Greens call to support rare and endangered cockatoos

WA Greens Member for East Metropolitan Region Alison Xamon says people can help to protect the  rare and endangered cockatoos that for the last couple of years have increasingly made their way into the metropolitan region. 

 The comments came after Ms Xamon attended a Conservation Council of WA meeting (February 8) which heard from experts on the topic Why are WA’s rare and endangered cockatoos starving?

 “It is quite clear that our native cockatoos, in particular the Carnaby’s, Baudin’s and Forest Red Tailed Black Cockatoos are under threat and this has been attributed to a combination of land clearing, drought and fire,” Ms Xamon said.

 “Red-tailed black cockatoos in particular have steadily been forced out of their natural habitat and  into residential areas where in recent years they have been stripping backyard trees in their desperate search for food.

 “Adding to the problem is that when these cockatoos enter residential areas they are increasingly being killed by cars or shot with air rifles.

 “Part of the answer is to ensure we protect our remaining forest areas including in the Perth Hills region, which themselves are under increasing pressure from development and mining.”

 Ms Xamon’s Private Member’s Bill, The Perth Hills Planning Bill, is due to be debated this year in Parliament.

 The Bill promotes sustainable, appropriate and integrated land use planning and development in the Perth Hills area and if passed would likely see the protection of critical cockatoo feeding and breeding habitat.

 “The current cockatoo crisis is simply the result of a serious lack of appropriate land planning.  Now is the time to address this, before these already endangered species become extinct,” Ms Xamon said.