IN the midst of an election campaign, we have media reports (Fox alarm) of what’s been suggested are the flattened mortal remains of young fox embedded in the bitumen on the Lillico section of the Bass highway.
Apparently an anonymous Canberra-based cyclist passed a dead fox on the Bass Highway on Christmas day in 2005. She reported her finding to DPIWE in early February 2006 after learning of the importance of a fox in Tasmania. FFTF personnel visited the site 6 weeks later and apparently were able to obtain samples including bones, hair and perhaps other diagnostic objects.
This stretch of the Bass Highway adjoins Lillico Beach — a popular location with a public car park, wildlife interpretation signs and a penguin viewing platform. It is very busy thoroughfare with a 110 kph speed limit. On a Christmas Day I would assume that many cars would have travelled past the fox corpse. Maybe the person who hit this fox will now come forward. Amazingly the many thousands of cars that use this highway on a daily basis didn’t report its presence.
Is this a symptom of community indifference to the fox program?
The coastline between the ports of Burnie and Devonport has been long recognised as high risk site for fox entry and establishment in Tasmania. DPIWE cannot afford to hesitate in its response to this incident, it will only lead to further confusion and suspicion.
I hope that the all concerned have learned lessons regarding the handling of important forensic evidence recovered from the site of past fox incidents. A failure to apply proper rigor to the investigation and handling of these incidents has, in my opinion, weakened the credibility of this important government-funded program.
Now is the opportunity for an open, transparent investigation lead by experienced individuals. This incident could be the making or breaking of the fox taskforce. This recent fox incident must not be allowed hang in limbo as yet another sensational instalment Tasmania’s fox saga. If the authorities are genuinely convinced that this really is a young fox that was likely born in the vicinity of Lillico beach, it must make every effort to find other evidence that foxes are in this area and take the necessary action.
David Obendorf
7 Bonnington Road, West Hobart Tas 7000
The Mercury: Fox taskforce to be slashed
