TripAdvisor boosts island

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tripadvisor-logoThe standing of Kangaroo Island as a must-see destination has been enhanced by its recognition in this year’s TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards.  Kangaroo Island was listed in the top 10 island destinations in the South Pacific as a result of substantial feedback from travellers. “This recognition reinforces the standing of the island as a destination that attracts world travellers and provides positive memorable experiences”, Tourism Kangaroo Island Chairman Pierre Gregor said.

Source: The Islander

Scientists crack genetic code of koalas

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UNSW Professor Marc Wilkins is among a team whose unprecedented achievement provides new insights into koalas and their long-time survival.
A team of Australian and international scientists – including UNSW Sydney Professor Marc Wilkins – have made a significant breakthrough, successfully sequencing the full koala genome.
The consortium of scientists comprised 54 scientists from 29 different institutions across seven countries, led by Professor Rebecca Johnson, Director of the Australian Museum Research Institute, and Professor Katherine Belov, University of Sydney. The team sequenced over 3.4 billion base pairs and more than 26,000 genes in the koala genome – which makes it slightly larger than the human genome. The findings were published today in Nature Genetics.
Unlocking the genomic sequence gives scientists unprecedented insights into the unique biology of the koala: the highly accurate genomic data will provide them with new information that will inform conservation efforts, aid in the treatment of diseases, and help to ensure the koala’s long-term survival.
The 3.4 billion base pairs of the published koala genome were sequenced and assembled at the Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics at UNSW.

Raptors harness fire to flush out prey

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When ornithologist Bob Gosford reported multiple accounts that both black kites (Milvus migrans) and brown falcons (Falco berigora) were spreading wildfires in northern Australia – which Indigenous Aboriginal people had claimed previously – many other experts were skeptical.

It was not contentious that the birds were spreading fire, but that there was intent behind their action, and that it was nothing more than accidental behaviour.

Gosford then spent the following year collecting additional eyewitness accounts of raptors carrying burning sticks and embers to ignite grassland.

In his latest paper, published in the Journal of Ethnobiology, Gosford added the whistling kite (Haliastur sphenurus) to the group of fire-starting birds.

It is thought that the birds take advantage of lightning strikes that spark wildfires in northern Australia. The raptors have been observed picking up burning twigs from these blazes and then flying to unburnt patches of grassland and forest to drop them, spreading the fire.

The birds will then attend the advancing edge of the fire and catch small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects fleeing the flames.

[Source: IFLS]

Citizen scientists wanted to solve echidna mysteries

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The Australian public is being called on to help better understand and conserve our iconic native echidna, by collecting echidna scats (poo) and taking photographs wherever echidnas or scats are spotted.

University of Adelaide researchers are launching a new to address important questions about echidna numbers and distribution and to obtain material for molecular analysis.

The Echidna Conservation Science Initiative or EchidnaCSI researchers have developed a dedicated mobile phone app for instant upload of photos and location, and input of details of the immediate environment and the state, size and activity of the echidna.

The researchers would also like people to use the app to log the scats, then bag and post them to the University research team for molecular analysis.

"Echidnas, and their fellow monotreme the platypus, are the oldest surviving mammals," says Professor Frank Grutzner, who has been leading research in monotremes for the past 15 years. "But surprisingly we know very little about these iconic animals that feature on our coins.

Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail a five-day adventure

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Nature's secrets are waiting to be discovered at every step of the 61 kilometre five-day trek, with the trail weaving its way through the most botanically unique area in all of South Australia before reaching the rugged, remote and spectacular coastline of the Southern Ocean.

The unimaginable beauty of this part of the world has to be seen to be believed.

The Woolshed KI is situated close to the end of the trail and so makes for an ideal base-camp for you and your walking companions.

Kangaroo Island cats’ days are numbered

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The South Australian government plans to eradicate all feral cats – and the bulk of domestic cats – by 2030.

THE DAYS OF feral cats on Kangaroo Island are numbered after the South Australian government outlined plans to eradicate all wild felines, and the bulk of domestic pets, in the next 15 years.

With no competition for food, the population of feral cats has risen to an estimated 5000 on the 440,500 hectare isle, causing widespread havoc for its endangered and endemic fauna – including the southern brown bandicoot, Kangaroo Island echidna, Kangaroo Island dunnart and southern emu wren.

There is evidence that densities could be higher on Kangaroo Island than on the mainland, warned Feral Cat Eradication Project Manager, Pat Hodgens. “But even in low numbers feral cats can have a devastating effect on native wildlife,” he said.

Source: Australian Geographic

Global tourism hopes for Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail

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Tourism authorities hope a 66-kilometre walking trail which has just been opened on Kangaroo Island in South Australia will become a global drawcard.

"Already we're getting such great feedback from a few international walkers, as well as locals who wanted to be the first ones on it," Environment Department chief executive Sandy Pitcher said.

Walkers pass through bushland wilderness areas and get sweeping views of the Southern Ocean at times.

The trail passes already-popular tourist sites including Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch.

It ends at Kelly Hill Caves, just 11kms from The Woolshed KI, an ideal base camp for your hiking party.

KI marathon promises a run on the wild side

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The Kangaroo Island Marathon is one of Australia’s newest long-distance events and is gearing up for its second running in late August.

Australian Olympian Jess Trengove, who will run for gold in the Women’s Marathon in Rio just days before the August 26 event, is the official ambassador of the Kangaroo Island race.

The 42km South Australian race is limited to a field of 500 and will take competitors along the island’s rugged southwest coast and through the pristine Flinders Chase National Park, which includes the iconic Remarkable Rocks, Admiral’s Arch and Cape du Couedic lighthouse.

[Source: InDaily]

Poem: To the Island

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Poet’s Corner contributor Sue Cook revisits Kangaroo Island and the memories it evokes in this poem from her new book ‘In Focus’.

He put the Ford ute on the ferry to KI
for his 70th birthday (I went along for the ride).
He’s always been up for adventure,
on a bike, in a Holden, or the ute
pulling the caravan and me along but
no van this time, a holiday house haven.

He flashed his camera through wind and rain
at Remarkable Rocks,
climbing slopes with youthful tourists
(the Rocks no more remarkable than he, I thought)
and communed with seals clustering
under Admiral’s Arch.

At first at Seal Bay we thought we had missed
the natives, saw only improbable trails
in the sand dunes beside the board walk.
Suddenly, sea lions appeared on their sandy stage,
flippering around, flapping and flip-flopping,
heads up, “look at moi, look at moi”
to rousing cheers from onlookers
rugged up in coats and hats.
Too cold for swimming today,
even for sea lions.

Food and warmth beckoned from afar,
the local kiosk shut.
He grabbed the chance to put the ute
into 4WD over the slippery unsealed road
to Marron Café, a gastro-heaven
in the middle of the island
(marron thermidor for me).

When we clinked our glasses I forgot his 70 years,
seeing only the tall boy on his bike,
riding beside me to school.

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