Turtle rookery's future brighter

September 21, 2024 9:26 PM

Turtle rookery's future brighter after feral deer eradicated on Great Barrier Reef island. Authorities wipe out feral deer on Wild Duck Island off the central Queensland coast in a bid to preserve one of Australia's largest flatback turtle rookeries.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (1 comment total)

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) believe the rusa deer species was illegally introduced to the 330-hectare island for hunting in 2005.

It's great they've gotten rid of them, but I am honestly astounded that in 2005 someone thought introducing a random new species to a Great Barrier Reef island was ... fun? ... clever? ... a great money-making opportunity? Like, even accounting for Queenslanders, this is a dick move. It was probably someone from Sydney.
posted by pulposus at 4:03 AM on September 22 [3 favorites]