7 September
2006 - The Orange-bellied Parrot and the Christmas
Island Pipistrelle have been listed as critically
endangered by the Australian Government Minister
for Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell.
Both animals have been transferred from 'endangered'
to 'critically endangered' under the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(EPBC Act).
"The Orange-bellied Parrot
was originally listed as endangered under previous
legislation that did not provide for a critically
endangered category", Senator Campbell said.
"It only makes sense that
a bird which is so critically endangered be recognised
by elevating it to the highest level of protection
that the EPBC Act can offer. The independent Threatened
Species Scientific Committee made its assessment
and strongly advised me to provide the new listing."
The Christmas Island Pipistrelle,
a species of small bat, occurs only on Christmas
Island. It was listed as endangered under the
EPBC Act in 2001, but has continued to decline
due to attacks by introduced predators such as
rats, feral cats and the highly invasive Yellow
Crazy Ant.
"My decision to list the
Orange-bellied Parrot as critically endangered
is based on advice from the Threatened Species
Scientific Committee that it occurs in very low
numbers and the species' long-term survival is
not secure," Senator Campbell said.
Only about 100 to 150 adults
exist, and the Parrot faces a number of threats,
including habitat loss and modification, predators,
and catastrophes such as storms during migration
and wildfires in its breeding areas.
To further protect the Orange-bellied
Parrot, Senator Campbell announced a $3.2 million
funding upgrade in August 2006 to enable work
with landholders, non-government organisations
and state governments to undertake habitat protection
and expansion in migratory, breeding and wintering
areas.
"To address the threats
to the Christmas Island Pipistrelle, a Threat
Abatement Plan which includes the Yellow Crazy
Ant is being implemented on Christmas Island.
A regional Recovery Plan for the Island's biodiversity
is also under development", Senator Campbell
said.
The Threatened Species Scientific
Committee's advice for the Orange-bellied Parrot
and the Christmas Island Pipistrelle will shortly
be available on the Department of the Environment
and Heritage's website shortly.
Rob Broadfield
