Wally
Very Well-Known Member
As long as they don't become so mysterious we define it as extinct.
It's a valid point GP, and one I certainly acknowledge. If their status was better understood more educated opinions could be formed.
As long as they don't become so mysterious we define it as extinct.
I don't know what all the fuss is about, same with Scrubbies.... to each their own I guess.
I'm sorry but can someone please tell me what all the fuss is about with this species? Maybe a dumb question but, yeah
But what are there numbers? Estimated to be between 5000 and 10 000 by John Woinarski.
How often are they encountered? I've been looking for 2 years in known locations about 4 times a week (on average) and still haven't found one. A mate has been looking for 8 years in known locations and hasn't found one. But i do know of 3 verifiable findings since 2008.
How many different seperate locations are these guys found? The escarpment and it's outliers from Oenpelli south level with Pine Creek. If we had a huge fire season followed by a very small couple of wet seasons and prior to this this an influx of the dreaded toad population found in the escarpments that these guys are endemic to, would this potentially put these guys as extremely vunerable, or perhaps extinct? IF, BUT, WHEN???? Lots of hypotheticals there! No one knows. It might even turn out to be good for these guys (probably not but that's how little we know about the West Arnhem escarpment country)!
This is something we can no longer gamble on. (vunerable species need to be protected at all costs).
John has estimated there to be around 5 to 10 thousand, and you have only heard of three verifed sightings in a few years?
And you and a mate have been looking alot for these guys in the last several years and not seen one? Is there any up to date report on these numbers?
And animal that is threatened should have some conservation plan put in place (in a perfect world)
P.s
all good mate, I hope i am not coming across as a keyboard nazi
Cheers for all the info.
Yes but most of their range is totally inaccesible by anything except a helicopter.
There is good reason to worry.
Since the arrival of toads there have been changes to the relative abundance of several snake species.
The plummeting mammal populations in the top end is a big worry to a mammal feeder like this snake.
The increasing occurrence of wildfires in and around the escarpment of the Top End may have a direct impact on some individuals, but more likely will have an impact on its the availability of its prey.
To wait for evidence of a decline in numbers in a species which is rarely encountered may be just too late.
Best to err on the side of caution.
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