos Victoria

has changed not only the way the general public

view palm oil, but actually made a change to what

we are seeing on our supermarket shelves. Accord-

ing to Ms Dunstan, they did it by “making it simple

for people and providing a way for them to get

involved immediately.”

“By demonstrating the changes this campaign has

made and reporting back, keeping people up to

date, and always looking ahead – we have found

that the community has really latched onto this cam-

paign and felt part of a bigger movement.”

For more information

Zoos Victoria ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ campaign:

http://www.zoo.org.au/get-involved/act-for-

wildlife/dont-palm-us-off

Online Zoos Victoria ‘Zoopermarket’:

http://www.zoo.org.au/zoopermarket/

A recent research article that evaluates the

‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ campaign is available at:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24535962

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photo credit: Melbourne Zoo

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By Lauren Shearman

BENEATH THE WAVES

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From microbes to whales, our oceans hold an

abundance of life. In fact the majority of life on

Earth swims, crawls, eats, ﬁghts and lives in our

seas. Some of the largest and best known sea

creatures only make up only a tiny proportion of

the ocean’s biodiversity. Scientists estimate that for

every known oceanic species at least four more

have yet to be discovered.

This estimation comes from the international Census

of Marine Life (http://www.coml.org/) completed

in 2010. More than 2,700 scientists from across

the globe collaborated to study and synthesize infor-

mation on marine biodiversity. After a decade of re-

search and exploration, the census had documented

ocean realms all connected through distribution and

movements of animals. The Ocean Biogeographic

Information System (www.iobis.org) - the world’s

largest online repository of geo-referenced data –

allows this information to be accessed by policy

makers, teachers, and students alike. The site links

to more than 800 datasets containing information

on where and when marine organisms have been

recorded.

Why is this information important?

The Census provides a scientiﬁc foundation for fu-

ture marine research and environmental policy. Its

information is signiﬁcant to our understanding of

what needs to be done to protect ocean resources.

The internet database allows public users to iden-

tify biodiversity hotspots and plot species’ locations

with temperature, salinity, and depth. There is a

critical need for information such as this to guide

the management of ﬁsheries, conserve diversity,

reverse losses of habitat, reduce impacts of pollu-

tion, and respond to global climate change. Prior

to the Census, the number of known species in the

ocean was estimated at 230,000. Now, with the

knowledge gained over the last decade, this esti-

mate has risen to nearly 250,000. Scientists be-

lieve that there as many as three times this number

is yet to be discovered. Excluding microbes, the

total number of marine species in the global ocean

could surpass one million.

Why study biodiversity?

Census scientists discovered and described 1,200

new species. While the discovery of species is

fascinating in its own right, the discoveries were

important because they added to our knowledge

of the diversity and distribution of marine life in the

global oceans. Biodiversity is crucial to our under-

standing of the world as shows us how life evolved

and it continues to evolve. It provides an insight

into the functioning of ecosystems and thus how

we can help maintain them for our own beneﬁt.

Biodiversity is also a measure of the health of an

ecosystem. All species perform speciﬁc roles that

make them an integral part of their environment, in

many cases, essential to human survival as well. A

diverse biological community allows for varied and

balanced interactions among species. This means

greater competition, predation, productivity and

ability to withstand environmental pressure than a

non-diverse community.

What did Census scientists learn?

The Census found more than was anticipated - life

in the ocean was revealed to be more diverse, more

connected and more altered than imagined. Cen-

sus scientists learnt that the human impacts on ma-

rine ecosystems not only began much earlier in our

history, but were also broader in scope than previ-

ously thought. Researchers found life in the most

unexpected of places, including the inhospitable

depths of the ocean where there is no oxygen. Spe-

cies thought to be extinct were rediscovered and

1,200 new species were formally described. Addi-

tionally, migratory routes were mapped and breed-

ing/feeding grounds of particular animals were

identiﬁed so that policy makers know how best to

protect our endangered wildlife. A complete re-

view of Census ﬁndings can be found at http://

www.coml.org/news-conference

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Who’s the

Humans

Real Predator?

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sharks

Real Predator?

By Danelle Scicluna

photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

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The recent implementation of the Western Austra-

lian (WA) shark cull has caused controversy and

conﬂict amongst the Australian public. However,

what has received relatively little attention is the

possible reasons why sharks may be venturing clos-

er to Perth’s shoreline. Some researchers believe

that climate change may hold the answer.

With the ﬁrst killings taking place on Australia Day,

the plans and policies became notorious actions.

Contracted ﬁshermen were ordered to kill sharks

found one kilometre from popular beach sites

around the Perth region. It was not long before dis-

turbing footage and images made their way into

the media for the nation to see.

The policy was bought about due to the increased

number of shark attacks that have been occurring

along WA shorelines over the past decade. Ac-

cording to the Australian Shark Attack Files (ASAF)

kept by Taronga Zoo researchers, the annual av-

erage of unprovoked shark encounters increased

from 6.5 cases in the 1990s to 12.5 cases over

the last decade. Aimed at creating safe swimming

zones for the public, the policy targets Bull Sharks,

Tiger Sharks and Great White Sharks over three

metres in length.

Researchers have been considering possible rea-

sons as to why sharks may be occupying areas

closer to the shore. Whilst more studies are needed

to cement these ideas, they believe that human in-

duced climate change may be a contributing fac-

tor inﬂuencing shark behaviour and distribution.

Furthermore, Australia’s increasing human popu-

lation has also been strongly associated with the

increased shark encounters.

It is known that climate change is having dramatic

negative effects on our ecosystem, both worldwide

photo credit: Phil Watson

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and within our nation. Data from the CSIRO show

that WA coastal waters have increased by less than

0.5°C since the 1960s. Whilst this may seem like

the most minute increase, it is an increase nonethe-

less and one that can have potentially detrimen-

tal effects on sensitive marine species. Over time,

there is fear that ocean temperatures will continue

to rise, forcing species to either adapt to warmer

waters or relocate to cooler regions if they are to

have any chance of survival.

There is every possibility that increased water tem-

peratures are drawing sharks to Perth’s coastline.

A good example was seen in 2011 when the WA

coast experienced a marine heatwave causing

water temperature to increase by up to 3°C. This

lead to numerous ecological disasters such as ﬁsh

kills and coral bleaching. Of particular interest was

the numerous WA ﬁsheries that reported the move-

ment of subtropical species, such as Whale Sharks,

further south than their usual locality. It is thought

the whale sharks were seeking out cooler waters.

On the subject of rising sea temperature, a study

conducted at the University of New South Wales

found that a slight increase in water temperature

can cause some ﬁsh to become more aggressive. It is

thought that an increase in sea temperature is linked

to their metabolism, resulting in an increased need

to feed. Whilst the study was carried out on damsel

ﬁsh, head researchers believed that the same theory

could be applied to sharks. There is little evidence to

substantiate this theory but it is an interesting aspect

to consider when thinking about the effect climate

change might have on shark behaviour.

Climate change is also believed to be altering

some of the world’s ocean currents. Extending over

5000 kilometres, the Leeuwin Current (LC) is the

longest coastal current in the world. It runs along

photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

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the WA coast, carrying warm, low nutrient water

south and its strength is largely associated with the

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.

Climatic models predict that increased levels of

carbon dioxide in the future will lead to stronger

El Niño events. As a result, the LC is expected to

weaken in the coming century. However, for the

past two decades, stronger currents (which are at-

tributed to natural decadal variability) have been

observed. The Journal of Geophysical Research

published a paper which suggests that a stronger

LC and LC eddies may cause convective mixing of

nutrients into the oceans euphotic zone. This results

in increased regional productivity. Furthermore,

stronger currents are likely to bring nutrients from

the north further south to Perth’s coastline.

The LC has also been found to affect the abun-

dance of marine life in the region. For example, a

fact sheet issued in 2011 by WA’s Department of

Fisheries states that, along with other environmen-

tal factors, the LC’s strength can inﬂuence Western

Rock Lobster populations. When the LC is stron-

ger, higher proportion of juveniles can return to

the coast and so recruitment (addition of juvenile

lobsters to an adult population) is higher. Natu-

rally, increased productivity and food availability

would draw numerous marine species to the area,

and sharks would be no exception. Whilst more

research is needed, this offers a possible explana-

tion as to why sharks appear to be venturing out of

the deep and closer to Perth’s shoreline.

Alternatively, many believe that Australia’s rising

population and growing interest in marine activi-

ties is responsible for the increase in reported shark

encounters. A government census showed that

Perth experienced a population growth of 14.3%

between 2006 and 2011. However, not only is the

population increasing but it is becoming more dis-

persed along the coastlines. Naturally this results

photo credit: Phil Watson

Protesters rally together at Torquay VIC earlier this month in an attempt

to save the sharks from WA’s recent catch and kill policy.

photo credit Danelle Scicluna

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Protesters showing their support by signing a

No Shark Cull in WA petition

photo credit Danelle Scicluna

photo credit: Phil Watson

in a higher number of beach goers occupying a

greater area of ocean. Given this, it is not surpris-

ing to see an increase in the annual average num-

ber of reported shark sightings and encounters.

To add fuel to the ﬁre, an increased vested interest

in offshore activities only provides more opportu-

nities for interaction between humans and sharks.

According to ASAF, of the 12 unprovoked shark

attack cases seen in 2012, 86% involved surfers,

7% involved SCUBA divers and 7% snorkelers. This

demonstrates that an increase in reported shark at-

tacks may be the combined result of climate change

effecting their distribution and humans spending

more time in the ocean.

Whatever the reason, scientists, conservationists,

naturalists and general members of the public from

around the nation have been rallying together in

an attempt to stop the WA culling. They all agree

that the current shark cull is not the way to create

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safe zones and minimise shark encounters along the

WA coast. On the contrary, baiting drum lines and

the disposal of culled shark carcasses only a few

kilometres from the coast of popular beaches is in-

evitably going to attract more sharks into the area.

In addition, removal of an apex predator is sure to

have detrimental impacts. Ecological effects will be

seen as the removal of sharks will result in an over

or under abundance of life lower down the food

chain. Furthermore, the baited drum lines pose a

potentially high threat to both non-shark species

and to sharks less than three metres in length.

Six days into the ‘catch and kill’ policy, a Tiger

Shark believed to be about two metres in length

was pulled up dead after being caught on a bait-

ed hook. Speculation remains over how the Gov-

ernment will ensure that shark length and species

guidelines are adhered to.

Even shark bite victims have rallied against the cull,

despite the injuries they have been left with. Paul de

Gelder is one such victim. Attacked by a Bull Shark

in Sydney Harbour in 2009, he was left with ex-

tensive injuries, causing him to lose both a forearm

and leg. Despite this, he is a leading ﬁgure ﬁghting

Protesters rally together at Torquay VIC earlier this month in an attempt

to save the sharks from WA’s recent catch and kill policy.

photo credit Danelle Scicluna

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to save the sharks from the cull. In his Blogspot post

from early this year, he states that Premier Colin

Barnett’s “plan is ﬂawed”, and that the ocean is

“a wondrous, beautiful, dangerous place that pro-

vides our planet with all life. It and its inhabitants

need protection from those that would do it harm”.

Instead of ruthlessly culling the mysterious creatures

of the sea, numerous alternatives and initiatives

could be implemented. In Brazil, drum lines are de-

signed to keep the captured sharks alive by allow-

ing them to swim in large circles, thereby minimising

stress. They are then measured, sexed and tagged

before being released further out at sea, allowing

scientists to learn more about their behaviour.

Another alternative is the use of a Shark Shield.

This device emits an electric ﬁeld underwater that

interferes with shark’s Ampullae of Lorenzini (sensi-

tive sensory organs).The interference causes tem-

porary high levels of discomfort for the shark and,

in doing so, repels them away from the user. Such

devices would be ideal for surfers and scuba divers

that venture into waters further offshore.

With new technology and ongoing research we

can continue to gain more information about one

of the oceans most feared predators. In doing so,

we can learn what factors affect and inﬂuences

their behaviour and we can take the appropriate

precautions in order to stay safe in what is right-

fully their environment. It is hoped that one day, the

negative stigma that surrounds sharks will be ab-

solved and that we can continue to live in a world

where these mysterious yet majestic creatures are

both respected and protected.

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Sustainable living protects our beautiful

diversity of wildlife

The easy way to give back

By Jessica Crisp

SUSTAINABLE

LIVING

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Attempting to reverse the ef-

fects of pollution, protecting our

beautiful diversity of wildlife and

reducing our levels of consump-

tion may seem like an impossible

task. As an individual it can be

hard to see where you ﬁt into the

big picture. How can I help the

critically endangered Blue Fin

Tuna? How do I stop those fos-

sil fuels pumping into our atmo-

sphere? Realistically, how can I

make a difference?

While these issues seem too large

and complex to overcome on our

own, that doesn’t mean each of

us can’t make a difference. No

matter how small or insigniﬁcant

it may seem.

This column will look at ways in

which we can all make simple

alterations to our current lifestyle.

Each of us can have an impact

lasting longer than our years on

this planet. The basic principle

of sustainable living is to live in

an environment without taking

anything from it that can’t be re-

placed. This may seem daunting,

but even small steps are important

in developing a society that can

live in harmony with the planet.

An easy and quick to get start-

ed with a more sustainable way

of living is to shop with a con-

science. There is an abundance

of products out there which not

only look great but do great

things for the environment and

the worldwide community.

Let’s start with the most basic

product. Whether you fold or

Help protect our

beautiful diversity of

wildlife

SUSTAINABLE

photo credit: Lauren Shearman

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scrunch your loo roll, there’s no

denying we get through quite a

lot of this simple, everyday es-

sential. Whilst there’s no getting

round the fact trees are still being

felled in their millions so we can

grace our bottoms with the soft

stuff, it is just one of the issues

Who Gives A Crap is tackling.

Their 100% recycled loo rolls

raise money to help build toilets

and improve sanitation across

the developing world. Wateraid

receives 50% of their proﬁts to

provide one person with a toilet

for a week. Not only are they

helping improve the health of

poorer communities, better sani-

tation and waste management

means a healthier planet too.

(http://au.whogivesacrap.org)

If the fact that one and a half

acres of the Amazon rainforest

is destroyed every second wor-

ries you, it’s time to take action.

And it’s simpler than you might

think; no chaining yourself to

trees here! If you, or anyone you

know, need a new timepiece,

pick up an inspired design from

WeWood. Made from com-

pletely natural materials, free of

anything artiﬁcial or toxic, these

watches give back as one tree is

planted for each one purchased.

They may not be able to turn

back the time, but they can sure

change the future. (http://www.

we-wood.com.au)

Of course, the Amazon rain forest

is not the only threatened area.

Pick up a set of headphones from

UrbanEars’ Re:Plattan collec-

tion, made from recycled parts,

does Proof’s top quality eyewear

give back to nature by being

made from sustainable wood, it

helps those in need of eye care in

India. Each pair of glasses sold

will fund sight-giving surgery in

India to those who can’t afford it.

Help trees and people – double

whammy! (http://www.iwant-

proof.com.au)

as each purchase secures the

protection of ﬁve square metres

of the Costa Rican rainforest.

(https://www.urbanears.com)

Looking to update your specs

or sunnies? Forego the plastic

frames you can nab for a few dol-

lars in favour of a pair which will

ease your conscience. Not only

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We’ve all heard of Toms; the

footwear brand whose so-comfy-

you-never-want-to-take-them-off

shoes paved the way for the idea

of consumer companies having

a social or environmental con-

science. Their ‘One for One’

mantra means that for each pair

purchased, one pair of shoes is

donated to those in need. Whilst

this may not immediately ap-

pear sustainable, the fact that

many shoes are produced in the

regions in which they are donat-

ed suggests the opposite. Styles

featuring locally made materials

and local production means few-

er miles travelled to their destina-

tion. A prime example of sustain-

ability! (http://www.toms.com)

These are just a few examples

of the range of items out there

which encourage sustainabil-

ity and stress the importance

of protecting our planet and its

community. The simple of act

of purchasing a watch or loo

roll will see you become a part

of that too. It’s not that hard

after all.

photo credit: Lauren Shearman

Rainforests provide 40% of

the world’s oxygen. As crucial

ecosystems, rainforest need

our protection

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By Danelle Scicluna

nowhere to

glide & hide

THE SQUIRREL

GLIDER

Squirrel glider in nestbox

photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

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Lions and tigers and bears may make

you go “Oh My!” but Australia’s

gliding possums will have you

feeling all fuzzy with their ador-

able furry coats and cute little

pointed noses.

Meet the endemic Squirrel

Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis).

This species resides in areas

of mature remnant vegetation

in northern and central Victo-

ria and throughout the east-

ern regions of New South

Wales and Queensland. It

is an arboreal species, with

a body size of 18-23cm

and weight of 200-300g,

and is known to glide dis-

tances of up to 90m between

trees. Squirrel Gliders have a

grey coloured fur coat (with a

white or cream underside) and

a distinct dark stripe

which begins at the nose and runs along the back.

The Squirrel Glider also has a membrane that extends

from each ﬁfth front toe to its back foot, enabling it to

glide, and its long bushy tail acts as a rudder, helping

to guide its descent. The Squirrel Glider is similar in

appearance to its smaller relative, the Sugar Glider

(Petaurus breviceps). To the untrained eye they can

be hard to distinguish from one another. As a gen-

eral rule, the Squirrel Glider has a longer and more

pointed head, narrower ears and a bushier tail.

Squirrel Gliders are an omnivorous species that

feed on insects, pollen, nectar and sap, where diet

is seasonal depending on resource availability. The

species tend to live in small groups, generally com-

prised of one adult male and a couple of adult

females together with their offspring. The Squirrel

Glider is a polyoestrous species, meaning it has

multiple reproductive cycles per year. In most cas-

es, a female will produce one to two litters a year

(each litter containing one or two young). The spe-

cies has a lifespan of three to ﬁve years.

Baby Squirrel gliders in care

photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

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It has been suggested that the Squirrel Glider plays

a number of important roles in the ecosystem. For

instance, its diet of pollen and nectar reveals that

the Squirrel Glider may be an important forest

pollinator. It is also believed that it plays a role

in regulating the number of canopy insects present

in an ecosystem by feeding on them. In doing so,

the Squirrel Glider can be seen as an animal of

ecological importance by contributing to and main-

taining improved forest health.

This nocturnal species relies on mature trees for hol-

lows because they provide dens and safe breeding

sites. However extensive land clearing in northern

Victoria has seen the loss of Squirrel Glider habitat.

The removal of trees takes away the species’ food

resources and shelter requirements. Land clearing

also increases habitat fragmentation, which then

isolates Squirrel Glider populations. Furthermore,

introduced species such as foxes and cats (which

prey on the marsupial) add further pressure to the

Squirrel Glider’s already threatened existence.

While in Queensland the species is considered

common, its distribution across Victoria is limited.

As a result, the Squirrel Glider is featured in the

Squirrel glider distribution

photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

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Department of Environment & Primary Industries

(DEPI) 2014 threatened species list and is consid-

ered a threatened taxon in Victoria under the Flora

and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. This is never a

good sign for any species.

Thankfully, there are conservation programs work-

ing to prevent the Squirrel Glider from ever becom-

ing extinct. One such organisation is the Regent

Honeyeater Project. Established 19 years ago, it is

an independent, not-for proﬁt- organisation based

in the north-east regions of Victoria. As its name

suggests, it is heavily involved with the endangered

Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia). How-

ever, it also takes an interest in conserving other

threatened species, one of which is the Squirrel

Glider.

The Regent Honeyeater Project Co-ordinator, Ray

Thomas, works with landowners and local gov-

ernments who agree to revegetate areas of their

land. In doing so, wildlife corridors (thin strips of

vegetation that connect fragmented habitats) can

be established and degraded land can be reha-

bilitated. This is an important aspect of conserva-

tion as revegetation enables the Squirrel Glider

to move across the landscape, increasing genetic

ﬂow. The species is further helped by the numerous

nest boxes that the project has installed. These offer

Squirrel Gliders the comfort and safety of a man-

made hollow while the revegetated areas mature

and develop.

Despite running for less than two decades, the Re-

gent Honeyeater Project has already shown prom-

ising results. The nest boxes have proven to be in-

credibly beneﬁcial to the threatened species. It is

estimated that Squirrel Gliders are currently inhab-

iting and breeding in 75% of installed nest boxes.

Wildlife corridors that are as young as four years

old are also aiding in Squirrel Glider survival by

providing safer moving grounds for them to travel

through.

The efforts of the Regent Honeyeater Project to con-

serve the threatened Squirrel Glider are admirable,

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but the project staff can’t do it alone. In fact, com-

munity members and numerous volunteer groups

are essential for the project’s success. Volunteers

can assist in a variety of tasks ranging from tree

planting to fencing and nest-boxing surveys. Over

the years, The Regent Honeyeater Project has seen

over 28,000 volunteers come together to restore

1400 hectares of habitat, install 400 nest boxes

and plant 525,000 seedlings at 490 different sites.

The good news is that you can easily get involved

with such a great cause. The Regent Honeyeater

Project has a number of volunteer days in the com-

ing months and would love to see you there. You

are guaranteed to meet some fantastic people, get

your hands dirty and have a great weekend away

with some spectacular views of the Benalla region.

Dates are listed below and more information can

be found via the Project website (Under the “When”

tab): http://regenthoneyeater.org.au/index.php

If you intend to join a volunteer weekend, please

contact the project co-ordinator Ray Thomas.

This helps to ensure things run smoothly and that

adequate tools and equipment are available on

the day.

Contact Ray on (03) 5761 1515 or via e-mail at

ray@regenthoneyeater.org.au

Nest Boxing weekends:

5–6th April

3–4th May

Tree Planting Weekends:

9–10th August

23–24th August

6–7th September

20–21st September

Through ongoing awareness and support, it is

hoped that Squirrel Glider numbers will continue to

increase and hopefully spread to new territories for

generations to come.

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We all know that, as humans, we are making an

impact on our environment that is not necessarily a

good one. Climate change, endangered species,

degrading ecosystems – they are all misfortunate

consequences of our own doing. Most of us want

to do something about it, but don’t know where to

begin. Some of us may even wonder if there’s any

point to taking any action – can one person in a

world of seven billion people really make a differ-

ence? This is where organisational websites, such

as Eco-shout come out to play.

Described by its creators as a “catalyst to action”, Eco-

shout doesn’t disappoint. Providing viewers with in-

formation on why something needs to be done about

our environment and how you can get involved, the

website is an ideal starting point for anyone wanting

to reduce their ecological footprint. Volunteering op-

portunities and jobs in the environmental ﬁeld; where

to acquire campaign training or enrol in short courses

in sustainability and conservation; links for grants to

launch your campaign or environmental group – this

is just some of the useful information and the website

has to offer. No matter how you want to get involved,

Eco-Shout has something for you.

Not only does this website supply information and

avenues for actively helping our planet, but also

brings together a community of like-minded people.

I don’t know about you, but I ﬁnd reducing my eco-

logical footprint fairly difﬁcult when I live with broth-

ers who cannot even differentiate a recycling bin

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from a waste bin. Eco-shout’s ‘share-housing net-

work’ allows you to ﬁnd people to live with who are

on the same environmental wavelength as yourself,

making your resolution to be more environmentally

friendly a collective household effort. There are also

opportunities to meet others passionate about sav-

ing our environment at related events posted on the

website – festivals, information sessions and fund-

raising events, just to name a few. While surﬁng

Eco-Shout, you realise you are not the only person

in a world of seven billion wanting to better the way

we treat our environment. Making a difference sud-

denly seems like a more realistic pursuit.

Perhaps the most heartening aspect of this website,

however, is the value it places on the history of

our country. Australia’s ecosystem thrived before

the arrival of English settler’s, which suggests we

have a lot to learn from our country’s Indigenous

people. Advertising Indigenous events alongside

other environmental events and providing a link to

an Indigenous language map are some of the ways

Eco-shout reminds of us exactly “whose land [we

are] walking on”.

So if you feel that you could be doing more for our

natural world, that you could be more involved in

changing the way we treat our environment, head

to www.ecoshout.org.au. Whether you ﬁnd some

new eco-friendly housemates or learn a simple task

you can implement into your everyday life; any ac-

tion, big or small, can make a difference.

By Bethany Mete

photo credit:

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the Polish Dog Trotter

POCKER

CARING FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT

ON THE DOMESTIC FRONT

Pocker’s tours Australia as part of his worldwide mission

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It was once said by a great wiz-

ard of our time, Albus Dumb-

ledore; “it is our choices, Harry,

that show what we truly are, far

more than our abilities.” In this

reﬂection, the choice of a woman

to save a helpless victim is truly

inspiring.

The story, however, is not as you

might expect. It begins in 2008

with the decision to buy a dog.

Kasia Pisarska, was advised not

go in search of her fancied West

Terrier breed, but to instead visit a

shelter. Confronted with the choice

of almost 2000 neglected dogs,

Kasia’s eyes were opened to the

importance of dog adoptions.

She returned home that day with

Rocky: A little dog without pedi-

gree, without training and even

without the qualities Kasia her-

self looked for in a dog. Yet, she

had saved his life and loved him

since their ﬁrst meeting.

Kasia later made the decision to

purchase another dog – one that

would not only touch her life but

many worldwide. This particular

dog, however, also was not as

you might expect. He was actually

a soft toy. Going by the name of

Pocker the Polish Dog Trotter, this

mascot’s mission is to put animal

adoption on a global agenda.

When asked about the inspira-

tion for her project, Kasia re-

plied: “I wished my experience

and my voice could travel all over

the world without crying for this

terrible thing, but doing things.”

the Polish Dog Trotter

By Lauren Shearman

POCKER

CARING FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT

ON THE DOMESTIC FRONT

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Kasia Pisarska provides

a voice for all the world’s

homeless dogs.

Pocker the Polish Dog

Trotter beginning his

journey in Nałeczow,

Poland.

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And just like that, Pocker left his home town in Po-

land and began his journey around the world.

The rules to Pocker’s quest are very simple. If he

is not travelling with Kasia he travels with one of

his fans; somebody who understands that all dogs

deserve a loving home.

Pocker passes only from hand to hand, never

travelling in a bag and never being sent by post

mail. The role of the person taking care of Pocker

is to take pictures with him and to tell at least to

one person each day about the plight of homeless

dogs. Central to the project is helping people un-

derstand that the cool thing is not to buy animals

but to adopt those without homes or hope for the fu-

ture. As Pocker’s catch phrase says, “Adopt! Don’t

spend money for love.”

Meeting new people each day, Pocker has visited

government ofﬁces, schools, hospitals, shelters and

houses. Being both very well educated and well

behaved, he may even be carried on a wedding

trip, business trip or a vacation.

Pocker was purchased in a second hand shop and

so, like the adopted Rocky, was neglected and

waiting for a new owner. In his new life, Pocker

has travelled far and wide including Warsaw, Chi-

cago, Florida, London and recently Sydney, Buda-

pest and Athens. Pocker’s project runs on Kasia’s

strong belief that “we must act because even if we

cannot change the world, the world of that dog or

animal is something we can change.”

Earlier this year Pocker made his debut in Austra-

lia. Visiting iconic Bondi Beach and Melbourne’s

Victoria Markets among other places, Pocker fur-

ther spread the word about animal adoptions.

The plight of homeless dogs in Australia is rather

alarming. While there are there national records

of homeless dog numbers, the Animal Welfare

League Queensland has estimated that 200,000

domesticated animals are euthanased every year,

with dogs constituting the majority of this ﬁgure.

The most effective solution to Australia’s dog home-

lessness is adoption. Not only does it remove dogs

Pocker travels far and wide visiting not

only shelters but also schools and ofﬁces

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Adopt! Don’t spend

money for love:

Pocker promotes the

importance of adoptions.

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from an uncertain future in the pound, but the adop-

tion process itself ensures a more suitable match

between dog and owner. Furthermore, adoption

presents the opportunity to save not only one life

but possibly two; for every dog that is adopted an-

other may be released from the pound to take its

place in a rescue shelter.

The easiest way for Australians to go about adopt-

ing is to visit http://www.pedigreeadoptiondrive.

com.au– this will connect you to the largest nation-

al directory of pets available for adoption.

Unfortunately, many misconceptions surround dog

adoptions. Many hold the belief that because a

dog has ended up in a pound there must be some-

thing wrong with the creature. In reality, the main

reason dogs are surrendered to pounds is because

of their owner’s lifestyle change. Additionally,

there is also a belief that only half-breeds or mutts

may be found in pounds. This again is untrue, pure

breeds are particularly common, especially when

a certain pedigree such as a Chihuahua falls out

of fashion.

Pocker makes worldwide

friendships as he gains support for

adoptions at Sydney’s Bondi Beach

Spreading the importance of dog adoptions glob-

ally is by no means an easy task, but it is certainly

an inspiring mission. Kasia hopes that one day

Pocker might reach all continents. Pocker’s journey

can be followed via his facebook page: https://

www.facebook.com/pages/Pocker-The-Polish-DO

Gtrotter/172019979659784?fref=ts and all sup-

port is greatly appreciated.

Kasia herself is not only an animal lover but an

acclaimed Polish TV journalist. Amusingly, her

two current dogs Hacker and Jocker also have

their own Facebook page, which the public can

follow at https://www.facebook.com/pages/

Hacker/300292469983344 and https://www.

facebook.com/pages/Jocker/183335238499

257?fref=ts respectively.

The world is needlessly euthanasing too many dogs

each year. Only through a change in the public’s

support and understanding of adoption can homes

be found. So if you are in the market for that per-

fect pet please do consider adoption and help save

the life of man’s best friend.

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Sharing in the

success of adoptions

is a heart-touching

experience for Pocker

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Pocker spreading the word about the

plight of homeless dogs

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Kasia’s adopted dogs

Jocker and Hacker

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