Opposition Leader Shane Love MLA has called on the State Government to take urgent action to
prevent the mass starvation of WA’s endangered Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo population.
In Parliament today, Mr Love said dry seasonal conditions and land clearing in the metropolitan
area have resulted in a desperate food shortage for the Carnaby’s Cockatoo’s and government
intervention was needed.
“There are wildlife volunteers ready and willing to feed the Carnaby’s and protect this threatened
species from further losses, however, under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 it’s illegal to
feed wildlife without the authority of the government,” Mr Love said.
“The Minister for Environment must act urgently to approve supplementary feeding to save these
protected birds.
“Allowing a threatened species to starve is not only irresponsible, but it is a complete failure in the
Minister’s duty to safeguard WA’s unique environment and biodiversity.”
Mr Love said the Minister’s inaction placed him at odds with his federal counterpart.
“The Federal Government has acknowledged the threat faced by our endemic Carnaby’s
Cockatoos, stating it doesn’t accept that environmental decline and extinction is inevitable.
“A failure to act by the State government flies in the face of decades of work dedicated to the
recovery of this unique, endangered species.”
Dean Arthurell, a wildlife carer from charity Carnaby’s Crusaders, joined Mr Love at Parliament
today to highlight the desperate situation.
“Requests for assistance from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions have
been denied and the population is being left to starve to death,” Mr Arthurell said.
“A feeding program is the only immediate option to avoid mass starvation in the short term.”
Mr Arthurell says wildlife carers across the south-west, and the Perth Zoo are seeing a huge
increase in distressed emaciated birds.
“The Department has told us it’s morally opposed to feeling wildlife, however, we see both
dolphins and pelicans fed for tourism purposes in other parts of the state,” he said.
“We are asking for a feeding program to ensure the survival of this threatened species.”
