The Conservation Council ACT and Friends of Grasslands have welcomed a boost in funding to stop the extinction of the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon, announced today by ACT Environment Minister Suzanne Orr. With this funding secured, they reiterated their calls for the Federal Labor Government to also do everything they could to protect the dragon, starting with cancelling approval for the Northern Airport Road.
Prof. Jamie Pittock, President of Friends of Grasslands said:
“The dragon is a “Goldilocks” species that only lives in natural grasslands that are managed “just right” for all the flora and fauna of this critically endangered ecosystem to thrive. Minister Orr and the ACT Government are congratulated for this major and timely investment in the survival of Canberra’s own dragon.”
“It is time the Canberra Airport Group showed a similar commitment and abandoned their northern road development that would bisect the largest remaining contiguous area of dragon habitat.”
Chief Executive of the Council Dr Simon Copland said while this funding is welcome, it needed to be followed up by federal action to save the dragon’s habitat:
“This funding is extraordinarily welcome, and we are excited about the success of the breeding colonies in collaboration with the Melbourne Zoo. However, we need to ensure the dragon doesn’t just become a zoo exhibition. That is why we need to do everything we can to protect their habitat, so they have a future in the wild.
“In the start of their first term, the Federal ALP Government committed to no new extinctions under their watch. The ACT Government have now stepped to the plate to do everything they can to stop the extinction of the Earless Dragon. It is time the Federal Government demonstrated similar leadership by cancelling the approval of the Northern Airport Road to save the best habitat currently available for Canberra’s dragon.”