QUANDAMOOKA people say it is time to look at banning cats and dogs from North Stradbroke Island after a string of native animals were killed by marauding pets.
They say the ban could include visitors bringing pets and car speed limits also could be cut to reduce the number of road kills.
Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Cameron Costello said he was being regularly contacted about unrestrained dogs and cats after the deaths of two koalas from dogs and a string of attacks on kangaroos.
“Minjerribah (Straddie) should be a native animal sanctuary and free-roaming, introduced predators like dogs and cats are threatening that,’’ he said. “Only last week we found another dead kangaroo on the beach which had been killed by dogs.
“Last Friday our head ranger witnessed a dog chasing a kangaroo through Point Lookout.
“This was about a week after a Quandamooka man came across two koalas, which had been similarly mauled to death.
“QYAC has already called on the state government and Redland City Council to fast track a stronger koala management plan for the Moreton Bay region.
“What we clearly need now is a broader approach, which protects the sanctuary status of Minjerribah for all native animals.
“That may include declaring Minjerribah a dog and cat free zone, with a phase out period for residents who currently own dogs or cats and a moratorium on future registrations.’’
Mayor Karen Williams said if the community wanted to get rid of domestic pets on the island, she was willing to put the issue to council.
She said there was a need to educate the community to the idea and if Mr Costello wanted to get together a petition she would take it forward.
“We have to articulate why this is important to North Stradbroke Island,’’ she said.
“...Without bringing people on that journey you can have all the laws in the world and you will have people who are defiant.’’
Mr Costello said a big increase in domestic animal numbers would occur over the holiday season and these practices would have to be reassessed.
“I understand Kangaroo Island in South Australia has already started a feral dog and cat eradication program to coincide with a 15-year phase out of domestic dogs and cats,’’ he said.
Cars and trucks were a major cause of death and injury among native animals and it might also be time to enforce a 50km/hr upper limit across the island, with even lower maximums in some areas.
“The protection of our native animals and plants is our obligation as responsible stewards of this precious island. It is also essential if we are to successfully transform the world’s second largest sand island into a global eco-cultural tourism destination and transition its economy away from its current heavy reliance on sand mining,’’ he said.
Koalas and kangaroos should be able to roam in safety and could add to the island’s attraction as occurred recently when a group of Danish conference attendees saw a koala within minutes of arriving on the island, something few Australians had seen.
“We similarly want kangaroos to be able to roam freely on our beaches and be visible and accessible to everyone who comes to enjoy this special place,’’ he said.
“We shouldn’t have dogs running wild and disrupting that. We shouldn’t have domestic and feral cats roaming at will.’’
