Dingo CARE Network is very proud to announce the success of our nomination to have the dingo added to the list of Victorian Flora and Fauna listed as a threatened species under s16 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
On Friday 24 October 2008, at 3.50 pm, Mr Gavin Jennings, Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change announced the listing of the dingo as a threatened species. This was largely thanks to the work of Ernest Healy, who not only found out how to change the status of the dingo from pest animal to threatened species, he then set about writing the submission, lobbying politicians and networking with other conservation organizations for their support. This was a process that took almost two years.
When written like that, it seems such a simple task, but understanding the requirements of the Fauna and Flora Guarantee Act, then identifying the relevant research, and putting it all together in a succinct document to present to the Scientific Committee is a complex process. And along the way, he answered the claims of the Farmers Federation and encouraged other conservation organizations to support the nomination.
In terms of dingo conservation this one paper, correctly submitted has changed the face of dingo conservation and research forever; and may in years to come to be acknowledged as the turning point in the conservation of not only dingoes, but also many of our small endangered macropods.
Thankfully, the Minister couched his media release in such a way as to allay the fears of the farming lobby, assuring them that
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“We’re working to protect the pure Dingo while still supporting appropriate control of wild dogs, hybrids and pure Dingoes which threaten livestock … If a problem Dingo is threatening livestock it will still be legal to destroy it, subject to stringent conditions. Likewise, responsible private keepers will still be able to keep pure Dingoes, although the permit requirement will change to recognise the Dingo’s new status as ‘wildlife’."
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Evidence of Ernie’s excellent lobbying was recognised in other conservation organisation media releases, which in part stated:
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"The listing of the Dingo as a threatened species has been welcomed. It is a strong and necessary step to protect the Dingo which is on the brink of extinction in Victoria. The Minister’s decision is a positive step towards saving the Dingo in Victoria, hopefully avoiding a similar fate to that of the Tasmanian Tiger.
The Dingo plays a critical role in the Australian ecosystems as a top order predator. Top predators balance the environments in which they live – there is evidence that the Dingoes regulate kangaroo numbers and reduce cats and fox numbers thereby benefiting native vegetation and small native animals.
Wild dog control must be conducted in a manner that does not impact on native species. There is a lot of common ground with farmers, and we can agree on the need for a sensible plan to control wild dogs as a threat to both livestock and pure Dingoes. Interbreeding with escaped domestic dogs is one of the greatest threats to pure dingoes.
We look forward to the development of an Action Statement for the species as the next step in the plan to protect dingoes in Victoria”
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We must always remember the 24th October 2008, and celebrate as the day it was announced that the dingo would be listed as a threatened species in Victoria.
The official announcement was buried on page 2586 of the Victorian Government Gazette dated 6 November 2008, and hidden after various spider and leek orchids.
Dingo CARE Network, our members, our dingoes, and the dingoes of Australia will forever be in debt to the work of Ernest Healy who wrote the nomination for listing the dingo as a threatened species. Without his passion and skill the dingo would still be a pest animal.
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Ernie began his association with dingoes when he adopted Mahlee, a nine week old alpine bitch, who took up residence at his home, along with Sally and Deisel, the kelpie crosses, five cats, and wife Robyn.
It was early in 2003, when Ernie was browsing the Trading Post looking for a kelpie pup, when he saw an advertisement for dingo pups. He went to meet with some dingoes and came home totally smitten. The rest is history.
Mahlee, entered his life on a winter evening in July 2003, and has changed it forever. He now has two dingoes, Mahlee, and a black and tan bitch Sheeba. |
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Dr. Ernest Healy and Robyn his wife, with their two dingoes Sheeba and Mahlee |
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